Principality Welsh Premiership, Saturday October 29 2011.
Match report by John Meredith and photography by Roddy Wood
Bedwas entertained Swansea looking to bounce back from the disappointment against Pontypridd last week and get back to winning ways.
Bedwas made one change from last week with Jamie Jones coming in on the wing. Having won the toss Bedwas played towards Caerphilly.
Swansea had the better of the early exchanges and scored what turned out to be the only try of the game after only four minutes. The Swansea forwards won good line out ball to set up scrum half Rhodri Wells who offloaded in the tackle to number 8 Ben Davies who scored under the sticks. James Dixon added the simple conversion.
The Swansea forwards dominated territory for the first quarter of the game but the Bedwas forwards fronted up to all they could muster. Bedwas gained their first penalty of the afternoon after eight minutes when Swansea were adjudged to be ‘killing’ the ball, Richard Powell expertly dissecting the uprights. Bedwas hammered away forcing mistakes and penalties from their opponents and Powell again punished their indiscretions with another fine penalty goal.
The home forwards continued to turn the screw and as Swansea were penalised for indiscipline Richard Powell kicked two further penalty goals before half time to put Bedwas 12 points to 7 ahead at the break.
Swansea came out for the second half determined to get back into the game. As playing conditions deteriorated Bedwas were on the back foot for long periods of the half. The Bedwas back row of Sargent, Carter and Feehan tackled like Demons keeping the silky Swansea backs out of the game. Bedwas though were finding it hard to get into the visitors half as a real war of attrition was played out.
James Dixon and Nicky Thomas landed penalty goals to put Swansea 13-12 ahead and Bedwas backs were further against the wall following Gareth Williams’ sin binning but everyone dug deep to dog their way through the adversity.
Deep into injury time Swansea’s Rhodri Wells was penalised for ‘killing’ the ball on the ground. Richard Powell stepped up and launched a 55 metre penalty attempt which hit the crossbar and bounced over, the referee blew for time and Bedwas were elated to snatch the victory and Swansea left shattered.
Bedwas Man of the Match- Richard Powell, kicking his goals with metronomic accuracy and has become the first player to score 100 points in this season Welsh Premiership.
Expect some fireworks on Saturday November 5 when Bedwas entertain local rivals Crosskeys in what is sure to be an abrasive contest.