Match Report

Welsh champions Bridgend Blue Bulls were sent crashing out of the 2022 Betfred Challenge Cup at the first hurdle, after suffering a 60-0 defeat at the hands of an experienced Royal Navy side.

The Navy side, who contained a host of former Super League academy players, plus two who have previously made appearances in Super League itself for Salford, had too much experience for Bridgend.

Bridgend's side contained 16 players who turned out in their Welsh title winning side last season, nine of whom played in the Final win over Torfaen Tigers. One debutant was on the bench - 16-year old Josh Hanson, who has played in Bridgend's youth system for three years and is a Wales U16 international.

Bridgend started well and could have taken the lead in the third minute when Lloyd Pritchard was pulled into touch when grounding what was a disallowed try.

Sadly for them, that was the nearest they got to scoring for much of the game and when the Navy got going, they were lethal.

Winger Kiniviliame Dakuliga gave them the lead on four minutes. Darren Bamford, who played for Salford in 2005, converted.

It took until the 18th minute for them to score their second. Jack Bartlett going over in the corner with Bamford unsuccessful with the kick.

After that, the tries came thick and fast. Danny Johnson, Ben Taylor and James Parry all added scores under the sticks with Bridgend barely touching the ball in between. Bamford's three goals brought the score up to 28-0.

Dakuliga scored Navy's sixth on 33 minutes, with the conversion attempt hitting the post, and the last action of the half saw Bamford grabbing a try of his own and converting to make the score 38-0 at the break.

Bridgend were attacking down the slope on the muddy surface in the second half, but they couldn't capitalise on this advantage.

Matty Gaskell was first over for Navy after eight minutes with Bamford improving, before an unconverted score from Joey Sugden.

Gaskell ran over for his second on 57 minutes, with Bamford converting, and then for a short period, Bridgend looked for a try back. They were close with 15 minutes to go when Ben Phillips was held up over the line.

The final say went to Johnson on 72 minutes, with his second try of the evening with Bamford kicking his eighth goal.

Bridgend did look for a final score, after they were given a one man advantage due to Parry being sinbinned for a high tackle, but Stuart Robson was pushed into touch as he was going for the line.