Glamorgan Wanderers 31 Bedwas RFC 62.
WRU Admiral Championship East, Saturday 09 May 2026.
Match report and photography by Ian Lovell.
Mission accomplished! A dominant first seventy minutes earned a bonus point victory confirms Bedwas as the winners of Championship East for the season 2025-26 with two games left to play and with that promotion back to the WRU Premiership next season.
On a warm, sunny afternoon Bedwas took the lead after six minutes. Wanderers were penalised for a high tackle on Dale Rogers. From the resulting penalty Bedwas found themselves deep into the Wanderers half. Bedwas won the line out and drove hooker Mike Dacey over the line for a try. Harri Ford converted.
Bedwas added a second try nine minutes later in similar fashion as again Mike Dacey was driven over the line, Ford again added the extras.
Wanderers tried to get back into the game but were thwarted by errors and Bedwas defending stoutly.
Bedwas broke from deep after twenty-six minutes with Tristan Kugler sprinting clear to cross for an unconverted try.
Bedwas hopes took a hit after 31 minutes with Mike Dacey penalised for a high tackle and a yellow card followed.
Two minutes later Hamish Anderson picked off a pass and raced fifty metres to cross for Bedwas’s bonus point try.
With the half drawing to a close more drama followed. Back rower Finlay Davies crossed for a try improved upon by Gruff ab Ieaun.
There was still time for Harri Ford to see a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on and although Mike Dacey returned to the field before the half time whistle a cross-field kick was gathered in to score a try which was unconverted.
James Hallett came on as a substitute after the interval to cover for Harri Ford’s yellow card (Hamish Anderson being withdrawn).
Luke Crane and Jake Lee both added tries in the opening nine minutes of the half to ease any nerves of the Bedwas supporters, stretching the Bedwas advantage to twenty-four points. Both conversions went wide.
Wanderers enjoyed some possession but could not prise open the Bedwas defence before Bedwas enjoyed a purple patch around the hour mark.
Wanderers flanker Finlay Davies was yellow carded for a high tackle and the floodgates opened. Mike Dacey notched his hat-trick try as he powered in from close range, Ford converted.
Tristan Kugler added his second of the afternoon after another lung bursting run again converted Ford before Harri Dobbs crashed over for a try which was unconverted. Two minutes later a run from deep by Rhys Peters put the supporting Luke Crane in for a try converted by Ford. Twenty-six points in seven minutes putting the game beyond Wanderers allowing Bedwas to take their collective feet off the gas.
To their credit Wanderers (who prior to this match had won fourteen successive games) ran in three tries in the last ten minutes, two of which were converted giving the scoreline a more respectable look from their point of view.
Bedwas supporters who attended in excellent numbers celebrated at the final whistle many of whom came back to our club to continue the party. Our grateful thanks to each and everyone of them for their support this season.
The Bedwas Man of the Match was awarded to Luke Crane.
The season is not finished as Bedwas host St Peters on Wednesday 13 May (kick-off 7-15pm) before travelling to Minster Road, Roath for the return fixture again versus St Peters on Saturday 16 May.
The match gallery from this game is at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bedwasrfc/albums
