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Bedwas clinched their first league win of the season on a hot Saturday afternoon in Cyncoed, beating Cardiff Met by the narrowest of margins thanks to a late James Dixon drop-goal.
The WRU National Championship East encounter was Bedwas’ second league game of the season, following last week’s loss to Beddau.
As temperatures hit 29 degrees Celsius, Bedwas started the game having to defend as the Met students came out firing.
The hosts took an early lead through second-row Liam Antrobus, who crashed through for a try which was converted by fly-half Sam Berry.
The students looked to improve their advantage, but the Bedwas defence held strong.
Towards the end of the half Bedwas began to gain some territory and possession and, after a period of sustained pressure, Dale Rogers was driven over for a try. James Dixon added the conversion to level the scores.
With half-time approaching Bedwas turned the screw and following a scrum, an Aaron Billingham break saw Bedwas close to the try-line, but fast recycling saw the ball moved through several pairs of hands for Jack Guy to dive over in the left-hand corner.
Dixon successfully converted and half-time arrived, with Bedwas 14-7 ahead.
The second half started off much the same as the first as the students looked to play at 100mph, but their efforts were thwarted on a number of occasions as the ball was dropped or penalties conceded.
Bedwas held out until 67 minutes when good passing put winger Joshua Carrington in space to cross for a try out wide. Berry’s conversion kick hit a post and rebounded to safety, keeping Bedwas two points to the good.
Dixon eased Bedwas nerves with a penalty goal two minutes later after Met had been deemed to be blocking off the ball. 17-12 to Bedwas.
The joy was short-lived as another Met attack saw replacement scrum half Zak Roberts burst through for a try – and with Berry’s conversion the students were now two points ahead with eight minutes to play.
Bedwas refused to buckle and laid siege on the home line and with five minutes to play Dixon found the space to kick a drop-goal to put Bedwas a point ahead.
The newly-regained lead was almost lost shortly after however. At the restart a Bedwas infringement prevented the kick being taken quickly – but Berry’s penalty attempt from the halfway line fell short.
The visitors held onto the lead as they continued to control possession and territory to claim a deserved win.
Bedwas will look to build on that win when they welcome St Peters to the Bridgefield on Saturday September 16, with the match kicking off at 2.30pm.
Match report and imagery courtesy of Ian Lovell of Bedwas RFC
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