Bedwas RFC 40 Penallta RFC 6
WRU Admiral Championship (East), Saturday 18th October 2025.
Match report and photography by Ian Lovell.
Bedwas maintained their 100% record in the Championship table recording another bonus point win over a plucky Penallta side. The final score doesn’t accurately reflect the game as Bedwas made errors on frequent occasions denying themselves scoring opportunities.
Both sides started cautiously but it was Bedwas who opened the scoring after eleven minutes. James Dixon’s short pass put Rhys Morgans through to run in from thirty metres. Dixon converted.
Further chances to extend the lead saw the ball dropped or the referee to penalise Bedwas for holding on at the breakdown.
Penallta reduced the arrears after seventeen minutes thanks to a long-range penalty goal from full back Cai Wardman.
The scrappy nature of the game continued with neither side conjuring up a scoring opportunity.
However, with just shy of thirty minutes played Bedwas extended their lead as Leo Geraci battled through the traffic to touch down out wide. Dixon added the extras. Bedwas still couldn’t turn the screw and with five minutes of the half remaining another successful Wardman penalty from long-range pegged Bedwas back.
Bedwas extended their lead seven minutes into the second half, Lewis Bowden breaking through for a try converted by Dixon. Ten minutes later Penallta had another long-range penalty chance but on this occasion Wardman’s kick went wide.
With just over half of the allotted time played Bedwas secured the try scoring bonus point as Rhys Peters burst through the backline. James Hallett took over kicking duties to add the conversion.
Four minutes later a catch and drive Bedwas move saw replacement Tom Fitzpatrick driven over for his first Bedwas try. Hallett’s kick drifted wide of the target.
Both sides struggled for fluency but a yellow card for Bedwas’s Mike Dacey for a no arms tackle with ten minutes left to play gave the visitors hope of salvaging something from the game. The Bedwas defence however, kept the visitors out.
Bedwas completed the scoring with three minutes remaining. The Bedwas scrum shoved the visitors back and number 8 Lloyd Jones pounced to score a try converted by Hallett.
Bedwas now sit two points clear at the summit of the league table with Treorchy moving into second position by beating previous second placed side Glamorgan Wanderers 17-16.
Next week Bedwas take a break from league rugby as we travel to Tondu RFC for round two of the Championship Challenge Cup.
The Bedwas RFC Man of the Match sponsored by Casa Mia Restaurant of Caerphilly was awarded to Jordan Rogers.
Todays match images can be found at https://www.flickr.com/bedwasrfc/albums
