Bedwas RFC 18 Bargoed RFC 38

WRU Admiral Championship, Saturday 27 November 2021.

Match report and photography by Ian Lovell.

 Bedwas were found wanting by Bargoed’s better all-round game as they fell to a heavy defeat on a cold, windy November afternoon.

The afternoon started well enough for Bedwas as Matty Bancroft notched a first minute penalty goal after Bargoed were penalised for offside.

The joy was short-lived. Three minutes later Bargoed were awarded penalty for Bedwas not releasing in the tackle which was kicked into touch. From the resulting line-out the big Bargoed pack rumbled over for a try by second row forward James Locke, Steffan Jones adding the conversion.

Bedwas got back into the game fortuitously, a kick through the corner bamboozled a Bargoed defender and Aaron Billingham pounced on the loose ball to claim a try. Bancroft’s conversion kick drifted wide.

Bargoed regained the lead midway through the half as Steffan Jones crossed the whitewash before converting his try to extend the lead. A few minutes Bancroft reduced the arrears with a penalty goal.

Both sides looked to add to their scores but dropped passes saw no further scores until just before the half time break when Jones notched a penalty goal to make the score Bedwas 11 Bargoed 17 at the interval.

It didn’t take long for into the second half for the visitors to increase their lead as another driving maul saw Ronny Kynes last off the turf for a try improved upon by Steffan Jones.

The visitor’s Jordan Howells was sin binned for a no arms tackle after 50 minutes, but it didn’t deter his teammates and two minutes later Steffan Jones scored his second try and conversion double of the afternoon.

Bedwas made a host of changes, but Bargoed were using the wind advantage better than the home side had and increased their lead after 65 minutes courtesy of a try by winger Duane Dyer. Jones again adding the conversion.

Jones then went from hero to villain as he was sinbinned for a deliberate knock-on as Bedwas finally awoke from their slumbers and began to get some territory.

Billingham added his second try of the afternoon with ten minutes to play, converted by replacement Dion McIntosh but the visitors defence denied any further scoring and the referee called an end to proceedings.

All in all a disappointing afternoon for the Bedwas faithful but there will be an early chance to right the wrongs next weekend when Cross Keys come to Bedwas, kick off at 2-30pm.

Today’s match images can be found at: Bedwas RFC’s albums | Flickr