Pontypridd 27-39 Bedwas
Saturday August 26, Sardis Road
Ian Gardner’s tenure as Bedwas head coach got off to the best possible start in the Principality Premiership East as his side ran in five tries to claim a first-ever victory at Sardis Road.
On a warm, sunny afternoon on Saturday, August 26, the first game to be played on Pontypridd’s new artificial pitch started at a furious pace as both sides looked for the opening salvo.
It was the visitors who claimed the opening score, as a quickly-taken tap penalty saw the ball moved quickly left to winger Mathew John, who tore through the backline to dot down. Fly-half Steffan Jones, one of four Bedwas debutants in the starting lineup, added the extras from the tee.
Ponty soon levelled the score from quick lineout ball, as back-rower Shane Lewis-Hughes found space to crash over near the posts. Diggy Bird added the conversion for 7-7.
The game was being played at a relentlessly rapid pace, but with both sides unwavering in their reluctance to concede any ground, it became a real arm wrestle.
Bedwas retook the lead on 33 minutes after a series of scrums close to the Ponty try-line brought its reward. No.8 Morgan Allen, a summer signing from the Scarlets, squeezed through a pile of bodies to reach out and touch down, and Jones slotted the conversion.
An exchange of penalty kicks saw the first half draw to a close, with the hosts 13-17 down.
The second half began much as the first had ended, with both sides vying for possession.
Bedwas took advantage of some home indiscipline, and from a lineout, set up a driving maul which saw Wales U20s hooker Ellis Shipp emerge from the bottom of a pile of bodies claiming a try. Jones’ stellar kicking afternoon continued.
Ponty hit back almost immediately as fast hands put replacement winger Lewis Williams through a gap to race away for another try converted by Bird.
Bedwas could sense an upset on the cards and were in no mood to surrender. Steffan Jones, captaining the side, gave supporters a glimpse of what is to come as he took the game by the scruff of the neck, adding a further ten points.
Jones first expertly kicked a long-range penalty to increase Bedwas’ lead to seven points, before exploiting a gap in the home defence to claim the bonus-point try and converting his own score to push the visitors 34-20 ahead.
Once again, Ponty hit back with a raid down the left-hand flank, which culminated in a try for Dale Stuckey. Replacement fly-half Ceri Sweeney added the extras, and with seven minutes remaining the hosts were one score down.
Bedwas defended heroically as Pontypridd went for the jugular, and all hopes of a comeback were repelled.
As Ponty committed men to the attacking cause, Bedwas flanker Andrew Waite was given time and space to break from the half way line with 60 seconds left to play to ensure a dream victory for last season’s defeated play-off semi-finalists.
Jones registered his only blemish on an otherwise perfect afternoon, as the conversion rebounded off the posts, but it mattered not as the squad, staff, directors and supporters delighted in the performance at Sardis Road.
Bedwas next turn their attention to local rivals Newport on Saturday September 2. As part of ‘ladies day’, all female supporters can attend the Bridge Field match for free.
• Match report and photography by Ian Lovell of Bedwas RFC.