A Bedwas RFC stalwart who has finally decided to call time on his rugby career was honoured with a testimonial match on Friday May 20.
A Bedwas RFC XV faced a Crawshays Welsh Presidents RFC XV in honour of long-serving Deri Mattravers, who decided to hang up his boots at the age of 45.
Deri managed 40 minutes for each side, playing the full match in an entertaining evening.
The wet weather couldn’t put a dampener on what was an enjoyable game.
Crawshays scored the first try before many fans had settled into their seats as Scott Matthews crossed the whitewash. Kieran Meek adding the conversion.
Bedwas replied through Geraint Edmunds, who bulldozed through the Crawshays defence before Harley Thompson, making a welcome return to the fray, scored tries either side of a Crawshays score. Only the visitors’ try was converted.
Three more Crawshays tries, two of which were converted, added to their tally before Bedwas scored three more.
Crawshays added a try under the posts at the death, and up stepped man of the moment Deri Mattravers to slot the conversion and bring down the curtains on his long and illustrious playing career.
All at Bedwas RFC wish him a long and happy retirement.
• Match report and photography by Ian Lovell of Bedwas RFC.