This game was always likely to be a tight affair due to the position of both sides in the table, and so it proved. After a good start with Blackwood going through a number of phases and a period of possession, the ball was spilled in midfield after a solid tackle by the Beddau defence which led to a turnover. The home side made the most of their chance and with the aid of some poor tackling run in a try after four minutes, converted by their No10.
From the restart the visitors continued to throw the ball around with powerful carries by the pack and some useful runs by Nathan Gittins, Adam Jones and Rhodri Usher all breaking the line. Blackwood eased into the Beddau 22 and had a good period of possession with David Brake being held up just short of the line after a strong carry. Beddau cleared their lines to just outside their 22, the visitors won the ball at the lineout with a great catch by Marc Gwilt and the pack marched the ball 30m to the home line, Gwilt then going over only to have the ball held up. From the five metre scrum Brake picked and attacked the line, and again the defence managed to hold him out, after quick ball from the ruck by Greg Knapp to Jeremy Roberts who put Adam Jones through the gap with a fine pass for Jones to touch down under the posts, which he also converted with 10 minutes gone 7-7.
Clem (Peter Pan) came on for David Brake as a blood replacement on 12 minutes, and did his bit in defence.
With 20 minutes gone there was still nothing between the two sides, with Blackwood perhaps enjoying a little more of the possession, they again gave the ball away in midfield and again Beddau punished them with a good counter attack leading to their second try. It has to be said that poor tackling by the visitors contributed to a 5 pointer. 12-7.
Almost straight from the restart some indecision while attacking led to Blackwood again coughing up the ball and again Beddau took full advantage and scored under the posts. 19-7. The second quarter was full of effort and both sides tried to play positive open rugby. The Blackwood set piece was looking strong with the lineout in particular going very well, Gwilt and Lloyd Exton were taking good clean ball and Huw Jones was very accurate throughout as well as having a robust work rate in the loose.
The second half continued as the first with both sides trying to give the ball plenty of air, it was Beddau that pressured first, with only stout defence work with particularly Rhys Morgan and Leigh Taylor to the fore. The pressure was finally cleared with a great kick by Roberts off his own line to almost the half way. A first class throw to the tail from Huw Jones and a fine catch by Marc Gwilt gave quality ball to the backs who made good ground, after a couple of phases the home side conceded a penalty. Knapp saw an opportunity to tap and go and did with great effect. He moved the ball to the supporting Roberts who then tried to ship it on but stumbled and the ball went loose and was stolen out of the hands of a defender by Adam Jones to go over for his second try from 30m. Jones converted. 19-14. Beddau scored again at the start of the final quarter to push their lead to 26-14. With ten minutes remaining Blackwood were almost camped in the opposition 22 and with good mauling and good retention of the ball Lloyd Exton finally went over for the visitor’s third try, converted by Jones. This was a game that could have and perhaps should have been a victory.