Brynley Toms and his Bedwas went down in their 2016-17 Principality Welsh Premiership season opened 18 - 13 against Pontypridd.
The game got off to a slow start with a series of re-set scrums before Pontypridd picked up the tempo with outside half Ceri Sweeney making a telling half break. The visitors maintained pressure, winger Lewis Williams cutting through in midfield for an unconverted try.
Bedwas were quick to respond, Richard Powell hoisting over a Penalty with seven minutes gone. The game was evenly balanced in difficult conditions, but Pontypridd setting up a platform to attack with good line out ball, and putting points on the board courtesy of a Sweeney penalty. There were turnovers and counter attacks, the game pulsating from end to end with Bedwas next to score as Powell aimed a penalty kick between the posts.
Pontypridd kicked for territory, setting up a line-out drive then spreading the ball wide for full back Aled Summerhill to dart over for a try. The visitors were in the ascendancy, Bedwas lock Geraint Edmunds issued a yellow card for a late tackle, and center Dafydd Lockyer then hauled into touch just short of scoring.
It was Bedwas however who finished the half strongly, center Mike Callow barging over for a Try out wide which Powell expertly converted to tie the scores 13 points apiece at the interval.
Play resumed in monsoon conditions, Bedwas edging the contest due to a strong scrum platform, camped in their opponents' twenty-two but unable to forge a breakthrough. The game was by now a catalogue of handling errors, turnovers and skewed kicks, a lottery in the constant downpour.
It was Pontypridd who broke the deadlock, Ceri Sweeney hoisting a clever cross kick which winger Alex Webber gathered to score in the corner, coming to the end of the third quarter.
The contest continued as a scramble for possession, Pontypridd gaining the favor of the referee's decisions to advance but Bedwas launching a kick and rush counter. The home team then claimed an interception, replacement Garyn Payne going close to scoring. As Pontypridd again advanced, home outside half Richard Powell was sin binned but Callum Hall pulling wide the ensuing penalty.
Bedwas made a concerted last ditch effort to claim the verdict, setting up camp in their opponents' twenty-two with a series of drives and penalty awards, and with Pontypridd replacement Josh Novell shown a yellow card. Deep into injury time a last ditch Pontypridd defense held firm, holding out for victory.
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