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Bridgend head coach Scott Baldwin praised his side’s never-say-die spirit after they snatched a dramatic victory over Llandovery – ahead of their Super Rygbi Cymru play-off showdown with Swansea.

The Ravens stunned Drovers 34-33 thanks to their final maul effort from Corey Lewis and Luke Price’s cool head – landing a last kick of the match conversion in the 83rd minute.

It cemented seventh place for Bridgend. Their reward is a home clash with 10th placed Swansea at the Brewery Field in the wildcard round this week.

“Hopefully now the boys finally start to believe in themselves that we can beat top four teams,” said Baldwin.

“We felt we’d probably gone away from our game model we started the season with and what we’re going to hang our hat on. But I thought for large parts of that game we stuck to it really well.

“We don’t make it easy for ourselves; we score a try and then concede a try off the kick-off – it’s an area we need to work on. We spoke about spirit and fight before the game, and I thought you saw that at the end there with the boys never giving up.”

Tom Jevons, Cameron Ellis, Ryan Wilkins and Evan Yardley were Bridgend’s other try scorers. Ben Burnell kicked one conversion with Price sending over a penalty before his match-winning conversion.

George McDonald and Tomi Lewis bagged braces for the Drovers – who also had Harry Thomas on the scoresheet. Sam Potter kicked three conversions and Ioan Hughes one.

The other Wild Card play-off tie this week will see RGC and Carmarthen Quins – who finished the regular season in eighth and ninth respectively – locking horns at Parc Eirias, with a place in the quarter finals at stake.

The play-off picture for the next four weeks is now clear. After 18 rounds, Cardiff finished top of the pile with Ebbw Vale, Newport and Llandovery making up the top four – and will all have home quarter finals.

Pontypool and Aberavon finished in fifth and sixth respectively and will be away in the quarters.

The quarter finals will be played the following week with Cardiff facing either Bridgend or Swansea (QF1). Llandovery are at home to Pontypool (QF2), Ebbw Vale will welcome either RGC or Quins (QF3) while Newport entertain Aberavon.

Should they get there, Cardiff and Ebbw Vale will also have home semi-finals – which will see the winner of QF1 host the winner of QF4 and the winner of welcome the winner of QF3. The final is due to be played at the regional home of the highest qualifying team to reach the final.

RGC secured home advantage for their clash with the Quins after racking up nine tries on their way to a maximum six-point 59-38 victory over Aberavon. The Wizards held the lead in the first half but once the Gogs got their noses back in front 24-19 by the break, they cut loose in the second half.

Caio Parry, Billy McBryde and Pedr Jones were all at the double for RGC. Rhys Tudor, Sam Williams and Gareth Parry were their other try scorers. McBryde added seven conversions for a 24-point personal match haul.

Wing Cori Lewis-Jenkins scored a hat-trick for Aberavon, with Scott Whitlock, Brad Roderick and Rhys Thomas their other scorers. Ed Dunford and Charlie Thomas kicked two conversions apiece.

Swansea ran Ebbw Vale close at Eugene Cross Park but in the end it was the Steelmen who edged the contest 21-17. Skipper Joe Franchi scored twice tries for Ebbw in the first half, both converted by Ewan Bowden, for a narrow 14-12 half time lead.

Ieuan Morris scored a third Ebbw try in the second half from another trademark rolling maul, with Bowden again adding the extras. Harri Houston scored twice for Swansea with Ieuan Cornelius also grabbing a try.

The win also marked a seventh successful defence of the SRC Challenger Shield by Ebbw, who will now keep hold of it heading into next season, with the shield not defended in the play-offs.

“Full credit to the players; to play their third game in six days and perform like we did was fantastic,” said Ebbw head coach Jason Strange.

“It was a pretty much patched-up team and for them to still come out with a win is superb. It sets us up now for a home quarter-final and we’re back in control really.