Bedwas RFC 8 Bargoed RFC 36.
WRU Admiral Championship (East) Saturday 13th April 2024.
Match report and photography by Ian Lovell.
A first glance at the scoreline would suggest that this was in an easy victory for Bargoed, but that is not the case. Bedwas worked hard to contain a hardworking side and on another day might have added to their points tally.
The topsy-turvy spring weather pattern continued, and it was a chilly wind blowing down the pitch from the Caerphilly end of the ground which greeted all. Bargoed had the win at their backs for the first period, but it was Bedwas who scored first after two minutes had been played.
Quick ball off a line-out went to scrum half Jak Robbins and he found the space to run through unopposed to score in the corner. Dixon’s conversion kick drifted across the posts.
Bargoed hit back and sustained pressure on the Bedwas line eventually led to a penalty to the visitors which was cleared to touch. The resulting line-out was won and a driving maul resulted in a try for hooker Morgan Edwards. Josh Prosser converted.
Bedwas attempts to get back into the game were thwarted by good defence before Bargoed extended their lead around the quarter hour mark as a Josh Prosser penalty kick extended their lead, but a further penalty five minutes later went wide.
Nevertheless, four minutes later Bargoed extended their lead as centre Mathew Lewis stretched out to dot down for a try converted by Prosser.
Bedwas fought hard to stay in the game and had the last say of the half thanks to a James Dixon penalty goal to reduce the arrears to eleven points.
Bedwas began the second half strongly and attacked with venom, the Bargoed defence held out with some good tackling, but Bedwas fans felt some of those tackles were on the high side, but the referee was unmoved.
Bargoed weathered the storm and hit back with an unconverted try by left winger Adam Jones to increase their lead.
Around the halfway mark two Bargoed tries for scrum half James Leadbeater and full back Dylan Williams both converted by Prosser put the game beyond Bedwas. Chances came Bedwas’s way but couldn’t be finished off and no further scores were added.
Bedwas RFC extends our grateful thanks to the match sponsors Alan Beedell of AR Steelworks Ltd and Colin Capel of Capel’s Van Centre, Pengam. Your support is much appreciated.
The Bedwas Man of the Match sponsored by Casa Mia Restaurant of Caerphilly was awarded to Dale Rogers.
Next Saturday Bedwas host Glamorgan Wanderers, kick-off 2-30pm.
The match image gallery is at: https://www.flckr.com/photos/bedwasrfc/albums