CROSS Keys’ final away game as a Principality Premiership club ended in a heavy defeat at the Brewery Field, writes Carl Field.

Among the Keys replacements were six permit players from lower league clubs including Newbridge, Rogerstone and Blaenavon.

This was a 10th straight league defeat for Keys who had their relegation confirmed with defeat at Newport 11 days ago.

Bedwas, in particular, were watching on hoping for an unlikely favour from their Gwent neighbours, but they were never going to get one as Keys struggled to get out of their own half for the first 40 minutes.

Home full-back Owen Howe missed a long-range effort from the tee after three minutes.

The opening try arrived in the seventh minute and it was finished off by wing Mike Powell, although the conversion attempt from Howe was wide.

Try number two came in the 23rd minute, and was scored by hooker Gareth Harvey, although again the conversion was missed by Howe.

Other wing Dewi Cross went over for try number three in the 32nd minute, going over from Jamie Murphy’s inside pass and this time converted by Howe.

Three minutes later the bonus point was in the bag, with number eight Dafi Davies going under the posts for the fourth try. Howe improved it from bang in front as Keys trailed 24-0 at half time.

Flanker Garin Price responded with a try for Keys seven minutes after the break before Davies scored again for Bridgend less than two minutes later, converted by Howe.

A second, third and fourth try then followed for Cross within the space of nine minutes before Jordan Collier touched down for a ninth home try on 67.

Owen Thomas brought up double figures.

Keys finish with a home game against RGC on Saturday before the visit of Pontypridd next Wednesday.

Bridgend: Tries - M Powell, G Harvey, D Cross (4), D Davies (2), J Collier, O Thomas; Cons - O Howe (6)

Cross Keys: Try - G Price