Their eight try, 54-5 demolition of former champions Ebbw Vale set them up perfectly for this weekend’s top of the table clash with Pontypridd, who bagged six tries in their triumph over Cardiff at the Arms Park.
Bedwas recorded an impressive four straight wins at the beginning of the season with a loss in game-week five against Cross Keys spoiling their run. But Bedwas have bounced back well since that disappointment with an 18-8 win against Cardiff followed by their big win over the Steelmen.
They made the dream start with two tries inside the opening 15 minutes. No 8 Morgan Allen scored the first, which full back Lewis Evans converted, before wing Matthew John got the other.
Ebbw, the 2016 Premiership champions, were clearly on the back foot as the hosts sensed further opportunities to add more pain. Centre Mike Callow darted over for the third with the bonus-point try sealed on the 30-minute mark courtesy of John.
The fifth was added before half-time from Tom Rowlands with Evans making it five from five from the tee. Cameron Regan stopped the rot for Ebbw, who were desperate for the half-time break, as he crossed.
Ebbw remained firm after the interval to steady the Bedwas charge and the home side had to wait 30 minutes for their next score, which came from Nicky Griffiths. Alun Rees fired a quickfire double in the final 10 minutes as Bedwas made it back-to-back wins.
Pontypridd hit the Blue & Blacks for six tries as they won 46-28 in the Welsh capital to keep the pressure on Bedwas at the top. Two tries from flanker Rhys Shellard and one a piece from outside half Diggy Bird, wing Alex Webber, centre Aled Summerhill and lock Hemi Barnes gave Pontypridd the bonus point they were looking for.
It was a dynamic first half from both sides as Cardiff opened the scoring with a try after just two minutes.
Pontypridd responded immediately with Bird getting his name on the scoresheet. As the first half progressed it was a fairly even contest, with Cardiff crossing through Owen Lane only for Pontypridd to pull it back to take the half-time lead 21-22.
The second half started the same way as the first, with a quick try from Cardiff. Scrum-half Lewis Jones ran unopposed to give the Blue and Blacks the lead for and Gareth Thompson added the conversion.
After failing to make the most of their spell on top, Cardiff’s mistakes proved costly as Pontypridd scored three tries in the last 20 minutes. The last of those was scored just five minutes from time and was converted by Ceri Sweeney.
Newport triumphed 21-12 over Cross Keys at Pandy Park in a match where both sides struggled to get going. With two tries a piece it was Newport’s penalty goals that proved to be the difference between the two sides.
The first half started slowly with the two teams looking nervy. It took until 16 minutes in for a moment of note and both teams were given a chance to regroup as a nasty injury to Newport’s Josh Reid resulted in a 15-minute delay as he received treatment.
When the game restarted, Cross Keys’ Josh Skinner put his name on the scoresheet with the first try and Josh Prosser converted. It wasn’t long after, that Newport’s Haydn Palmer responded with a try, but the Black & Ambers couldn’t convert.
On the stroke of half time, Newport had a penalty which Haydn Simmons kicked to put his side up by just a single point at the break. Two penalty goals from Simons and a penalty try led Newport to victory when the game resumed.
Just two minutes from time Barney Nightingale scored a consolation try for the hosts, but Cross Keys failed to convert. The defeat for Keys leaves them second from bottom on points difference alone while Newport rise to mid table.
Merthyr hit Bargoed for six as the reigning Premiership champions made it three wins on the spin. The Ironmen are beginning to build some momentum in the defence of their crown with high-scoring victories over Newport and Ebbw Vale in recent weeks putting them in good stead.
And this six-try feast against a fairly resolute Bargoed side was an indication of the strength posed by Dale McIntosh’s men. A penalty try in the opening quarter put the Ironmen ahead before a Bargoed penalty from Matthew Lewis meant the hosts were up and running.
Outside half Richard Powell then crossed for Merthyr to extend the lead with Matthew Jarvis converting. Lewis’s penalty meant Bargoed were able to keep tabs with Merthyr, but Jarvis’s three-points on the cusp of half-time gave the visitors an eight-point advantage.
Bargoed were stubborn as Ashley Norton went over for a try, but the Ironmen began their charge in blistering fashion. Rhys Downes slid over for Merthyr’s first of the half, before Ben Murphy and Justin James added further scores with full-back Jarvis comfortably adding a treble of conversions.
Bargoed found a late consolation through Callum Jones, but flanker Arron Pinches bagged try number six as Jarvis remained impressive from the tee to cap off the win.
