Bedwas RFC 33 Trebanos RFC 14
WRU Admiral Championship, Saturday 29 April 2023.
Match report and photography by Ian Lovell.
Injury ravaged Bedwas dug in to secure a deserved bonus point win against Trebanos who are similarly suffering with injuries but gave a battling performance to stay in the game.
The Bedwas side had to undergo changes before kick-off as Harry Oliver had to withdraw with an appendicitis making it fifteen first choice players unavailable. From the names side Tom Chapman moved up to second row with prop Ben Drew taking over at Blind side flanker and Tom Workman starting at loose head having been named on the bench.
On a pleasant spring afternoon Bedwas started brightly before a knock-on in midfield saw Trebanos enjoy good possession and territory before they also lost possession.
Bedwas took the lead as fast hands across the line put Liam Jenkins in for a try, James Dixon converted. Two minutes later Aaron Billingham had a try ruled out due to a forward pass.
Dale Rogers scored the second try after twenty-four minutes as he was driven over from a line-out, James Dixon missed the conversion. During the build up to the try a Trebanos prop forward was injured and because they had no prop forward named as a replacement a player had to be sacrificed and passive scrums were played for the remainder of the contest.
Five minutes before half time Tom Chapman ran through for a try under the posts converted by Dixon
Jack Guy was sin-binned towards the end of the half for pulling back a support player.
Trebanos came out looking fired up and had a penalty chance three minutes into the half but fly half Rob Jones’s kicked failed to dissect the uprights.
Both sides were cancelling each other out but Trebanos bought on three young players who have been representing their youth side and to their credit they were instrumental in giving their side fresh impetus.
Dale Rogers scored his second try of the afternoon after an hours play to earn Bedwas a bonus point for four tries. James Dixon added the extras.
Trebanos scored a well worked try shortly afterwards as replacement backrower Evan Davies crossed under the posts, Rob Jones added the extras. Ten minutes later hooker Evan Kneath added a second try again converted by Jones to close the gap.
Bedwas looked to kill off the game and after turning down the option of a relatively straight penalty chance James Dixon’s determination saw him cross for a try and subsequent conversion to end any hopes of a Trebanos comeback.
With the game coming to a close Bedwas gave a first team debut to centre Kyle Jackson and there was a two minute cameo for head coach Stefan Sankala.
The Bedwas Man of the Match sponsored by Casa Mia Restaurant of Caerphilly was awarded to Dale Rogers.
Images from today’s game can be found at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bedwasrfc/albums