Bedwas 23-18 Carmarthen Quins
Foster’s Challenge Cup, Saturday April 1, Bridgend
Bedwas finally ended their silverware drought to claim the Foster’s Challenge Cup, after a hard fought contest between two evenly-matched sides.
After an tense ten minutes where both sides competed for an opening, it was Quins who scored first. Following good patience, and after a number of phases across the pitch, back-rower Shaun Evans crossed for a try. Outside-half Steffan Marshall missed the conversion.
From the restart Bedwas gained a penalty in front of the posts and Richard Powell made no mistake to reduce the arrears.
Marshall extended Quins’ lead after 18 minutes with a penalty as Bedwas were adjudged offside, before Powell struck back when Quins were penalised at a ruck.
Both sides lost a man to the sin bin on the half-hour as Bedwas flanker George Lee and Quins No.8 Morgan Allen were dispatched for a minor altercation.
One minute later and a lovely sidestep by Mike Callow to round his opposite man put Patric Lewis in space, and the youngster ran through from deep to cross for Bedwas’s first try. Powell was on the mark with his conversion kick to put his side 13-8 ahead.
After an hour, the introduction of Tom Bell gave Bedwas some impetus as the young second rower took the game to Quins.
Shortly afterwards, good handling by the Bedwas team put Callow through for a try under the posts. Powell added the conversion to put his side 12 points ahead.
Quins refused to lie down and Bedwas dug deep to repel any attempt to score. Pat Lewis came desperately close to a second try only to see it ruled out for a foot in touch before Marshall and Powell exchanged penalties.
Both sides made changes to replace tiring bodies and with six minutes remaining, Carmarthen replacement Andrew Green crossed for a try close to the left hand touchline. Substitute Craig Evans expertly converted to set up a tense end to the game with just five points between the sides.
To their credit, Carmarthen continued to battle hard but Bedwas kept their concentration and after what seemed an eternity of added time, were finally able to boot the ball off the pitch from a penalty to start the victory celebrations.
• Match report and photography by Ian Lovell of Bedwas RFC.
