Bedwas came from behind and scored a last minute try to beat Bridgend 16-23 in the Principality Premiership yesterday, November 16.
Dan Preece’s try proved to be the knockout blow for Bedwas, who scored 17 unanswered second-half points after trailing at the break.
Richard Powell started the ball rolling for Bedwas with a fourth minute penalty goal, before the hosts’ James Dixon landed two goals of his own to put his side ahead.
Both sides’ lack of fluency and mistakes, coupled with the referee’s frequent intervention did not make for much of a spectacle.
Powell missed an opportunity to level things when his long range penalty drifted wide, before he and Dixon added to their tallies with successful with kicks.
When Bedwas got within range they did not take their opportunities and were punished a minute before the break when home centre Adam Williams burst through poor defence to ground to the right of the posts.
Dixon added the conversion to put his side 16 points to 6 ahead as the referee blew for half time.
If stern words were said at half time it paid dividends as Bedwas came out looking more determined and with a better shape. Powell reduced the deficit with his third penalty of the afternoon after 46 minutes.
A raft of Bedwas substitutions between 50 and 60 minutes proved decisive as Bedwas began to gain possession and territory.
A sweeping move saw Rory Budina cross in the left hand corner and with replacement Jack Maynard’s successful conversion Bedwas were back in the contest at 16 points each.
Both kickers missed shots at goal and it began to look as a draw was the most likely conclusion as neither side could find additional points.
With the clock ticking down Bedwas put together their best move of the match and replacement prop Dan Preece stole the show with a try under the sticks.
Maynard added the relatively simple conversion and the referee blew for full time and a Bedwas win, leaving them seventh in the table.
Bedwas are next in action on Friday November 21 when they host Llandovery at 7.30pm.