Bedwas RFC 49 Aberdare RFC 22
WRU Admiral Championship East, Saturday 8th March 2025.
Match report and photography by Ian Lovell.
Bedwas shrugged off the disappointment of last week’s Championship Cup loss as they bounced back to put seven tries on in form Aberdare.
On a milder, dry afternoon Bedwas were quickly into their stride as quick hands across the back line put Adam Williams through for a try in the right-hand corner. With the wind at his back Lloyd Williams added the conversion.
Aberdare hit back with a penalty goal by Garryn Payne after Bedwas were penalised for holding on at a ruck. A second Payne penalty four minutes later put the visitors within a point of the Bedwas point as Bedwas were penalised for not releasing a tackled player.
Six minutes later Bedwas hit back after Aberdare were penalised at a ruck. From the ensuing penalty Bedwas executed a perfect catch and drive and hooker Mike Dacey crashed through for a try, converted by Wilkins.
As had happened last week Bedwas indiscipline was beginning to look costly as Payne added to more penalty goals from in front of the posts to cut Bedwas’s lead to two points with twenty-three minutes played.
The Bedwas response was quick and clinical. A loose clearance kick was claimed by Adam Williams who shrugged off would be tacklers to set up the supporting Toby Thomas to run through for a try; Wilkins again converted.
Adam Williams added his second try of the afternoon on thirty-two minutes to earn Bedwas a four try bonus point, Wilkins again added the extras.
Four minutes later with Bedwas piling on the pressure Aberdare’s Adam Parry was despatched to the sin bin for a ruck offence. From the ensuing penalty line out the Bedwas pack continued their dominance as the pack made sufficient ground for Mike Dacey to again crash over from the back of the maul. Wilkins continued as 100% accuracy on the day to add the conversion and put Bedwas thirty-five points to twelve ahead at the interval.
With two second half minutes elapsed Aberdare pulled a try back courtesy of winger Ben Miller, but Payne’s conversion attempt drifted wide. Bedwas attacked from the restart by a loose Bedwas pass was intercepted only for an Aberdare player to knock on when he looked likely to score.
Nine minutes later Miller went from hero to villain as he was adjudged to have illegally stopped a Bedwas attack and given a ten-minute rest on the production of a yellow card by the referee.
Bedwas eventually made the superior numbers pay as Mike Dacey plunged over for his third try of the afternoon. Wilkins again converted.
Aberdare did not throw in the towel and added their second try of the afternoon through full back Jarrad Rees, Payne again unsuccessful with his conversion attempt.
Any glimmer of hope that Aberdare may have had evaporated with eight minutes left to play as Mike Dacey bagged his fourth try of the afternoon, Wilkins adding his seventh successful from seven attempts to take him to 248 points for the season.
This victory sees Bedwas draw level with Beddau at the top of the Championship East table but Bedwas have the advantage of having played a game less.
This game marked the 150th appearance in a Bedwas jersey for our inspirational captain Dale Rogers. Congratulations and thanks are extended to Dale for his commitment and leadership skills
Bedwas now have a six-day break before the next fixture on Friday 14th March with a trip to North Gwent to take on Brynmawr RFC, kick-off 7-15pm.
The Bedwas man of the match sponsored by Casa Mia Restaurant of Caerphilly was awarded to Mike Dacey.
Bedwas RFC would like to thank today’s match sponsor Haines Paints and friends for their generous sponsorship of today’s game. We hope they had an enjoyable afternoon.
Today’s match gallery can be found at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bedwasrfc/albums
