Principality Welsh Premiership, Saturday March 2, 2013.
Match report and photography by Ian Lovell.
A Ryan Evans try in the 50th minute of the second half took the spoils for Neath in what was a hard-fought game.
Bedwas started brightly and had two early penalty chances the first of which appeared to bisect the posts but the match officials thought otherwise and it was not allowed. Bedwas were not to be denied for long however. Lewis Hudd won a race to the line and touched down in the right hand corner. Lewis Robling converted from wide out.
Ten minutes later Bedwas increased their lead via an excellent Rory Budina try who crossed under the sticks after a mazy run avoiding or bumping off several defenders in the process. Robling again added the conversion.
Neath fought back and after a series of scrums close to the Bedwas line were awarded a penalty try after the referee lost patience with Bedwas attempts to defend their line. Langdon added the extras. With half time approaching Neath grabbed a second try from a cleverly worked line out scrum half Luc Jones darted over. Langdon’s conversion drifted wide.
Neath drew first blood in the second half via a Dean Cummins 48th minute penalty.
Bedwas came back strongly Hutcherson broke through before Robling and Pewtner combined to put the former in for a try, the same player adding the conversion.
Neath continued to press before Bedwas hit the self destruct button. Phill Sargent for a swinging arm and Ian George for pulling down a maul were yellow carded within 60 seconds of each other.
The remaining 13 Bedwas players defended like Trojans. Robling added a penalty after 71 minutes to increase the Bedwas lead to ten points. The pressure finally told as Neath earned a second penalty try just before the ten minute sin binnings ended. Langdon successfully converted but Bedwas still lead by three points going into injury time.
Both sides had opportunities to seal the game before centre Ryan Evans crossed for Neath in the tenth minute of added time to gain his side the win and a winning bonus point.
Bedwas visit the Arms Park, Cardiff next Saturday kick-off 11.30am.