Principality Welsh Premiership, Saturday 24 September 2011.
Match report by John Meredith, photography by Ian Lovell
Cardiff’s youngsters shone at Bedwas as the home side continued their search for a first Premiership win of the season.
For Bedwas, Phil Sargent made his first start of the season and took over the captain’s armband, Ryan Howells made his first start at centre and Dan Goody made his debut at prop.
Cardiff took the lead after five minutes with an unconverted try by winger Harry Robinson. Powell got Bedwas on the scoreboard with a penalty goal 90 seconds later. Cardiff’s kicker Griffin spurned several opportunities to add to his tally before Bedwas’s Powell added a kick of his own to put Bedwas 6-5 ahead.
With Bedwas a man short due to Ryan Howell’s sin binning Robinson added a second try, Griffin adding the conversion. They further extended their lead with a try by centre Cory Allen and another Griffin penalty for a 20-6 lead before Bedwas added two penalties by Powell for a 20-12 half time deficit.
Bedwas tried to impose themselves on the game but couldn’t break down a determined Cardiff defence. Griffin added a further penalty for the visitors to increase their lead. Bedwas looked to be getting back into the game when replacement Rhys Humphries conjured up a try in the corner. Bedwas huffed and puffed to try and get more, but a lack of precision at the breakdown proved costly.
A second Bedwas sin-binning this time debutant replacement Roger McBurney for a deliberate knock-on effectively sealed Bedwas’s fate as Griffins third penalty of the afternoon sailed over and Bedwas hopes of a losing bonus point evaporated.
Next Saturday sees Bedwas making the trip to Tonmawr – the only side below them in the table as they look for that important first win of the season.