Pontypridd 38 – 34 Bedwas
Saturday April 9, Bridgend
If ever there was a game of two halves, then this was it, Pontypridd running in five tries in a dominant first half and Bedwas running in four of their own in the second as they came agonisingly close to snatching the spoils after a breathless Fosters Challenge Cup final.
On a bright, cool afternoon at the Brewery Field, Bridgend, the game started at a fast tempo as both sides looked for an opening.
It was Pontypridd who struck first, as full-back Geraint Walsh ran through for an early try. Ceri Sweeney adding the extras.
Bedwas responded with a try from a driving maul. Matthew Pettit was the man to claim the score; Dixon’s conversion went wide.
Pontypridd responded in devastating fashion.
Bedwas could not hold their elusive runners and the gaps in their defence were cruelly exposed.
Back-rower Rhys Shellard crossed for a try which was converted by Sweeney, but a hat-trick of tries by centre Harri Millard, one of which went unconverted, saw Pontypridd 38-6 ahead at the interval.
Those of the Bedwas persuasion could be forgiven for thinking this was going to be an absolute rout.
However, whatever was said in the dressing room at half-time galvanised the Bedwas players, and the substitution of Adam Williams for Andy Evans, shifting Aled Brew to centre turned out to be a masterstroke.
Bedwas attacked from the off, and the sin-binning of Tom Rowlands for excessive rucking at a maul set off a minor scuffle.
Bedwas were not to be denied despite the one-man disadvantage, and George Lee crossed for a try to which Dixon added the extras, and the game began to change.
Parity then came about as Pontypridd lost a player to the sin bin for killing the ball at a ruck before Bedwas’ replacement back-rower Andrew Waite powered over for an unconverted try.
It was all Bedwas at this stage and Pontypridd were on the ropes.
It got better for Bedwas as a kick through the defence saw Andy Evans pounce on a loose ball for a try. Dixon converted and the noise levels from the Pontypridd section of the crowd went a notch quieter.
Bedwas were in control and the forwards took the game to their opponents and although scoring opportunities were fashioned, handling errors saw them come to nothing.
Bedwas weren’t yet finished, as Aled Brew powered through a tiring defence.
Crucially, Dixon was wide with his conversion, but Bedwas remaining in touching distance.
One last effort saw the boys in red come agonisingly close to a match-clinching try but the Pontypridd defence held out to win the final, which was an outstanding advertisement for the semi-professional game, and lift the trophy.
Final score Pontypridd 38 – 34 Bedwas.
• Match report and photography by Ian Lovell of Bedwas RFC.