Glamorgan Wanderers RFC 37 Bedwas RFC 12.
WRU Admiral Championship, Saturday 21October 2023.
Match report and photography by Ian Lovell.
After a promising opening Bedwas slipped to a third consecutive defeat, this time at Glamorgan, a defeat that leaves the club one place from the bottom of the table with only winless Treorchy below them.
Wanderers had early possession and territory but it Bedwas who took an early lead. Will Fishlock intercepted a Wanderers pass to put Arwel Hughes through on a 50-metre run to the supporting Harry Oliver to cross. James Dixon added the conversion.
The home side struck back after 16 minutes as centre and captain Josh Male drifted through for a try, converted by Jamin Hodgkins.
Bedwas had opportunities to regain the lead but to no avail. James Dixon hit the post with a penalty attempt just over halfway through the half but a smartly taken Hodgkins drop goal put his side ahead five minutes later.
Lloyd Wilkins was sin-binned for an off the ball tackle around the half hour mark, but no further scores were added before the half time whistle blew.
Wanderers scored the first points of the second half courtesy of another Hodgkins penalty before outside centre Aaron Arthur added a try which although unconverted gave his side an 11-point cushion.
Wanderers dominated the next fifteen minutes adding further tries by No.8 Nathan Williams and open-side flanker Finn Davies, both converted by Jamin Hodgkins, earning a four try bonus point into the bargain.
Bedwas efforts to get into the game were further thwarted by Harry Oliver’s yellow card for back chat, and then towards the end of Oliver’s 10-minute sanction Wanderers Finn Davies was yellow carded for persistent infringements by his colleagues.
James Dixon came close to a try but was adjudged to be held up before a try by replacement Jacob Wright five minutes from time reduced the arrears, but it was too little, too late to affect the outcome. Dixon’s penalty attempt missed the target.
Wanderers had the last say courtesy of a try from Morgan Williams who ghosted through a static defence, the conversion sailed wide.
Next Saturday attention turns to Round 2 of the WRU Championship Cup as Bedwas host Trebanos RFC, kick-off is at 2-30pm.
As usual the match gallery is at: Bedwas RFC’s albums | Flickr