Fixture

With bright sunshine providing a backdrop this much anticipated fixture began, as far as the home side were concerned, slowly.  Referee Mr Gerard English was as severe on the accuracy of the throw at the lineout as he was relaxed about the need for a gap.  The first two Beddau throws were pinged.  From the first of these Rhydyfelin created a little space for David Gratton to run into and although Beddau`s midfield defence coped with that an offence had been spotted and David Gratton struck a fine 45 metre goal.

Beddau were struggling to make any headway but when Ben Lee acted as provider as a driving maul culminated the tackle was both high and late allowing Mr English to award the kick.  Hywel Chatham brought the scores level.

That was a brief respite.  Rhydyfelin poured onto a Beddau handling error at the restart and with back rowers Luke Studley and Lewis James forming a bridgehead the ball was swiftly transferred with centre Ross Lucas cleverly making the space for co-centre Luke Waygood to  dive across the line for a very good try.

Soon afterwards quick use of the ball, with Ross Lucas again to the fore, sent Waygood clear.  A fine Cody Baker tackle brought the centre down with two men outside him and a golden chance went begging.

From there to half time Beddau began to take charge of proceedings with the forwards demonstrating the energy and accuracy that has become a feature of recent matches.  Rhydyfelin were happy to see the half through with an 8-3 lead.

The second half could barely have begun more propitiously for Beddau.  A lineout win sent the forwards charging into the 22 and Rhydyfelin hands in a ruck allowed Hywel Chatham to reduce the arrears.  There was an incident at a pile-up that incensed Beddau supporters as Rhydyfelin centre Waygood was clearly striking blows.  The referee could not possibly have seen the offence as he was on the other side but the reaction of Sam Tiley made it apparent that he had been the victim.  To add to Beddau`s sense of injustice loose head Ben Stephens was singled out at the very next collision and shown a yellow card.

Rhydyfelin made advances from the penalty and had been awarded a scrum near the Beddau line when scrum half Garyn Lucas carried on an unnecessary scuffle.  He was sin-binned and Beddau awarded a relieving penalty.  At the next scrum Beddau removed combative flanker Tom Axenderrie to accommodate Fraser Young in the front row.  When Ben Stephens returned the versatile Young dropped into the boiler.

Beddau were now calling the shots and when a penalty was signalled Hywel Chatham played the advantage superbly and his well-weighted chip found Tyler Wells for a try that Hywel Chatham converted.  Rhyd flanker Sam Studley picked up a yellow card. 

More good aggressive driving up front saw Rhydyfelin desperately tying to clear their lines.  Cody Baker fielded the kick and ran strongly back at the Village defence before finding Adam Ashford who thrillingly backed his pace in racing to the corner for a fine try that Hywel Chatham converted.

As has so often happened this season a moment`s lapse in concentration was punished.  A good attack was being steered by replacement scrum half Jack Secher but his short pass intended for Hywel Chatham was picked off by Luke Waygood who found speedster Lewis Jones in enough space to make the 70 metres to score a try that David Gratton converted.

Beddau`s response was immediate and emphatic.  Centres Lewis Egal and Tyler Wells made the opening and though Rhydyfelin disrupted the initial thrust winger James Davies pounced on the loose ball and found Tyler Wells who crashed through tackles to reach the line.

With forwards taking it on Sam Tiley`s pass to Lewis Egal almost made the bonus point.  A last ditch tackle brought Egal down inches short where he was penalised for not releasing.  Some backchat gave Rhyd another 10 metres and a long kick to the left touchline put Gavin Close into space.  The tackles came in but Rhyd recycled and with the game`s dying gasp limping Rhydyfelin full back David Gratton crossed for the game`s final score and what may prove a vital losing bonus point.