A NEW era at Cross Keys got off to a great start after they opened their Premiership account with a bonus-point win over Bridgend at Pandy Park, writes Iwan Gabe Davies.

The club made some star signings over the summer, bringing in skipper Damian Welch, a European Challenge Cup winner with Cardiff Blues in May, and former Dragons favourite Jason Tovey.

And they helped inspire head coach Morgan Stoddart's men who won an entertaining clash.

They took an early lead when openside flanker Nic Cudd was allowed to cross all too easily for a converted try in the seventh minute.

The Ravens soon hit back when their captain and centre Nathan Edwards went over for a touchdown. Outside-half Jamie Murphy put them 8-7 ahead with a 17th minute penalty.

Both sides showed some lovely touches and played attractive rugby, but lacked that killer instinct early on, the final pass not going to hand for what would have been glorious tries on more than one occasion.

Keys were clinical after half an hour when number eight Todd James crossed in the corner after they exploited an overlap, fly-half Tovey superbly converting and adding two penalties to give them a deserved 20-8 half-time advantage.

They stretched their lead with a fine try in the 47th minute, full-back Leon Andrews and wing Rory Budina combining superbly to put the former over for an unconverted try.

Wing Aaron Grabham looked to have put the visitors back in it, but his try was ruled out for a forward pass.

He wasn't to be denied in the 58th minute when he did score an unconverted touchdown after great interplay by the Ravens and it was Grabham who was on the scoresheet again after Keys made a mess of dealing with Murphy's clever grubber ahead.

Wing Will Holley's stunning towering conversion from the touchline made it 25-20 with just under 20 minutes to go.

A stung Keys made the game safe eight minutes from the end when the impressive Dragons flanker Cudd put in powerful wing Wes Cunliffe with a clever offload. Tovey's conversion gave them a 12-point cushion.

The Ravens had the last word when lock Chris John crossed for a late try to give them two points after scoring four touchdowns and coming within seven points of Keys.

Cross Keys: L Andrews, W Cunliffe, D Williams (B Snell 56), J Sage, R Budina (D Fidler 62), J Tovey, O Leonard, C Hewlett (S Evans 52), R Jenkins, R Cornock (G Carpenter 52), D Welch (capt), T Lampard, L Evans, N Cudd, T James (H Reader 41).

Scorers: Tries: N Cudd, T James, L Andrews, W Cunliffe, Cons: J Tovey (2), Pens: Tovey (2).

Bridgend: T Williams, A Grabham, S Floyd Ellis (M Jones 77), N Edwards (capt), W Holley, J Murphy (R Evans 76), C Williams (D James 76), R Apsee (O Evans 62), G Harvey (I Merriman 62), C Lewis, C John, J Little, J Pope, A O'Driscoll (A Evans 76), T Morgan (M John 59).

Scorers: Tries: N Edwards, A Grabham (2), C John, Con: W Holley, Pen: J Murphy.

Argus star man: Nic Cudd