RUGBY UNION: Missed tackles and indiscipline conspired to make an afternoon to forget for Bedwas as Cardiff won the last game of the Principality Premiership season 46-23 on April 26.
Cardiff’s left wing Mike Stephens crossed wide on the left with only a minute played but Dean Gunter missed the conversion.
Bedwas rallied and with Cardiff down to 14 men following prop forward Tom Davies’s sin binning Joe Mills was driven over for an unconverted try.
Cardiff turned the screw and Dean Gunter penalty goals on 12, 15 and 21 minutes, centre Shaun Powell’s try and a Gunter conversion put them in charge.
Powell was only able to convert one of his own penalty opportunities to compound the misery.
Gunter added a fourth penalty just before the half hour mark before Bedwas scored their best try of the day through Rory Budina, again unconverted.
Right wing Steve Cullen crossed five minutes before the interval but again the conversion was missed to leave Bedwas trailing 24 points to 18 at the break.
It didn’t take long before Cardiff extended their lead, Shaun Powell breaking through some weak tackles for a try. Gunter added the conversion and a further penalty goal, with Bedwas’ James Thomas sin binned.
Tom Slater’s try after 61 minutes earned his side a bonus point after poor defence from Bedwas and James Loxton added Cardiff’s fifth try with two minutes left to play.
Gunter converted and Bedwas were down and out but had the last word with virtually the last move of the game Cullen crossed out wide to earn his side a bonus point for four tries.
The season ends with Bedwas finishing in sixth place with 11 wins and 11 losses.
• Match report provided by Bedwas RFC’s Ian Lovell