Cross Keys 15 – 11 Bedwas
Saturday December 3, Crosskeys
Both Cross Keys and Bedwas went into Saturday’s Principality Premiership match knowing that a win was vital.
For Keys, it would aid a late charge into the top eight with just three matches left before the mid-season split, while for Bedwas, it was an opportunity to cement their position, sitting pretty in third.
As it was, Keys emerged deserved victors as they fought hard to secure the spoils at Pandy Park.
The first half was an almost-tedious affair, with neither side able to conjure up anything of quality to entertain the spectators.
Bedwas lost back-row James Richards to injury after just nine minutes, before fly-half James S Dixon slotted a penalty to give the away side a three-point lead at half-time.
However, within five minutes of the restart, the game came to life in dramatic fashion.
Bedwas attacked the home side’s line, and got within ten metres before a pass aimed towards Phillip Pariyo was picked off by his opposition winger, Matthew Powell, who sprinted through and passed for his supporting fly-half Josh Prosser to touch down under the posts. Prosser converted his own score, and Keys were ahead.
Bedwas reclaimed a one-point lead shortly after, as the forward pack drove second-rower Geraint Edmunds over on 51 minutes. Replacement James Dixon, who took over kicking duties from his namesake, missed the conversion but took the scores to 11-7 with an hour on the clock.
The back-and-forth nature of the match continued as Keys’ full-back Leon Andrews showed great hands to burst through some weak Bedwas tackling to put replacement winger Joe Goodchild in for an unconverted try, and with just five minutes remaining and the match in the balance, Bedwas were penalised for killing the ball.
Prosser extended his side’s advantage to four points from the tee.
Despite applying late pressure, Bedwas couldn’t make the most of several scrums in Keys’ five-metre area, and the ball eventually squirmed out and was cleared to touch, sparking celebrations amongst the home fans.
Bedwas drop to fifth with this defeat, with just five points separating the Blues and Ebbw Vale in ninth ahead of the mid-season split.
Meanwhile, Keys move up to tenth, seven points off the top-half, with vital matches against fellow top-eight contenders Newport and Ebbw Vale still to come.
Premiership rugby now takes a break until Christmas Eve, with the attention of top-flight sides turning to the Fosters Challenge Cup.
• Match report and photography by Ian Lovell of Bedwas RFC.