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Newly-promoted Penallta scored seven tries to stun rivals Bedwas on their own turf in a WRU National Championship East matchup.
Penallta came away with a 55-19 win at the Bridgefield on Saturday October 10 to leave Bedwas languishing tenth in the league, while the Pitmen climb to eigth.
With the wind at their backs on a bright October afternoon, it took Penallta barely two minutes to get on the score sheet as back rower Geraint Dallimore crossed for a try converted by Lewis Stephens.
Stevens increased his sides tally with a penalty goal two minutes later before missing a second kick after six minutes as Bedwas were penalised for not rolling away at a ruck.
Gethin Coleman had the chance to reduce arrears shortly afterwards but has penalty shot went wide.
Penallta increased their lead after 15 minutes when blindside flanker Dafydd Rees crossed the whitewash. Stephens missed the extras, but he was successful with a penalty goal two minutes later.
Penallta showed no signs of easing up and a Bedwas clearance kick was charged down by Laurence Prichard who collected the rebound to cross. Stephens scored the conversion to put Penallta 25 points ahead with 19 minutes played.
It could have been worse for Bedwas as another Penallta try was ruled out for a knock-on before Bedwas found themselves a man short following Rhys Jones’s sin-binning.
The hosts held out for eight minutes while a man down, but Penallta scored their fourth try on the half-hour mark to seal a bonus point as Pritchard grabbed his second of the day and Stephens converted.
Further Bedwas indiscipline just a minute later gave Penallta another kickable penalty opportunity and Stephens gratefully accepted the offer.
The visitors continued to dominate possession and territory and added a fifth try with 34 minutes elapsed, Dafydd Rees again on the scoresheet.
Stephens missed the conversion, but half-time arrived with the Pitmen 40 points to the good.
Penallta increased their lead after 43 minutes through another Stephens penalty as Bedwas began to bring on reinforcements.
Bedwas finally began to gain some territory and with almost an hour gone, a catch and drive from a lineout saw captain Dale Rogers grab a try to finally give the Bridgefield faithful something to cheer.
However, Coleman’s conversion kick drifted wide.
The joy was short-lived as Penallta’s Prichard crossed for his third try of the afternoon, this time unconverted.
Sam Davies pulled a try back for Bedwas after 70 minutes, which was converted by Coleman. However, Penallta’s response was fast and decisive.
Stephens added to his tally with a try and conversion to put his side past 50 points.
A Bedwas try and conversion by Coleman reduced the arrears, but it was too little too late to save Bedwas disappointment.
Match report and imagery courtesy of Ian Lovell of Bedwas RFC
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