Match Reports 2009/10
Bedlinog (12) Tredegar (14)
Jan 30th 2010
Restricted to just one Division 1 league game since 31st Oct, Tredegar were doubly delighted to run in two tries against the foxes recording their first double of the season in a hard fought encounter over the team that were promoted with them from division 2 last season. In their last outing at Bedlinog in the cup, Tredegar came off second best but were determined on this occasion to secure the vital league points necessary to secure survival in the upper echelon.
If the village of Bedlinog had suffered during the recent bad weather , a storming performance by Captain Dave Ford added to their misery which saw the ebullient number eight get Tredegar's first try of the new year when the Tredegar pack steam rollered over the line and Darren Pierce's conversion saw the visitors seven points up in as many minutes.
Tredegar embarked on scintillating rugby and when the ball was recycled a Darren Pierce flat pass sent Daffyd James scurrying away. Tredegar's South African centre Dewi Ventnor took the ball at pace and with a perfect timed pass put speedster Daniel Davies over in the corner and Pierce's conversion saw the visitors lead by fourteen points. Tredegar's front row of Brendan Sullivan, Darren Hughes and Marc Titcombe held the upper hand up front and Bedlinog found it difficult to get out of their half but on the stroke of 30 minutes Ian Smerdon slotted a penalty whilst Tredegar were reduced to 14 players when Daniel Davies was sinbinned.
Whilst Bedlinog never looked like scoring a try, their second half performance saw a spirited performance that could have seen them claim a win when that man Smerdon kicked a further two penalties and a drop goal. Jordan Williams combined well with Jack Dawson and the second row featured both in the tight as well as the loose. Tredegar were further hampered when Rees Hallet and Daffyd James were each consigned to the sin bin but a magnificent rear gaurd action led by flanker Chris James saw Tredegar hold on to claim the win. James put in a man of the match performance combining well with Joe Campbell snuffing out attact after attack.
Veteran Jason Williams steadied the ship from the fly half position when he came on as a late substitition but the performance of the visitors saw Tredegar jusifiably run out as winners. With seven post poned games to play betwen now and the end of the season Tredegar will probably need to call on the excellent youth products that they have developed over the next few months and on Friday play Beddau in a re-arranged game at 7.15 on the Rec.
