Cross Keys, newly promoted to the Welsh-Scottish League, got early warning that it is going to be tough at the top as Bridgend wiped out a 12-10 interval deficit.

Bridgend finished with four tries, former Llanelli outside-half Craig Warlow converting all of them and kicking three penalties.

Full back Ioan Bebb, who scored 355 league points in division one last season, got all Cross Keys' points with four penalties.

Bebb went off 10 minutes from the end with a face injury after an incident which resulted in Bridgend lock Chris Stephens being sent to the sin bin.

He was taken to hospital with a suspected fractured cheekbone and broken nose.

Bridgend, led by former Llanelli and Harlequins scrum-half Huw Harries, cut loose in the second half and Cross Keys were mainly on the defensive until the closing minutes.

Newcomers

Both sides started with six newcomers, including Bridgend's Tongan centre Josh Taumalolo who joined from Ebbw Vale.

Taumalolo gave Bridgend a great second-half start with a try two minutes after the interval.

Fellow Tongan Maama Molitika, an outstanding flanker, scored Bridgend's opening try after 24 minutes.

Warlow and Harries gave hints that they will develop into a formidable partnership, while Bridgend wings Simon Hill and Gareth Jones showed their paces.

Cross Keys, who were last in the top division in 1993-4, will be hoping for better fortunes than they met in that season.

They then lost all 22 matches, going down by one point 16-17 at home to Bridgend.

Scorers - Cross Keys Pens: Bebb 4. Bridgend Tries: Taumalolo, Hill, Molitika, Lloyd. Cons: Warlow 4. Pens: Warlow 3. Att: 1,500

Cross Keys
Bebb, Adebayo,Bowen, Davies, Arnold, Webb, Lewis, Evans, Hicks, Crimmins, Stewart, Kelly, Gibbs, Gardner (capt), Thomas

Bridgend
Durston, Jones, Taumalolo, Funnel, Hill, Warlow, Harries (capt), Griffiths, Ferris, Mustoe, Clapham, Stephens, Molitika, Ringer, Bryan

Referee: R Elliott (WRU)