Maesteg Quins RFC 19 Bedwas RFC 25
WRU Admiral Championship, Saturday 11 December 2021
Match report and photography by Ian Lovell.
Bedwas repelled a second half Maesteg comeback to hold on for a hard-earned win on a wet and misty December afternoon.
A Dion McIntosh penalty goal put Bedwas ahead in the 6th minute only for his opposite number Owen Howe to repay the compliment two minutes later to level things up.
Howe added a second penalty goal after fifteen minutes to put his side ahead, but the joy was short-lived as Bedwas skipper Craig Hudd collected a kick through the defence to cross for a try converted by McIntosh.
Bedwas grew in confidence and Aaron Billingham continued the good work finishing off some good handling to cross in the corner, McIntosh’s conversion kick drifted across the posts.
After 30 minutes Owen Howe reduced the deficit with a well struck penalty goal from the halfway line, but he was unsuccessful with two further attempts before the half time interval.
Bedwas started off the second half with an early try. An initial break by Owen Jones deep into the Maesteg half saw Bedwas on the offensive, and after several phases on permit (from Cardiff Met RFC) scrum half Callaghan Smith squeezed through a gap for a try. Dion McIntosh added the conversion.
Corey Bushell-Thomas replaced Craig Hudd and Maesteg made several heavyweight replacements to their pack giving them the upper hand at scrum time and after 64 minutes gained the reward of a penalty try after one too many scrum infringements by Bedwas.
With the Bedwas margin now reduced to six points Dion McIntosh settled the nerves with a second penalty goal.
Bedwas continued to find the scrums difficult, young loose head prop Ben Drew who had replaced Liam Jenkins suffering an injury as the Maesteg eight’s dominance continued. The re-introduction of Jenkins steadied the ship as Bedwas fought back to repel the home side.
In the gathering gloom Owen Howe landed a successful long range penalty goal to reduce the arrears to six points and in doing so earned his side a losing bonus point for finishing within seven points of the victors.
Next Saturday Bedwas play their last league game of 2021 when we host the Welsh All Blacks – Neath RFC at the Bridgefield, kick off at 2-30pm.
Match images (from what was a difficult afternoon for photography) are at https://www.flickr.com/photos/bedwasrfc/albums