Bedwas 54-5 Ebbw Vale
Saturday October 7, Bridgefield
Bedwas signed off the first block of Principality Premiership East fixtures with an emphatic eight-try demolition of Ebbw Vale, moving five points clear at the top of the table.
The hosts thought they had taken an early lead at the Bridgefield, but Lewis Evans’ effort was chalked off by the referee for crossing.
It wasn’t long until the opening score however, when man-of-the-match Morgan Allen crashed through a poor defence to canter 20-metres and dot down under the posts. Evans converted.
Ebbw barely had time to get their breath back as winger Matthew John finished off a flowing move to cross near the left-hand touchline for a second try in two minutes.
Bedwas led 14-0 after ten minutes, and continued to dominate territory. Ross Wardle did brilliantly to offload to his centre partner Mike Callow, who burst through the middle for another home score.
The bonus-point was secured with John’s second try of the day on the half-hour mark, and a poor Ebbw side were struggling to make any headway.
As half-time approached, there was no respite for the visitors.
A scrum close to the Ebbw line saw the ball squirt out, and Bedwas scrum-half Tom Rowlands reacted quickest to pounce on the loose ball and score. Evan’s 100% record from the kicking tee took the scores to 35-0.
The home side ended the first-half with a flourish, as a last ditch offensive gained its reward when flanker Kristian Parker was driven over for an unconverted try – their only score of the afternoon.
With the wind at their backs for the second-half, Ebbw started strongly, and managed to pin Bedwas in their own half for the third quarter of the match.
Their territorial possession did not bring any reward however, despite Bedwas losing Rowlands to the sin-bin.
The home side turned to the bench as the second period progressed, and the fresh legs swung the game back into Bedwas hands.
Replacement scrum-half Nicky Griffiths crossed for a try before Alun Rees – also off the bench – grabbed his side’s seventh. Steffan Jones missed the latter conversion.
Ebbw were fading badly, and second-rower Rees added his second of the day with the final whistle approaching. Jones’ conversion took the tally to 54, and with it a fifth bonus-point win in seven matches.
Principality Premiership action takes a three-week break for British and Irish Cup fixtures, before Bedwas host Pontypridd on Saturday, October 28.
• Match report and photography by Ian Lovell of Bedwas RFC.