PRINCIPALITY PREMIERSHIP
PAT LEWIS’ hat-trick inspired Bedwas to a thrilling victory over Pontypridd at the Bridge Field to secure their spot in the Principality Premiership Tier One play-offs.
Bedwas had the first opportunity to get on the scoreboard with an eighth minute penalty kick. But, when Richard Powell’s effort rebounded off the upright, a quick fly hack took Pontyrpidd into the home side’s 22 and fly-half Ceri Sweeney followed up with the opening try of the game which he went on to convert.
Another long Ponty kick put them under pressure, however when from their own five-metre line the ball travelled all the way to the Bedwas dead ball area. After the visitors conceded two penalties at the ensuing scrum, Bedwas wing Lewis crossed in the corner with a beautifully struck conversion by Powell levelling.
A penalty apiece, both off the 22 metre line within a minute of each other kept honours equal before a Sweeney interception all but gave Ponty the advantage once again. It was centre Gary Williams who evetually crossed to give the visitors a 1710 lead at the interval.
Another Sweeney try seven minutes after the restart extended the advantage and Ponty looked set to move further ahead soon afterwards until Pat Lewis intercepted 30 metres from his own line and ran the ball back to cross under the Ponty posts.
Sweeney could have extended the lead further but for the second time in the game a penalty kick found the upright and when the TMO awarded Lewis his hat-trick try in the corner and Powell slotted over a superb conversion things were all square.
It was in the 75th minute that Bedwas took the lead for the first time in the game with a Powell penalty but things were level once again less than five minute later following a successful kick from Sweeney.
From the restart Pontypridd were penalised in front of their own posts for going in from the side of the maul and referee Dewi Phillips added 10m for dissent it was the simplest of jobs for Powell to make the winning kick. BEDWAS: Tries: P Lewis (3); Cons: R Powell (3); Pens: R Powell (3) PONTYPRIDD: Tries: C Sweeney (2); G Willliams; Cons: C Sweeney (3); Pen: C Sweeney (2)