Bedwas RFC 41 Cross Keys RFC 9
WRU Specsavers Championship, Sunday 8th September 2019.
Match report and photography by Ian Lovell.
On a calm, sunny Sunday afternoon in front of a bumper crowd Bedwas got their WRU Specsavers Championship off to a perfect start with an emphatic 6 try performance over neighbours Cross Keys.
Keys opened the scoring via a penalty from outside half Kieran Hill who’s perfectly struck kick from the half way line sailed through the posts after Bedwas were penalised at a scrum.
At this stage it looked as though Keys’ superior pack size could be pivotal but Bedwas stuck to their task and began to control things in the tight. A second Hill penalty after 15 minutes from 35 metres doubled the Keys advantage but Bedwas hit back immediately. Back rower Owen Jones charged down a clearance kick and showed great determination to see off would be tacklers to dive in for a try. Dion McIntosh’s conversion attempt went wide.
Just before the half hour Bedwas doubled their points tally as winger Alec Jones went over after a break by Owen Jones. McIntosh was again unsuccessful with his conversion attempt.
Keys then went down to 14 men with prop Richard Cornock penalised for a ruck offence. Bedwas went for the jugular and a great break by scrum half Rory Harries put centre Matthew Williams through but unfortunately he lost control of the ball as he crossed the line and the score was disallowed.
With half time approaching Keys’ Hill added a third penalty goal again from the half way line but Bedwas had the final say of the half with winger Jones notching his second try of the afternoon; again unconverted.
McIntosh finally found his range on 44 minutes as a penalty kick dissected the posts to extend the Bedwas lead. Four minutes later Craig Hudd added his side’s fourth try of the afternoon to earn a bonus point.
Bedwas were not finished as Jordan Rees added the fifth try of the afternoon with 52 minutes after a junking run down the left wing. Again McIntosh was off target with his conversion.
Owen Jones looked to have further increase the home advantage but knocked the ball as he crossed the whitewash.
Full back James Hallett took over the kicking duties and added penalty goals on 71 and 76 minutes the latter after replacement Keys prop Scott Hoskins was sin binned for a high tackle which led to both sides squaring up as tempers frayed.
With Keys down to 14 men Bedwas took full advantage of superior numbers in the scrum and completed the scoring via a penalty try as the Keys scrummage disintegrated.
Man of the Match sponsored by Casa Mia restaurant of Caerphilly was awarded to Owen Jones.
Next week Bedwas are in WRU National Cup action and travel to Port Talbot to take on Tata Steel RFC.
Images from this game can be found at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bedwasrfc/albums
*On behalf of AP Cymru I would like to extend grateful thanks to all those who kindly donated to the charity collection. A magnificent sum of £211-70 was raised. Thank you each and every one for your kindness.