Bedwas RFC 90 Mountain Ash RFC 0.
WRU Admiral Championship East, Saturday 22 March 2025.
Match report and photography by Ian Lovell.
Bedwas overcame the memory of last week’s defeat at Brynmawr by scoring fourteen tries, decisively defeating a weakened Mountain Ash team.
On a mild, dry afternoon both sides took time to settle.
Bedwas opened the scoring after ten minutes. Accurate passing across the field paved the way for Leo Geraci to shrug off would be defenders to dive over in the left-hand corner. Ben Lewis playing his first game since last December took on the kicking duties, but his kick drifted across the posts.
Five minutes later Bedwas added their second try of the day as Rhys Peters evaded the visiting defence to cross, Lewis successfully added the conversion.
Mountain Ash’s attempts to get back into the ground were unsuccessful and with just over half of the first half played Lewis Bowden powered over for a try, again converted by Lewis.
Bedwas kept up the pressure and with half an hour played Adam Williams celebrated his 150th Bedwas appearance with a try to earn Bedwas a four try bonus point. Lewis again successfully converting.
Bedwas kept their feet firmly on the throttle as two minutes later Rhys Peters burst through for a try. Lewis added the extras.
It was all Bedwas at this stage as Luke Crane on permit from Newport added try number six, this time unconverted.
There was still time for Lloyd Wilkins to run through for Bedwas’ seventh try of the half, converted by Lewis to see Bedwas lead at half time by forty-five points to nil.
Bedwas made changes after the interval, but it was business as usual as Lewis Bowden ran through for a try inside two minutes of the restart. Lewis added the extras.
Mountain Ash’s task became harder with the sin binning of lock forward Steffan Calderbank for an off the ball tackle, Bedwas taking full advantage of the superior numbers for Will Fishlock to be driven over for an unconverted try.
Fishlock added his second try shortly afterwards this time running in unopposed to dot down under the posts. Lewis added the conversion.
Between Fishlock’s second try after nine minutes and the next Bedwas try after twenty-two minutes no scoring opportunities were forthcoming before Leo Geraci added his second of the afternoon, converted by Lewis.
Replacement Lewis Crane notched up the twelfth try of the afternoon as he finished of a break by Rhys Morgans, Ben Lewis converted.
Mountain Ash to their credit didn’t give in but Bedwas’s defence kept them at bay before Luke Crane added his second (and the team’s thirteenth of the afternoon) with seven minutes remaining. Ben Lewis added the conversion.
Bedwas were not finished and with the last play of the game Rhys Peters crashed through the defence to score a try. Ben Lewis added the conversion to see the final score of Bedwas 90 Mountain Ash 0.
The final score is believed to be Bedwas’ highest score and winning margin of the recent era.
The Bedwas man of the match sponsored by Casa Mia Restaurant of Caerphilly was awarded to Luke Crane.
Next week Bedwas will be looking to continue the form shown today as we visit Rumney RFC for what is expected to be a tough encounter.
The images from today’s game can be found at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bedwasrfc/albums
