Aberdare RFC 0 Bedwas RFC 44.
WRU Admiral Championship East, Saturday 12th April 2025.
Match report and photography by Ian Lovell.
Bedwas maintained their leadership of Championship East with a hard-earned bonus point win over a robust Aberdare side.
On a dry, cloudy afternoon with a hard, dry pitch both sides nullified each other for the first eighteen minutes when the deadlock was broken by a Lloyd Wilkins penalty goal to put Bedwas ahead.
Both sides defence remained unbreeched until just before the half hour mark when an Adam Williams break found Luke Crane and in turn found Lloyd Wilkins to cross under the posts for a try he converted himself.
Bedwas turned up the heat and six minutes later a good move put Aaron Billingham in for a try, Wilkins added the extras, and no further scores were added before the half time interval.
Aberdare continued their resolute defending early in the second half when they were reduced to fourteen men as tight head prop Mitchell Griffiths was sinbinned for a high tackle.
Bedwas increased their lead on eleven minutes as Lloyd Wilkins kicked a penalty and just before Aberdare were back to their full quota of players Mike Dacey was last off the turf for a well-executed catch and drive try, Wilkins missed the conversion.
At this stage Aberdare were still in the wrestle and although Bedwas were determined to gain a four try bonus point the side remained focussed on the game plan.
With nine minutes to play the fourth try was scored by Lloyd Wilkins again under the posts giving him a straightforward shot at goal which was successful.
Despite battling hard Aberdare looked to flag slightly in the final ten minutes with Ben Eedy running in from deep for a try converted by replacement Ben Lewis.
Bedwas continued to attack and just before the final whistle Tristan Kugler sprinted in dodging tackles to cross for a try which was not converted by Lewis.
This was a hard-earned victory, the scoreline does not reflect the effort put in by home side who fought valiantly throughout the contest.
Bedwas are next in action on Wednesday 16th April when the team travel to Glamorgan Wanderers’ Stirling Road ground, kick-off is at 7-30pm and then host Brynmawr RFC on Saturday 19th April at the Bridgefield.
Today’s match image can be found at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bedwasrfc/albums
