Bedwas RFC 31 St Peters RFC 17.
WRU Admiral Championship, Saturday 05 April 2025.
Match report and photography by Ian Lovell.
Bedwas stretched their lead at the top of the Championship East table after gaining a bonus point win against a St Peters side who stayed in the contest until the final whistle.
On a sunny, cloudless early Spring afternoon St Peters kicked off with a stiff breeze behind them. The visitors enjoyed a period of possession from kick-off but it was Bedwas who scored the first points of the afternoon as outside half Ben Lewis jinked through for a try after the forwards established good field position. Lewis added the conversion from close range.
St Peters hit back two minutes later courtesy of a penalty goal from their outside half Tom Francis as Bedwas were penalised for offside. Referee Aled Sion Jones had a long conversation with Bedwas captain Dale Rogers before the kick.
Spurred on by the penalty goal St Peters continued to attack but couldn’t quite find the accuracy to trouble the scoreboard.
Bedwas, meanwhile, hit back just after the half hour as again the pack made good ground before the ball was moved at pace across the back line resulting in a try for Aaron Billingham in the left-hand corner. Ben Lewis’s conversion was on target but didn’t quite have the legs to dissect posts.
Five minutes later Bedwas extended their lead with Tristan Kugler evading several tackles as he ran in from deep, Lewis added the extras to put Bedwas nineteen points to three ahead at the interval.
Shortly after the restart Bedwas replaced the starting prop forwards and second row Alex Meeson and soon afterwards improved upon their lead with a try by captain Dale Rogers, again not converted but it earned Bedwas a four try bonus point.
St Peters struck back after sixteen minutes. From a scrum close to the halfway line scrum half Liam Robinson set off on a arcing run past a static Bedwas defence to cross for a try, improved upon by Tom Francis.
It got better for the visitors two minutes later as a stray pass was intercepted by winger Jack Roberts who sprinted in from forty meters for their second try, converted by Francis.
Bedwas attempts to reassert themselves on proceedings came to nothing, but heads didn’t drop. A penalty was awarded to Bedwas after twenty-three minutes but there was no opportunity to attempt a kick at goal as the Bedwas kicking tee couldn’t be found. Instead, Lewis kicked to touch and from the ensuing lineout the Bedwas pack executed a catch and drive move with hooker Mike Dacey orchestrating operations from the maul to claim his sixteenth try of the season. Ben Lewis added the extras to calm any nerves the Bedwas supporters may have harboured.
St Peters continued to battle away and whilst they failed to add to their score, they should be given credit for battling away until the final whistle.
Bedwas will be relieved with the victory but not satisfied with the performance.
Bedwas RFC would like to thank today’s match sponsors the Bedwas RFC Vice Presidents for the continued generous support.
Today’s Bedwas man of the match sponsored by Casa Mia Restaurant of Caerphilly was awarded to Ben Eedy.
Next Saturday Bedwas travel to Aberdare RFC for another vital game as the season draws to a close.
Today’s image gallery is at: Bedwas RFC’s albums | Flickr
