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Trebanos 29 Beddau 26

WRU National Championship

Match report by Lynn West

Hardly had the game begun than ‘Banos centre Kristian Jones was slotting a penalty to give the home side the lead.  Yes, the same Kristian Jones who had amassed 34 points in last week`s Llandovery landslide.

Beddau got straight back on the horse though and from good work at a set piece Hywel Chatham`s inside pass gave James Davies some space and the speedster pinned back his ears and on a curving run sprinted clear for a try that Hywel Chatham converted.

Beddau had already lost Adam Ashford to injury as the centre popped a hamstring in the pre-match warm-up.  This brought Zac Byard into action for the first time since his injury at Narberth with Hywel Chatham moving into the centre.

Following the early try Beddau were pushing for something more but Trebanos slowly worked themselves back into contention and a Kristian Jones penalty made it 6-7 and that was soon 9 as Jones struck again.  From the restart a Trebanos fumble was gobbled up by Tom Axenderrie and scrum half Jack Secher launched a swift attack.  The ball went along the line and lock Will Owen made the pass that James Davies picked up from his bootlaces to finish.  Hywel Chatham`s touchline conversion made it 9-14.

Where would Beddau be without controversy?  Prop Ben Lee, having an outing at loose head was adjudged responsible for dragging a maul to ground following a lineout and received a yellow card.  Trebanos managed to work enough room for on-loan Swansea winger Nathan Trowbridge to just reach the corner for an unconverted try that levelled the scores.

Again, Beddau attacked the restart kick and again Jack Secher provided the pass for Tyler Wells to go clear.  In a one-on-one the centre relied on his pace and was a clear favourite to be first to his grubber only to be hauled down while not in touch with the ball.  Mr John must have felt either that he was in the act of playing the ball or that Josh Ferryman had managed to get his finger tips to it.  Whatever, it was 14-14 at half-time.

The Trebanos forwards made good progress from a lineout drive early in the second period and when the ball found Nathan Trowbridge the winger`s kick ahead stood up nicely for him to complete the try.

The momentum was now with the home side and with Number 8 Shaun Hopkins prominent the ball was delivered to the backs where Lewis Humphries found Nathan Trowbridge at his shoulder for a hat trick.  Kristian Jones converted.

The fight hadn`t been drained from Beddau, though and when Ben White set up an attacking maul from a lineout take makeshift flanker Matthew Howells popped up to take Jack Secher`s short pass for a try converted by Hywel Chatham.  Beddau undid the good work by conceding a simple penalty that allowed Kristian Jones to stretch the lead to 29-21.  A sustained period of play with Beddau in possession ended with a penalty.  A kick would have secured a losing bonus point but, bravely, the touchline was chosen.  Beddau battered away for what seemed an interminable time and the Trebanos defence stood up to everything until Zac Byard produced an outrageous width of the field cross -kick which found Cody Baker and the full back was able to step his marker and touch down at the flag to win two bonus points.

Injuries are slowly easing with Sam Tiley now firmly back in action and Zac Byard also able to complete 80 minutes here.  Ben Stephens took to the field too and Rhys Owens is likely to be fit for selection for next week`s visit of high-flying Cardiff Met.