Bridgend clinch Welsh Premiership

Bridgend clinched this season's Welsh Premiership title with a 22-13 victory over nearest rivals Neath.

The win over the Welsh All Blacks was their thirteenth win in fourteen games and brought them the title for the first time in 23 years.

Picture: Bridgend skipper Richard Bryan hoists the Welsh Premiership trophy. (Getty Images)

Neath opened the scoring with a Shaun Connor penalty but Bridgend bounced back with a opportunistic try from Silo Martens but Gareth Cull failed with the conversion attempt and a penalty shortly after.

Connor regained the lead for the visitors with another penalty but even after Martens was sin-binned later in the half Neath were unable to extend their advantage.

After the break Bridgend prop John Theil crashed over but again Neath bounced back with their own try from Shane Williams.

But back came the Ravens with another score from Cull and this time added the extras.

Neath's Jamie Ringer was also sin-binned later in the half andhis team-mate hooker Barry Williams also had to leave the game with a suspected broken hand.

The fiery game boiled over again at a lineout and this time it was John Theil and Hywel Jenkins who were on their way to the bin.

Cull clinched the game and the title for Bridgend with a superb drop goal in the closing minutes.

Bridgend (5) 22
Tries: S Martens, J Theil, G Cull. Cons: G Cull (1). Drop Goal: Gareth Cull (1).

Neath (3) 13
Tries: Shane Williams. Cons: S Connor (2). Pens: S Connor (2).

Welsh PremiershipPWDL PTS
1Bridgend14 1301 39
2Neath15 1014 31
3Newport15906 27
4Cardiff13715 22
5Llanelli14617 19
6Swansea1660 10 18
7Pontypridd13517 16
8Caerphilly1640 12 12
9Ebbw Vale1640 12 12