BRIDGEND 14 – 55 BEDWAS
Saturday March 11, Bridgend
Six scintillating first-half tries in a display of clinical rugby paved the way for Bedwas to clinch a spot in the Foster’s Challenge Cup final for the second consecutive year.
Last year’s beaten finalists will look to go one better after seeing off Bridgend with ruthless dominance on Saturday March 11.
Bedwas showed their intent from the start, and the match was barely two minutes old when tighthead prop Chris Budgen was driven over for the opening try. Outside-half Richard Powell added the conversion for the first of several converted scores.
Six minutes later, and scrum-half Nicky Griffiths found space in the Bridgend defence to burrow in for the visitors’ second converted try.
The Bedwas faithful didn’t have to wait long for another, as flanker James Richards forced his way through a pile of bodies to cross. Powell’s conversion struck the upright and bounced clear, but Bedwas were 19 points to the good.
Their momentum was relentless as Powell struck a penalty, before captain Griffiths secured the bonus point as he stretched to dot the ball down for a fourth try.
Bridgend had no answer to the accuracy of the Bedwas attack, and the visitors added a fifth on the half-hour as winger Pat Lewis danced through. The Blues showed their mettle in defence too, as they repelled a rare foray into their half from the home side.
The game was as good as sealed just before the interval when full-back Aaron Bramwell squeezed through for a sixth score and a 43-0 lead.
Powell’s successful afternoon from the tee was disrupted by injury, and a host of half-time changes upset the Bedwas rhythm.
Bridgend got onto the scoreboard early in the second-half to the delight of their supporters, as winger Tom O’Flaherty exploited a hole in the Bedwas defence. Outside-half Joseph Scrivens added the conversion, but any hopes of an unlikely comeback quickly evaporated as replacement-back Connor Edwards set up Lewis for his second try of the afternoon and Bedwas’ seventh.
Bridgend looked for salvation and dominated periods of possession. With Bedwas on the back foot, former Ravens’ favourite James Dixson was sinbinned for killing the ball at a ruck, but the visitors did well not to concede.
Second-rower Geraint Edmunds crashed over for an eighth score and Bramwell successfully added the extras, but the Edmunds was forced off injured shortly after, leaving Bedwas two-men down.
Bridgend fought until the very end, and with two minutes left to play, O’Flaherty found the space to cross for a consolatory second which was converted by replacement Jack Lloyd and round things off at 14-55.
Bedwas will now look to avenge their 38-34 loss to Pontypridd in the competition’s final last year.
• Match report and photography by Ian Lovell of Bedwas RFC.