Treorchy RFC 14 Bedwas RFC 36
WRU Admiral Championship East, Friday 07 February 2025.
Match report and photography by Ian Lovell.
Bedwas stretched their unbeaten league streak to twelve games with a bonus point win at the Treorchy Oval.
On a cold February evening in heavy sleet during much of the game Bedwas set their stall out early.
After two minutes a Bedwas scrum on the halfway line saw the ball moved quickly to centre Rhys Peters who sprinted in with the defence nowhere to be seen. Lloyd Wilkins added the extras from in front of the posts.
Five minutes later Bedwas continued to attack and from a lineout set up a driving maul Harry Oliver dived over to claim a try. Wilkins’s kick drifted wide.
Treorchy’s attempts to get back into the game were thwarted by good Bedwas defence and handling errors from their players.
Bedwas extended their lead just after the halfway point of the half. Lloyd Wilkins put in a brilliant 50-22 kick and from the resulting line out the ball eventually found its way to Lewis Bowden to muscle his way past the defence for a try converted by Wikins.
Bedwas attacks continued but were hampered by mishandling in the difficult conditions. Nonetheless with half time approaching Bedwas crossed for their fourth and bonus point try. A Treorchy clearance kick was charged down by Harry Oliver the ball bouncing enough for Number 8 Christian Francis to collect and dive over the line. Wilkins was unable to add the extras.
There was still enough time for Treorchy prop Chris John to collect a yellow card for backchat to the referee and have an enforced ten-minute spell on the sidelines.
Starting the second half with fourteen men didn’t deter Treorchy and within three minutes of the start they crossed for a try by replacement Jordan Williams converted by Rhodri Jones.
Bedwas were struggling to find their usual rhythm at this stage but halfway through the half regained the momentum as the home side were again reduced to fourteen men, this time Number 8 Jac Williams being adjudged the guilty man for pulling down a Bedwas driving maul. From the resulting penalty the Bedwas forwards gained sufficient traction for Harry Oliver to cross under a pile of bodies for an unconverted try.
Treorchy responded with their second try of the night from outside centre Liam Lloyd converted by Jordan Lloyd.
Bedwas were reduced to fourteen men shortly afterwards with Lewis Bowden sinbinned for a no arms tackle.
Bedwas put the game to bed with ten minutes to play as Adam Williams turned back the years and sprinted sixty metres to the try line in lung bursting run full of determination and guile. Lloyd Wilkins rediscovered his kicking accuracy to add the extras.
The game finished with a bit of niggle but no intervention from the referee was needed and Bedwas held out for a deserved victory.
Next Saturday Bedwas head to the Capital to take on Glamorgan Wanderers, kick-off is at 2-30pm.
Todays match images can be found at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bedwasrfc/albums
