Bedwas earned a place in the final of the inaugural Fosters Challenge Cup against Pontypridd, after a comfortable semi-final win over Carmarthen Quins on Sunday March 20.
On a dry but cool afternoon, Bedwas got off to a quick start and scored the first try after five minutes, when Andrew Waite squeezed through a pile of Carmarthen bodies to score. James Dixon added the extras.
Dixon increased the home lead after ten minutes with a penalty.
Great defence kept the visitors at arms-length, before Bedwas winger Andy Evans pounced on a loose ball after a kick through caused confusion in the visitors’ defence. Dixon added the extras to put the home side into a comfortable lead.
Richard Powell added a penalty from just inside his own half with two minutes remaining before the break, giving the hosts a 20-0 lead.
Quins refused to lie down and got on the board with the last play of the half, as the home scrum infringed and the referee immediately awarded a penalty try.
It didn’t take long in the second half for Bedwas to increase their lead, Dixon again kicking a penalty.
A great break through several tacklers by lock-forward Tom Bell was rewarded with a try for the supporting Tom Rowlands, which Powell did well to convert from the touchline.
Powell added a further penalty before visiting No. 8 Josh Middleton crossed for an unconverted try to make the score 32-14.
Powell then added a try of his own after twisting his way through the visitors defence, which he added the extras to calmly.
Bedwas were not finished, and a great break by Ross Wardle put Luke Crane in for a try which Powell converted.
Quins had the last word though, as replacement Gavin Thomas crossed for an unconverted try, and the game finished 48-20 in Bedwas’s favour.
After the game Bedwas Chairman Mark Lewis was in an upbeat mood. “We controlled the game from start to finish today, I was not worried at any stage we were going let this slip from our grasp.
We look forward to taking on Pontypridd in the final, we will be competing with great optimism we can complete the job.”
Bedwas next host high-flying Ebbw Vale in the Principality Premiership on Saturday March 26, in what is anticipated to be another keenly-fought contest. Kick-off is at 2.30pm.
- Match report and photography by Ian Lovell