Fixture

Betws made the short trip up the Amman Valley today to face Division 3 West Central A’s Cwmgors in the second round of the WRU National Bowl. It was Betws’ first outing in the bowl this season after a first-round walkover, whilst Cwmgors came into the game after a good first-round win over Ammanford 2nds. 

Betws were struck again by a plight of front row injuries meaning once again this season they had to start the game with only 14 men. Being the much smaller pack, and being at a numerical disadvantage, the game promised to be a tough one for the young Betws side. However, this didn’t show in the early phases of the game, with the back row of Ashley Jones, Rhydian Jones and Gareth Comley all putting in a number of massive hits and setting the bar high from the outset. 

Betws were the first on the scoreboard after Cwmgors were pinged for not rolling away in the ruck. Player Coach, Adrian Thomas, stepped up and slotted over the points from 40 yards out to give Betws an early lead.

(0-3)

After a period of back and fore rugby, Betws found themselves in Cwmgors’ half with an attacking lineout opportunity. Wanting to front up to the bigger pack, they opted to drive and ended up walking the maul into Cwmgors’ 22 before a solid defensive effort put a hold to the attacking threat.

It was now Cwmgors’ turn to attack, and after a nice move, a Cwmgors player found themselves breaking Betws’ defensive line. Great cover defensive by Betws meant that they were able to stop the potential try but some ill-discipline meant they were now pinned in their own 22. Cwmgors opted to take a scrum from a Betws penalty and were once again stopped by the solid Betws defence. However, more ill-discipline lead to further penalties and Cwmgors decided to take the points to even up the game.

(3-3)

Cwmgors were eager to add more points to their tally, and went straight back on the attack. The Betws defence held out strong once again but were unable to avoid infringement, which gave Cwmgors an easy opportunity to take the lead for the first time in the game (6-3).

The extra man for Cwmgors started to show as after a hard period of defending, gaps naturally started to show in the Betws defence which Cwmgors were able to exploit. After a few nice phases of play, and a gallant defensive effort by a 14 man Betws, Cwmgors were able to cross the white-wash for the first try of the game. Cwmgors added the extras and started to expand their lead (13-3).

However, Betws reacted well when they forced a penalty from the restart.

They opted to go for the corner and the forwards were determined to show their power.

Unfortunantly, they were unable to capitalise on the possession.

Half Time

Betws started the second half the better side when the backline pulled off a lovely move which saw Winger Dan Thomas in acres of space and pinning his ears back, heading for the corner. Cwmgors scrambled well and were able to neutralise the Betws threat. However, Betws kept the pressure coming and looked like scoring their first try when Skipper Gareth Comley made a lovely break before offloading out the back door to Centre Daniel Madge who went around the Fullback only to be caught yards from the line. 

The Betws pressure finally paid off when ill-discipline from Cwmgors on their own line left the referee no option but to send two of their players to the bin for foul play. 

Betws were now a man up for the first time in the game, but this didn’t last long. Scrum half, Anthony O’Neil, was sent to the bin minutes later for stopping Cwmgors’ Scrum half taking a quick penalty. Nevertheless, this now meant that the sides were equal with only 13 men each. 

Being 13 v 13, gaps were starting to open in both defences, which Cwmgors were first to capitalise on. A nice break by Cwmgors and some nice passing out wide saw Cwmgors cross for their second try of the game, but were unable to added the extras (18-3). 

Just as the game was looking like it was getting away from Betws, replacement Scrum half and Betws stalwart, Dylan Rees, sniped from the back of an attacking scrum and caught the Cwmgors defence napping. Heading for the corner, a great inside pass to Flanker Ashley Jones outsmarted the covering defence and let the Flanker cross for Betws’ first try. Adrian Thomas tried to add the extras from the corner but hit the woodwork.

(18-8)

Betws, once again went on the attack and looked more energetic than their opponents. After some nice attacking phases, a foul by a Cwmgors player gave Betws a penalty in a kickable position, which Adrian Thomas slotted for an easy 3 points and put Betws within one score (18-11).

Cwmgors were then determined to close the game out, and with only 10 minutes left on the clock, their offensive efforts paid off when they were able to win a penalty in the Betws half. Hoping to extend their lead, they opted to kick for goal but were unable to convert. This gave Betws a wakeup call, and a few phases later, a wild pass by a Cwmgors player was intercepted by Outside half, Adrian Thomas, who ran the length of the field and touched down under the posts which brought Betws within 2. As cool as ever, he converted his own try which meant that after a heroic effort, the teams were now level. 

(18-18)

Looking as if the game was going to go to extra time, and with only a few minutes left on the clock, Betws were caught offside in their own 22 which gave Cwmgors a late opportunity to snatch the game. 

Cwmgors converted the kick (21-18) and despite a hard-fought game by 14 man Betws, Betws ended up just falling short after a gallant comeback to a strong Cwmgors side. This result now means Betws are out of the National Bowl, and will now regroup and focus their attention back on the league and next weekend’s away fixture against Bynea where they will hope to keep their 100% record in the league intact.