OREANDA-NEWS. Thousands of rugby fans packed onto the Millennium Stadium on Saturday to cheer on their team in the SSE SWALEC Finals day.

More than 11,000 supporters from all over Wales arrived in their coachloads to watch a fun-packed day of some of the best rugby Wales has to offer.

With some famous faces also present such as First Minister Carwyn Jones, the stadium played host to the eagerly awaited SSE SWALEC Cup, Plate and Bowl matches. 

SSE customers were there to enjoy the day, having won Finals Day tickets as part of the SSE Reward campaign.

The sporting action kicked off with the Bowl Final between Ystradgynlais and Cambrian Welfare where Ystradgynlais man of the match, Matthew Edwards, led his team to a 17-12 win.

With a strong crowd behind them, both teams were determined to produce an exciting game. A series of scrums and a late Cambrian try from Richie Lewis meant that there was no clear winner until the final moments of the match. 

In the day’s second match, heavy rain and an open roof meant that conditions for the Plate Final were more challenging for the players. Nevertheless, Ystrad Rhondda pushed through to finish with a 25-17 victory over Newcastle Emlyn.

Finally, the SSE SWALEC’s Cup Final may have been the last match of the day, but was well worth the wait.

The crowd saw a shock result as Bridgend Ravens triumphed 19-15 over long-standing winners Pontypridd, winning the Cup for the first time in 25 years.

Pontypridd were strong in their attack in the first half of the match but saw numerous penalties limit their lead. A penalty in minute 27 by Owen Howe meant that Bridgend Ravens took the lead for the first time in the match.

Pontypridd pushed ahead briefly at the beginning of the second half, only to have a penalty from Howe and a try from Tom O’Flaherty carry the Ravens to the final victory.

From start to finish, SSE SWALEC Finals Day was full of surprises, with Bridgend Ravens’ unexpected win providing fans with a nail-biting final and fitting end to an inspiring SSE SWALEC Bowl, Plate and Cup season.