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Bedwas 47-23 Cardiff Met, WRU National Championship

Seven-try Bedwas earned a bonus-point victory over Cardiff Met at a sunny Bridgefield on Saturday, October 8.

Bedwas opened the scoring after ten minutes after their visitors conceded a penalty, which was kicked to touch. From the resulting lineout the Bedwas forwards drove hooker Mike Dacey over the line. Lloyd Wilkins’ conversion drifted across the posts.

Three minutes later Wilkins’ penalty kick attempt hit a post and rebounded to safety, but Lloyd Lewis showed electrifying pace shortly afterwards to cross in the right-hand corner. But, once again, Wilkins’ kick hit a post and was cleared.

Midway through the first half, Met outside-half Osian Evans missed with a 40-metre penalty, but made amends six minutes later to get his side onto the scoreboard.

Bedwas were next on the scoreboard however, increasing their lead after 35 minutes when scrum-half Callaghan Smith burst through a couple of would-be tacklers to ground over the line.

However, Wilkins’ conversion attempt was yet again off target, as Bedwas extended their lead to 15-3.

That lead was cut to 15-6 when Evans slotted a Cardiff Met penalty through the posts before the interval.

Bedwas returned to the pitch in the second half with replacement Tom Workman, who came on in place of Ben Drew.

Workman soon made his mark on the game, scoring a try four minutes in – crashing through the covering defence to increase Bedwas’ lead and secure the four-try bonus-point.

Wilkins made no mistake with the conversion this time, extending the lead to 22-6.

With Bedwas tails up, the lead was extended further when Aaron Billingham scored after an exciting weaving run past defenders to dot down. Wilkins scored the conversion to take the hosts to the 30-point mark.

And it was soon three tries in the space of 11 minutes when Mike Dacey was driven over the line for an unconverted try.

Cardiff Met pulled a try back when replacement Brad Morgan crossed the line in the 54th minute and Evans added the conversion.

But Bedwas responded straight away, with Lloyd Lewis grabbing his second try of the afternoon in the corner. Wilkins’ conversion extended the lead to 41-13.

The arrears were reduced after 64 minutes, with Brad Morgan grabbing his second try for Cardiff Met, but his efforts went unconverted.

Bedwas were dealt a late blow when flanker Rhys Lewis was sin binned for bringing down a Met maul. From the resulting penalty, Met hooker Connor Chapman took advantage of their extra man to force his way over for a try.

However, Osian Evans missed the conversion.

But any hopes of a late comeback were quashed when Wilkins slotted home two Bedwas penalties to seal 47-23 win.

The victory sees Bedwas up to fifth in the league table, with 16 points from their first five matches, which include three wins and two defeats.

On Saturday, October 15, Bedwas will face Maesteg Harlequins away in the Challenge Cup, before returning to Maesteg to take on the same opponents in the league on Saturday, October 22.

Match report and imagery from Ian Lovell of Bedwas RFC