Wanderers edged out in thriller
Bedwas 37
Wanderers 31
“Great character and fight shown by the boys as they battled away and had a chance at the death to win the game” commented head coach Paul Matthews “At times we are guilty of following something positive with something negative. Something we must put right”.
“All very disappointed with the result but we shouldn’t be too downhearted there’s a long way to go this season.” Added Manager Mark Gould.
On a bright afternoon at Bridge field a thrilling encounter was edged deservedly by the home side as the Wanderers left rueing some missed opportunities in an exciting Championship encounter. The Wanderers were first out of the blocks when a penalty allowed Evan Gregg to open the scoring 0-3. This was almost immediately cancelled out by the home side as they struck their first penalty 3-3. Both sides probed away looking for a weakness in the other side defence through the early exchanges and the visitors edged ahead again with Gregg’s second penalty 3-6. Looking to put width on the ball the Wanderers were enjoying a decent spell of possession and from another penalty they got their first try. The shot at goal was declined in favour of a 5-metre lineout and from the resulting drive centre Josh Male, who had joined the maul, broke clear and forced his way over in the corner. Gregg converted from the touchline 3- 13. The game ebbed and flowed at a high pace with two very even sides entertaining the crowd. The home side reduced the arrears with a second penalty as the visitors started to fall foul of the referee at scrum time 6-13. The Wanderers were starting to gain a little momentum and after some good handling and support play they created a great chance only to see the ball spilled with the line at their mercy. Bedwas responded with a short period of pressure themselves, but the visitors defended well and weathered the attacks. A third Gregg penalty edged the Wanderers ahead to 3-16. As the half entered its final quarter a change of tack from the home side brought reward. A high tackle penalty was declined in favour of a lineout deep in Wanderers territory. The visitors seemed to defend the drive, but a second penalty mounted the pressure. As has happened in previous encounters between our sides Bedwas’s well executed driving lineout bears fruit and today was no different. A concerted drive saw them crash over and the conversion reduced the arrears to 13-16. This gave the home side momentum and the game broke up for the last few minutes of the half. A trundle downfield by Sam Turner following good defence gave the visitors another chance but they could not convert it into points. The half ended with Bedwas back on the attack and the sides went into the break evenly poised at 13-16.
Bedwas had a stern talking to in the changing rooms at half time and they came out firing (a touch of déjà vu for some of us with memories somewhat intact). A training ground move off a lineout in Wanderers territory put the home side ahead. Moving the ball into midfield they cut back against the grain, breached the defence and raced over for the score 18-16. The home side forwards were starting to take control as both sides looked to their bench for fresh legs. Continuing with the forward dominating approach Bedwas put the visitors under real pressure. A high tackle out wide gave them another chance and the kick to the corner was again fruitful with the second driving maul try to put the further ahead 23-16. The two missed conversions left the Wanderers only 7 points ahead and despite the run of play against them the Wanderers levelled it up. Good defence out wide saw Bedwas spill the ball. Gruff Tough, having another lively game, picked up the ball and raced clear. He was hauled down but AJ Walji, on as a sub was on hand to do his best Ned Bennett impression to score under the posts. Gregg converted 23-23. The crucial part of the game then followed as the forward power of the home side once again was the difference. A 50-22 lineout gave them field position and a superb trundle by the pack saw the referee award a penalty try and a yellow card for Osian Phillips. Down to 14 men the Wanderers were now up against it and with everything going the home side way they seemingly put the game to bed with their 5th try and putting the Wanderers 14 points adrift at 37-23. The game entered its last 10 minutes and the visitors dug deep. Getting the game on the move and picking up the tempo they furnished an opening and Aron Arthur crashed over for the Wanderers 3rd try. 37-28. There was a sense of tension amongst the home side faithful as the Wanderers strived to get something from the game and when Gregg landed a 4th penalty , passing his 100 points for the season so far, there was still a chance 37-31. Time went into the red and when Bedwas secured possession in their own half it seemed all they had to do was kick the ball out of play. Unfortunately, the kick was sliced up in the air and gathered by Steff Davies on as a sub. The Wanderers had one last chance and the moved the ball wide. Taking play into the Bedwas 22 the home side scrambled for defence and they could not have been more relieved when a somewhat unusual penalty was awarded allowing them to put the ball into touch to end the game. Deserved win for the home side on the back of their second half performance 37-31.
Wanderers scorers:
Tries: Josh Male, AJ Walji, Aron Arthur
Cons: Evan Gregg (2)
Pens : Evan Gregg (4)
Massiv Man of the match: Gruff Tough
Management Man of the match: Gruff Tough
Match Pics: https://flic.kr/ps/c7gzd