Monmouth Druids 14 Bedwas Barbarians 34

Dragons Athletic League, Saturday 09 March 2024.

Match report by Dean Picton, Photography by Angela Brideaux.

 

Bedwas Barbarians travelled to Monmouth Druids knowing only a bonus point win would do to take them to top of the Dragons Athletic League for the first time this season.

The match begun in a frantic defensive display by the Ba Ba’s for the first 10 mins. After riding the storm, Bedwas began to play some solid attacking rugby. A great move saw Bedwas steal a lineout the forwards taking the ball to the 22.  Quick ball came from scrumhalf, Morgan Jones to Tyler Picton and Picton’s who missed out fellow centre Jack Guy to put in winger Kairun Swattridge for a wonderful try.

 Bedwas were on fire now as the front row of Ashley Matthews, Cameron Cross and the returning Owain Brideaux smashing through the rucks which allowed Cross to bulldoze himself over for a well-deserved try in the corner which was converted by Tyler Picton.

Monmouth came back at Bedwas again causing the defence to hold strong. Indiscipline led to numerous penalties to Monmouth but no further sanctions. The Bedwas boys held strong until the end of the 1st half with a fierce tackling frenzy from Harvey Stroud, Ben Davis and captain Dewi Thomas.

 Half Time: Monmouth Druids 0 Bedwas Barbarians 12

After some reality checks by the coaching staff at half time, Bedwas came out fighting with triess from the in-form Sam Graves and Saul Down who made his 50th Bedwas appearance.

 A great run by the in-form Lucas Weeks led to an offload to Mike Young who spun a pass that the great “Gareth Edwards” would have been proud of to allow Tyler Picton to run 50 metres to score for a well-deserved try.

The tries kept coming as galloping Logan Hughes ran like a racehorse to score Bedwas’s 6th try.

 A late consolation try by Monmouth saw Bedwas finally climb to the summit of the division with a bonus point win.