Bonus Point Win Despite Stuttering Performance

On a cold but bright afternoon Beddau found it difficult to build momentum against opponents who were ever looking for opportunities to pilfer the ball and mount counter attacks. Despite gaining a wealth of possession some of Beddau`s overambitious use of the ball resulted in too much of it being coughed up.

Dunvant had, through the trusty boot of James Davies, taken an early lead but when Carl Lewis bravely took a high kick he was able to begin a counter that saw Bradley Coombes striding through the centre. Tacklers combined to try to stifle the break but flanker Rob Jones arrived to finish a good score that Hywel Chatham converted.

Soon it was Tyler Wells showing the talent in the Beddau backline as his powerful surge from the left wing left tacklers scattered. The good work, though, was squandered with an inaccurate offload.

Some further pressure from Dunvant was rewarded when James Davies again found the target.

A fine tackle by Kristian Parker allowed Beddau`s pack to recover the ball and scrum half Carl Lewis set off on a mazy run into the heart of the defence. The ball finally reached Joe Casella who still had defenders between him and the line but the angle and strength of his run saw him home. Hywel Chatham, edging nearer a century for the season, landed the conversion that made it 14-6 at the interval.

If Beddau felt that attacking their favoured end may have set them up for a comfortable second half Dunvant hadn`t read the script. A series of well-controlled pick and goes ended with centre Scott Watkins cutting across the grain to score a fine try that James Davies converted to make it 14-13.

Such things sometimes concentrate the mind and with some neat probing from Hywel Chatham keeping Dunvant on the back-foot captain Lloyd Evans began taking his forwards into ever more advanced positions. A series of scrums led to the inevitable penalty try and Hywel Chatham converted to lend some breathing space.

Dunvant came again, though and James Davies struck a fine three-pointer to put them back in range at 21-16.

By now Beddau had made a few changes and a thrilling run by replacement Cobi Flowers gave Beddau good field position. Hywel Chatham`s pass brought Tyler Wells, now playing in the centre, onto the ball and he brushed off a couple of tacklers in scoring the try that allowed converter Hywel Chatham to reach 100 league points for the season.

There was still time for a defiant Dunvant to test Beddau`s defensive resilience but with replacement scrum half Jay Harris having a fine cameo the ball kept being carried into the Dunvant half. Finally, a bout of handling ended when Tyler Wells sent full back Callum Wheeler in. Hywel Chatham missed this time but the damage was done and the game gone beyond recall.

Beddau will want to work a little on the relative lack of intensity in the early stages but will be pleased that the players had the nous to get to grips with what was needed to see the game out.

Hooker Jack Dando was a tireless worker and made a lot of ground in the loose and to see Cobi Flowers looking so lively after quite a spell away from the game adds another string to the selectors` bow, as does the encouraging display of recent signing Jay Harris.

Report by Lynn West