Newport 9 – 2 Bedwas
Wednesday January 18, Rodney Parade
Bedwas qualified for the semi-finals of the Foster’s Challenge Cup after a hard-fought game at a poorly attended Rodney Parade on Wednesday evening.
Newport dominated possession and territory early on but could not find a way through a well-organised Bedwas defence.
As Bedwas grew into the game, a series of close range scrums brought no reward. Lock-forward Tom Bell looked to have broken the deadlock, only to spill the ball as he crossed the whitewash.
Bedwas made it harder for themselves on 25 minutes as prop Matthew Pettit was dispatched to the sin-bin for dangerous contact to the head, and Newport’s Matt O’Brien slotted a long range penalty to give his side the lead.
Bedwas struck back almost instantly. A break out of defence saw Adam Williams put Rory Budina in space, and he sprinted down the right-hand flank to touch down out wide. Richard Powell added the extras from the tight angle.
Newport appeared to up the ante in the second period, but Bedwas defied all they could muster and there was no addition to the score until around the hour mark when O’Brien added a second penalty from long range to bring his side within a point.
Richard Powell slotted a penalty to ease Bedwas nerves, but the result still hung in the balance as a third O’Brien penalty again reduced the deficit to a solitary point.
With four minutes of time remaining, Bedwas finally found space as Adam Williams broke through a gap and ran in from 30 metres.
Powell added the conversion and a very late penalty to put his side 11 points clear.
Bedwas will next face one of Bridgend, Carmarthen Quins or Merthyr in the semi-finals.
• Match report and photography by Ian Lovell of Bedwas RFC