Bedwas RFC 47 Cardiff Met RFC 23
Admiral WRU Championship, Saturday 08 October 2022.
Match report and photography by Ian Lovell.
Bedwas produced their best team performance of the season to date to run in seven tries against a Cardiff Met side who fought well until the final whistle on a sunny, mild October afternoon.
After the usual settling in period Bedwas opened the scoring after ten minutes. Met conceded a penalty which was kicked to touch. Fron the resulting line up the Bedwas forwards drove hooker Mike Dacey over the line. Lloyd Wilkins’ conversion drifted across the posts.
Three minutes later Wilkins’ penalty kick attempt hit a post and rebounded to safety, but Lloyd Lewis showed electrifying post shortly afterwards to cross in the right-hand corner; once again Wilkins’ kick hit a post and was cleared.
With half of the forty minutes gone Met’s outside half Osian Evans missed with a 40-metre penalty shot but made amends 6 minutes later as he found the target to get his side on the scoreboard.
Bedwas increased their lead after 35 minutes via former Met scrum half Callaghan Smith who burst through a couple of would-be tacklers to ground over the line, Wilkins’ conversion kick was off target.
Evans kicked a penalty goal deep into stoppage time to reduce the arrears to nine points with the last kick before the referee blew for half time.
Tom Workman entered the fray as the start of the second half as her replaced Ben Drew. Four minutes into the half Workman used his considerable size to crash through the covering defence to increase the Bedwas lead, earning a bonus point for four tries at the same time, Wilkins added the extras.
Bedwas tails were up, and Aaron Billingham increased the lead after an exciting run weaving past defenders to dot down, Wilkins again added the two points.
Mike Dacey made it three tries in eleven minutes as he was driven over for an unconverted try.
Met responded with a try by replacement Brad Morgan after 54 minutes, Evans added the conversion, but Bedwas stormed back three minutes later and quick hands across the line put Lloyd Lewis in for his second try of the afternoon in the corner. Wilkins added the extras.
A second try of the afternoon by Brad Morgan reduced arrears after 64 minutes but the try went unconverted.
Bedwas flanker Rhys Lewis was sinbinned for bringing down a Cardiff maul and from the resulting penalty Mets hooker Connor Chapman took advantage of their extra man to force his way over for a try. Osian Evans missed the conversion.
Two Lloyd Wilkins penalties after 72 and 75 minutes were enough to quell any hopes of a student comeback and seal the deal for a deserved home win.
Next week Bedwas travel to Maesteg Quins for a Championship Challenge Cup match, kick-off is at 2-30pm.
Images from the game are at: Bedwas RFC’s albums | Flickr
Bedwas Man of the Match sponsored by Casa Mia Restaurant was awarded to Mike Dacey.
The boys enjoyed that one!