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Bedwas overcame Caerphilly County Borough rivals Penallta by a solitary point when the sides met in Ystrad Mynach on Saturday January 13.

The visitors scored four tries to seal a 26-25 WRU National Championship East victory in a game that could have gone either way.

The win was Bedwas’ sixth on the bounce, with the side now fifth in the table, while Penallta are second from bottom after three wins and eight losses in 11 games.

Bedwas opened the scoring with a try from Luke Crane after six minutes, but James Dixon was unable to convert for two extra points.

Penallta hit back with a Lewis Stevens penalty kick to cut the visitors’ lead.

However, Bedwas responded with their second try of the afternoon when Adam Williams ran in from deep to breach Penallta’s try-line.

Dixon made no mistake with the conversion this time, giving the visitors a 12-3 advantage.

Penallta fought back and were rewarded when Laurence Pritchard crossed over for his side’s first try of the game.

Stevens’ conversion cut Bedwas’ lead to just two points as the sides went into the half-time break.

Bedwas were on the front foot at the start of the second-half and a break by Hamish Anderson saw him score Bedwas’ third of the afternoon. Dixon’s conversion opened up a seven-point lead.

The four-try bonus-point was sealed soon after, with Lloyd Wilkins getting himself on the scoresheet with a try.

Dixon converted to put the away side 26-10 ahead.

However, Penallta hit back quickly, with Pritchard scoring his second try of the match.

Stevens missed the conversion, but nonetheless Penallta were back in the contest.

Later on in the second-half, Stevens added three more points to the hosts’ tally after Bedwas’ Williams was sin-binned for an alleged high tackle.

Ill-discipline would hit once again, with replacement Harry Oliver becoming the second Bedwas man shown a yellow card – this time following a fracas off the ball.

Bedwas woes were compounded by injuries to a few players and with seven minutes left, former Bedwas player Corey Tucker crashed over for a Penallta try.

Stevens converted, cutting Bedwas’ lead cut to a single point.

However, the away side dug deep and kept possession at the death to hold onto their lead and deny Penallta – with the ball being cleared into touch to bring the tie to an end.

Penallta return to league action on Saturday January 20, when they will make the short trip to Newbridge for another all-Caerphilly County Borough affair.

Bedwas meanwhile are in Championship Cup action that day, welcoming Brecon to the Bridgefield.

Report from Ian Lovell of Bedwas RFC