Brynmawr RFC 20 Bedwas RFC 19
WRU Admiral Championship East, Friday 14 March 2025.
Match report and photography by Ian Lovell.
Bedwas slipped to their second defeat of the season on a night of high drama at Brynmawr’s Recreation Ground.
On a chilly, still evening both sides struggled to come to grips with the referee’s interpretations leading to yellow and red cards, but such a statement should not detract from the fact that Brynmawr fully deserved the win on the night even though Bedwas should have ‘nicked it’ at the end.
Brynmawr took an early lead after Bedwas were penalised at a scrum, full back Liam Butler successfully converting the penalty goal.
Bedwas attempted to counter but fierce defending saw scoring chances few and far between.
Brynmawr were reduced to fourteen men mid-way through the half with flanker M. Parker shown a straight red card for an alleged tip tackle.
Bedwas looked to attack but when one move broke down Jake Lee was sinbinned for back chat to the referee and Bedwas were also down to fourteen men. It got worse for Bedwas minutes later after Lewis Bowden was penalised for a ruck offence and he too had to undertake a ten-minute rest as the referee issued a yellow card.
Brynmawr upped the ante and from a catch and drive line out hooker L.Griffiths claimed a try converted by Butler.
Bedwas efforts to get into the game were thwarted by a determined home defence and with thirty-four minutes played the irrepressible Butler crossed for a try, adding the conversion to put his side in command.
No further scores were added.
Bedwas made changes at the start of the second half. Toby Thomas was withdrawn with Jak Robbins moving to scrum half and Aaron Billingham taking on the full back role. Alex Meeson replaced Jo Hole at the same time.
With approximately fifteen minutes elapsed further indiscipline from the home side saw another straight red card, this time home tight head prop forward trudging off for a high tackle.
Bedwas moved quickly and a Dale Rogers try converted by Lloyd Wilkins (in doing so Lloyd bought up a personal tally of 250 points for the season- a magnificent effort!).
Bedwas tails were up, and fast hands saw the ball in Lloyd Wilkins’s hands and a well-executed chip and chase saw him cross for a try he converted himself.
Brynmawr dug deep and Bedwas couldn’t find a way through the defence even with the introduction of fresh legs as Lewis Crane, Ioan Hill and Lloyd Jones all tried to make an impact.
With two minutes to play it looked as though Bedwas had secured victory with Aaron Billingham shrugging off would be defenders to cross out wide, but Lloyd Wilkins’s conversion was unsuccessful, although Bedwas were two points ahead.
From the restart Bedwas decided to try and keep possession and try to run down the clock. It didn’t go to plan as a penalty conceded at a ruck gave Liam Butler the opportunity to kick one more penalty- an invitation he did not decline, and his successful kick was greeted with rapturous applause from the home supporters.
Bedwas’s sole bonus point for losing within a seven-point margin seeing them one point clear at the top of the table having played the same amount of games as Beddau.
Next Saturday Bedwas host Mountain Ash (2-30pm kick off) as they look to put this setback behind them and keep the pressure on Beddau at the top of the table.
Some images from this game can be seen at https://www.flickr.com/photos/bedwasrfc/albums Not many images this week due to challenging lighting!
