Bedwas got their Principality Premiership season underway with a hard fought win in a close contest in West Wales on Saturday September 5.
Both sides started at pace, hitting the rucks hard with no quarter given or asked for. Sustained pressure by Bedwas close to the home goal bought its reward as Matthew Screech squeezed through a pile of bodies for a try after five minutes. Richard Powell successfully added the conversion to put Bedwas eight points ahead.
The lead did not last long as Carmarthen’s Number 8 Josh Middleton was driven over following a close range line-out Craig Evans’ conversion levelling the scores.
Both sides continued to try and forge a breakthrough and it was the home side who took the lead as scrum half Kieran Hardy crossed. Evans once again adding the conversion.
Bedwas fought hard for territory and gained a penalty in front of the posts which Powell gratefully converted to reduce the deficit. Both sides were guilty of dropped ball in midfield as they searched for a further score but shortly before the half time break it was Bedwas back rower George Lee who found a gap to crash through for a try. Powell’s conversion drifted wide and the referee blew for half-time with the scores level at sixteen each.
With the wind at their backs for the second half Bedwas took the game to their hosts but neither side could find a score. Bedwas hopes took a dent in the 51st minute as Deri Mattravers was sinbinned for a ruck offence but the team were not to be denied as Powell converted a 35 metre penalty to put his side ahead.
Bedwas lifted their game and a good break by replacement Connor Edwards and his Dragons Academy colleague George Gasson saw the former cross the try line only for a high tackle by home full back Chris Banfield deemed to be worthy of a yellow card and a penalty try awarded, (worth eight points in the Principality Premiership this season with no kick taken) to increase the Bedwas lead to ten points.
A second Powell penalty after 64 minutes set up the win but the Quins were not to be denied a losing bonus point as a good passing move saw centre Rhys Williams burst through a gap for a try, Evans’ successful conversion closing the gap to four points with very little time left on the clock.
Bedwas kept their concentration and held on to claim a morale boosting victory.
Next Saturday (12 September) Bedwas are again on the road with a trip to the Talbot Athletic Ground to take on Aberavon RFC, kick off 2.30pm.
Match report and photography by Ian Lovell.