Bedwas returned to winning ways in the WRU National Championship with a 27-10 victory at home to Beddau on Saturday, January 11.
The hosts, who began the season with nine consecutive wins, went into the game having suffered back-to-back defeats to Bargoed and Cross Keys.
Bedwas outscored their opponents by four tries to one as they remain in third place in the league.
Bedwas got off to a flying start and took the lead in the third minute when Dion McIntosh’s penalty sailed between the posts.
Shortly after, McIntosh sent a long cross field kick into the left hand corner for Jordan Rees to collect and dive in for a try. McIntosh added the conversion and Bedwas went 10-0 ahead.
However, Beddau responded by battling hard and keeping Bedwas at bay.
Shortly before half-time, Beddau cut the deficit from a Hywel Chatham penalty, which was awarded after Bedwas were adjudged offside by referee Jason Morris.
Beddau then levelled things shortly after, with a well worked try by hooker Will Hally being convered by Chatham.
Bedwas, looking to get themselves back in front, took McIntosh and scrum-half Rory Harries off, to be replaced by Lewis Evans and Matt Bancroft respectively.
Bedwas centre Lewis Bowden came close to scoring shortly after but knocked on as he crossed the line.
Bedwas eventually re-took the lead through substitute Evans, who dived over in the corner for an unconverted try.
Beddau refused to be beaten but having taken the lead, momentum was on the hosts’ side.
With five minutes remaining, Beddau No8 Tom Axenderrie was shown a yellow card and sent to the sidelines after a Bedwas maul was stopped illegally.
A penalty lineout followed and Bedwas’ forwards used their numerical advantage to drive Dale Rogers over the line to score their third try.
Bradley Williams’ conversion drifted wide but Bedwas were now 20-10 up.
The four-try bonus point was sealed when centre Matthew Williams intercepted a Beddau pass deep in his own half and set off for the try line, before offloading to the supporting Bancroft, who dived in to score.
Bradley Williams scored the conversion to clinch a 27-10 win.
Bedwas will now switch their focus to their next game, which is an away trip to Ystalyfera on Saturday, January 18.
Match report provided by Ian Lovell of Bedwas RFC.