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Bedwas have moved to sixth in the WRU National Championship East table after a bonus-point win at Beddau on Saturday December 9.

The win was Bedwas’ third victory on the bounce following a run of four consecutive defeats.

While a number of games were postponed over the weekend, the efforts of Beddau’s groundsmen ensured this one was able to go ahead after heavy rain.

Bedwas played into a strong wind in the first-half, but took the lead after 16 minutes through a James Dixon penalty.

Beddau pulled level six minutes later with a penalty of their own from ex-Bedwas scrum-half Callaghan Smith.

But the visitors regained the lead soon after. Aaron Billingham leapt highest to claim the restart kick-off and after several drives forward Lewis Crane and Jak Robbins worked together to put Robbins in for a try.

Dixon added the conversion to give Bedwas a 10-3 lead, which they took into the half-time break.

Bedwas replaced Crane, Rhys Hutcherson, and Jo Hole at the start of the second half with Arwel Hughes, Ryan Thomas and Liam Beer respectively as they looked to shore up the scrum.

Dixon had the chance to increase the Bedwas advantage, but his long-range penalty kick drifted wide of the posts.

Five minutes later Dale Rogers broke from the back of a close-range scrum to dive over for a try, which Dixon converted. A scuffle ensued before the conversion was taken and Rhys Morgans and Beddau’s Lloyd Evans were sent to the sinbin to calm down.

With both sides down to 14 men, Beddau reduced arrears via a Lloyd Peart try, converted by Cody Baker – reducing Bedwas’s advantage to seven points.

Beddau tried hard to get back into the game, but knock-ons and other errors scuppered their chances.

Bedwas replacement Hamish Anderson intercepted a stray Beddau pass to run a try from deep with eight minutes to play. Dixon again added the extras to give Bedwas a 24-10 lead.

The bonus-point securing try was scored soon after by Billingham, who won the race to touch down his own kick-through.

Dixon stepped up to convert, putting Bedwas 21 points ahead with just four minutes remaining.

Beddau refused to lie down and attacked Bedwas, who were reduced to 14 men once again when Jak Robbins was sinbinned for a deliberate offside with just two minutes left.

Bedwas were able to hold on in the final moments of the game and keep their lead intact.

Bedwas return to the Bridgefield on Saturday December 16 for their last game of the calendar year. They take on Cardiff Met, with the fixture kicking-off at 2.30pm.

Match report by Ian Lovell of Bedwas RFC