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Ystrad Rhondda 27 Beddau 23

WRU National Championship

Match report by Lynn West

A wounded Beddau were not up to the task of preventing Ystrad Rhondda`s outstanding rise to a second place finish in their first season in the Championship.  It was Beddau who were first to score when Hywel Chatham, trying to shrug off a painful rib injury, struck an early penalty.  Spectators were still arriving when Ystrad overtook the reverse.  A carry from a successful lineout throw seemed to have been aborted when the ball carrier collided with a team mate.  The referee waved play-on though and centre Ryan Howells grabbed the ball and powered to the line.

The lead changed hands again when Beddau drove into Ystrad territory on the back of a strong scrummage.  Several phases developed until winger Adam Ashford came inside to make the extra man and to find Tyler Wells on a great angle for a try that Hywel Chatham was unable to convert.

Ystrad gradually assumed control of the game with their backs looking more lively and ambitious but a reckless head high tackle looked to have cost them the services of the perpetrator.  The penalty was signalled but an outbreak of handbags delayed proceedings.  The referee discussed events with both captains and the outcome, a reversal of the original penalty, seemed to reward a silly piece of foul play.

Most of the possession was now going Ystrad`s way and when a penalty was awarded the kick to touch gave them good lineout possession.  Beddau held the drive, just; but a further thrust resulted in another penalty.  This time the lineout, on the right, was cleanly caught at the tail and the resulting drive brought a try for a player who was identified by a nickname.  Corey Sheppard converted and it was 12-8 at half time.

Beddau`s walking wounded began leaving the field early into the second half with first Tyler Wells replaced by Kieran Gay.  Pretty soon influential lock Rhys Owens left too to be replaced by Tom Geere, which meant that Josh Hayward moved into the boiler.

An attempt at a counter attack saw Ystrad`s ball carrier penalised for not releasing when Adam Ashford`s completed tackle brought him down.  Hywel Chatham landed the goal but an offside in Beddau`s defence gave Corey Sheppard back the 3 points.

While Beddau were trying to reorganise their backs Ystrad made a swift attack along the right touchline and winger Jay Harris somehow found a gap and completed a very good score.  Beddau removed long serving prop Owen Cotton who was making his 111^th appearance before honouring a promise to return to his home club of Ynysybwl.  Dot will leave a big hole.  Hywel Chatham`s injury was not easing and he left for Callum Wheeler to move to outside half and Gareth ‘Usain’ Hopkins to take the left wing spot while Adam Ashford became the full back.

Beddau were being kept afloat by the set scrum and when Ystrad`s possession was disturbed some frantic attempts to keep the ball alive led to a badly timed pass which Beddau flanker Tom Geere anticipated brilliantly.  He galloped on and even though support runner Tom Marley was cynically taken down Geere saved the referee`s blushes by reaching the line for a try that Callum Wheeler converted.  Would there have been a penalty try?  A card?  We shall never know.

At 20-18 Beddau were now seeing some light but a pass from Callum Wheeler went loose and Ystrad`s Coley Swannick picked it off and had the strength and pace to hold off defenders for a try that Corey Sheppard converted.  Tom Marley was the latest Beddau casualty forcing Callum Wheeler to play the closing minutes at scrum half.  He did very well and his probing runs led to a great pick up from his ankles by Josh Hayward who drove on to claim the final score.

Ystrad are to be congratulated on a fine return to Championship rugby which ended with a richly deserved win and the significant achievement of heading a strong field behind the runaway champions Pontypool.