Poor Bedwas pay the penalty

Feb 18 2008 by Phil Blanche, Western Mail

Bedwas 14-21 Newport

NEWPORT survived a late Bedwas battering to take it, but had fly-half Stuart Thomas been on form with the boot it could so easily have been the hosts in round six.

The Bedwas No 10 was off target with a pair of late penalties that would have given them the lead, and he was also wide with a conversion and another penalty. Bedwas were made to pay for those missed opportunities.

The Black and Ambers dominated possession, but in the end were thankful for a 76th -minute drop goal by Dan Griffiths and a try by Nathan Williams deep into injury time.

“It was a pleasing win because of the attitude and the effort of the players,” said head coach Ian Hembrow.

Flanker Craig Hill, the pick of the Newport side, put the visitors in command with a first-half try that Griffiths converted to go along with two penalties.

However, the hosts were in the lead after 70 minutes when wing Matthew Pizey went over to add to three penalties by Thomas, only for Newport to charge back and hang on.

Bedwas: Try – M Pizey; pens – S Thomas (3)

Newport: Tries – C Hill, N Williams; con – D Griffiths; pens – D Griffiths (2); drop-goal – D Griffiths