Swalec Cup, Saturday January 28 2012
Match report by John Meredith and photography by Ian Lovell
Whilst the result records a one point win for Keys, the result could have been far worse from a Bedwas perspective and doesn’t reflect a dominant performance from the home side.
On a heavy pitch Bedwas started well and took a seventh minute lead courtesy of Richard Powell’s boot after Keys were penalised at a ruck.
It didn’t take Keys long to overturn the deficit. From line out Keys moved the ball out wide and Leon Andrews ghosted through the visiting defence for try under the sticks. Mills easily added the extras. Keys upped the pressure and Bedwas found it hard to get out of their own half. The incessant pressure saw Bedwas concede several penalties for offside before the referee lost patience and sin binned Bedwas hooker Aaron Fowler for killing the ball as Bedwas fought to keep out attack after attack.
Down to 14 men Bedwas fought manfully to keep out their opponents. Keys should have added a further score but squandered a three on two overlap when scoring a try looked the simpler option instead of failing to control the ball. Keys continued to pile on the pressure and were rewarded with a penalty but Mills’s kick hit a post and was cleared.
When Bedwas did develop scoring opportunities good defence by Keys and Bedwas errors saw Bedwas make no impression on the scoring front before Keys were adjudged offside and Powell added a penalty goal to trail seven points to six at half time, it should have been a far greater advantage.
The start of the second half saw the same pattern of play as the first. Bedwas seemed unable to make any headway on the heavy pitch.
The game was held up for sometime early in the half due to a nasty looking injury to Keys centre Nathan Williams who was taken off on a spinal board.
Bedwas defended well to keep out further Keys attacks as the game as a spectacle evaporated.
Keys extended their lead courtesy of new signing Dean Gunter who came off the bench to slot a penalty after Bedwas were adjudged offside. From the restart Keys were penalised for not releasing the ball at a ruck and Powell struck pay dirt with his kick to put Bedwas one point behind.
Keys camped in the Bedwas 25 and totally dominated possession and territory but for all this dominance could not add to their score and the game petered out to leave Keys worthy winners on the day albeit by the most slender of margins.
Bedwas return to Principality Premiership action next Saturday February 4 when they visit the Talbot Athletic Ground to take on Aberavon, kick off 2.30pm.