RUGBY UNION: Bedwas RFC battled their way from 30 points behind Carmarthen Quins to score a memorable win on December 5.
The first 30 minutes of this Principality Premiership clash belonged to the Quins who ran in four tries to earn a bonus point. The following 50 minutes however belonged to Bedwas, who scored 40 unanswered points in a blistering display of rugby.
With a strong, cold wind at their backs at Bedwas’ Bridge Field, the Quins were straight on the front foot with a 45-metre penalty goal after only 40 seconds.
A second Carmarthen penalty was kicked for touch and, from the lineout, winger Gavin Thomas crossed. Fly-half Dan Jones converted and the visitors were ten points to the good.
Bedwas could not get any meaningful possession and it was no surprise when Carmarthen’s Thomas added a second try, this time unconverted.
The home defence held for a while but were unable to stop a drive by the visiting forwards. Flanker Elis Lloyd emerged from a pile of players to claim an unconverted try. Three minutes later scrum-half Connor Lloyd exposed a huge gap in the home defence for the bonus point try. With Jones’ conversion, Carmarthen were 30 points ahead with just 30 minutes on the clock.
However, Bedwas battled back and five minutes before the break scored a decisive try. Tom Rowlands’ quickly taken tap penalty put winger Mathew John in for a try. Richard Powell converted from wide out, but nobody would have predicted what was to happen in the second-half. Bedwas dominated the scrum after the break and referee Dan Jones awarded a penalty try after 51 minutes as the visitors’ scrum disintegrated.
Bedwas were suddenly rampant and Geraint Edmunds charged down a clearance kick, collected, and crossed for a try, Powell converted to bring Bedwas to within six points of their visitors. Bedwas continued to pound the Carmarthen 22-metre area and the visitors struggled to keep them out. A yellow card for Carmarthen for not releasing a tackled player saw them a man down and Bedwas duly took advantage with a try by Alun Rees and a conversion by Powell. Bedwas were in front, and a bonus point in their pocket, with just 13 minutes left.
With four minutes remaining further pressure saw centre Adam Williams cross, to the delight of his team mates, Powell again converted and forty unopposed points saw Bedwas claim an impressive victory which looked unlikely at the halfway point.
• Bedwas take a break from league rugby on December 12 when Ebbw Vale visit the Bridge Field for a Foster Challenge Cup fixture, the return fixture being scheduled for Wednesday, December 16.
On Saturday, December 19, Bedwas return to league action with a Boxing Day fixture and a trip to Ebbw Vale.
Match report and photograph by Ian Lovell of Bedwas RFC.