Rugby Union: Bedwas RFC beat Ebbw Vale 36-6 in their Foster’s Cup clash on December 16 following a disappointing draw against the same opposition just four days prior.
Match reports from both games by Ian Lovell
Bedwas RFC 22 Ebbw Vale RFC 22, Fosters Challenge Cup, Saturday 12 December 2015.
Bedwas had to settle for a draw as Ebbw fought back from 14 points down to claim a draw with a last kick of the match conversion but will feel that they should have won this game. In the end a draw was probably about right as there was not much between the sides on the day.
On yet another wet and cold windy day Bedwas had the elements at their backs for the first half and used them well with James Dixon’s kicking pinning back the Ebbw XV. The opening 20 minutes was evenly contested with neither side really threatening to score.
That changed after twenty four minutes as Bedwas forwards drove forward and Andrew Waite peeled off the back of a rolling maul to dive in for a try, Dixon’s conversion went wide. Four minutes later and with the home forwards again had their opponents going backwards and this time Richard Wilkes was last off the turf to claim the try; Dixon added the extras.
Ebbw hit back and after Bedwas conceded three consecutive penalties the referee quickly brandished a yellow card to Andrew Waite for not retreating ten metres. Ebbw made the superior numbers count and centre Jordan Howells crossed for a try, which was unconverted.
With no let up to the weather the second half saw play continue in a similar fashion as heavy underfoot conditions saw players beginning to tire. Bedwas stretched their lead after sixty four minutes when Dan Crimmins powered over for a try converted by Dixon which saw the home side lead extended to fourteen points with fifteen minutes to play.
Ebbw battled back and won possession in the home twenty two meter area after a Bedwas mistake. The visitors pounced on the error and replacement prop forward Chris Thomas crossed for a try converted by Iain Smerdon to reduce the deficit to eight points.
It looked as though Bedwas would hold out but were penalised twenty five meters from goal and from the resulting penalty Ebbw set up a platform for backrower Ronny Kynes to cross for a try converted by Smerdon followed immediately by the final whistle.
Ebbw Vale RFC 6 Bedwas RFC 36, Fosters Challenge Cup, Wednesday 16 December 2015.
On yet another very wet match, (the rain barely stopped the entire eighty minutes) Bedwas handled the atrocious conditions better than their Gwent neighbours and ran out deserved winners.
After an opening salvo which saw both sides take their time to get into full stride Bedwas opened the scoring after 13 minutes when scrumhalf Luke Crane ducked and weaved through the home defence to score out wide. Richard Powell did well to nail the extras. Eight minutes later and winger Andy Evans finished off a flowing Bedwas move to notch his sides’ second try, Powell again adding the extras. Ebbw had chances to pull a try back but failed to hold onto the wet ball and were also denied a try scoring chance after the referee called a forward pass. Bedwas too might have added to their score but were adjudged held up over the line.
After the break Bedwas were again quickly out of the blocks and after forcing an Ebbw error in midfield the ball found its’ way to Andy Evans who ran in from 40 metres for his second score of the night, again converted by Powell. The home side up the pressure and Bedwas lost Gareth Williams to the sinbin after he was adjudged to have pulled down a maul. Ebbw were however, unable to make the numerical advantage count.
Just as Williams returned from his enforced rest both sides went down to fourteen men after a brawl broke out and Bedwas number 8 Dan Crimmins and home captain Damien Hudd left the field for ten minutes.
Bedwas notched their fourth (and bonus point scoring) try after 67 minutes courtesy of a well worked Mike Callow effort which went unconverted before adding a fifth seven minutes from the final whistle as replacement scrum half was driven over, again replacement James Dixon was unable to add the extras.
Ebbw had the last say when their persistence earned an unconverted try for hooker Joe Franchi with the last play of the game.
This win sees Bedwas lead the way in group C of this competition with two wins and a draw from the three matches they have played. Bedwas take a break from competitive rugby this weekend as the club hosts the Newport Gwent Dragons Premiership select side’s British and Irish Cup tie versus Doncaster Knights. This game will be played at the Ystrad Mynach 4G facility, kick off 3pm.
Bedwas will be next in action on Boxing Day when the side travels to Ebbw Vale for a league fixture kick off at 2.30pm.