After weeks of dry weather, Mother Nature turned the sprinklers on fully at Bedwas, reducing this match to a lottery. There can be no praise too high for the efforts of players on both sides, nor for the officials, who all managed to provide a good afternoon of entertainment for the hardy supporters who braved the elements – the vast majority being from Ebbw.

The game was evenly matched early on, with Bedwas probably having the best of the exchanges. Outside half Richard Powell took two opportunities to send over penalty kicks that gave his side a 4-0 lead after 15 minutes. Ebbw now began to put huge pressure on the hosts, pushing them off their own ball at successive scrums and earning a string of penalties. Their efforts paid off as Ronny Kynes went over for Iain Smerdon to convert and make it 8-4. Powell narrowed the gap with another superbly struck penalty before the Steelmen’s forward supremacy led to a catch’n’Keynes, wonderfully converted by Smerdon, and a yellow card for Bedwas captain, Dan Preece. It was 16-6 at half time.

There was water standing on the pitch by now, and some thoughts of an abandonment, but the game went on. In fairness, it was almost impossible for either side to create anything. The wind had swung around and increased in strength, making clearance kicks impossible for Ebbw and taking Bedwas efforts at winning ground over the deadball line. Ebbw had opportunities to extend their lead, but a wet ball and a surface offering little purchase led to inevitable errors. In fact, the only score of the half was a penalty to Bedwas after 50 minutes by the dependable Powell.

Bedwas had an injury time chance to go for the draw, with Ebbw down to 14 after a red card for Damien Hudd, but the final pass that put James Dixon over in the corner was adjudged forward and the final whistle signalled a 16-8 win for the Steelmen.

Bedwas now have the final of the Fosters Challenge Cup ahead of them, and we wish them good luck!

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Ar ôl wythnosau o dywydd sych, penderfynodd Mam Natur bod angen dŵr ar Gwm Rhymni, a gwelwyd hen wragedd a ffyn yn ardal Bedwas. A dweud a gwir, lotri oedd y gêm, ond pob clod i’r chwaraewyr a’r swyddogion am ddarparu crin dipyn o ddifyrwch a chyffro ar brynhawn mor ddiflas.

Maswr Bedwas, Richard Powell, oedd y cyntaf i sgorio, a’i ddwy gic gosb yn rhoi ei dîm ar y blaen gan 4-0 ar ol chwarter awr. Daeth Glynebwy i mewn i’r gêm yn fwyfwy, gan roi pwys enfawr ar flaenwyr Bedwas, yn gwthio nhw oddi ar eu pêl eu hunain, ac ennill llwyth o gosbau. Yn y pendraw, a braidd yn anochel, aeth Ronny Kynes i mewn am gais ac roedd Iain Smerdon yn llwyddianus gyda’r trosiad. 8-4 i Lynebwy oedd y sgôr erbyn hyn.

Culhaodd Powell y bwlch gyda chic gosb gwych arall, cyn i goruchafiaeth blaenwyr Glynebwy greu “catch’n’Keynes” i’r enwog Ronny. Gyda throsiad ardderchog Smerdon, roedd Glynebwy ar y blaen ar yr egwyl, a Bedwas gan 14 chwaraeawr ar ôl i capten Dan Preece dderbyn carden felyn.

Roedd dŵr yn sefyll ar wyneb y maes erbyn hyn, a rhai yn y dorf yn sôn am roi’r ffidil yn y tô, ond aeth y gêm ymlaen. I fod yn deg, roedd bron yn amhosibl i’r chwaraewyr greu unrhyw beth. Roedd y gwynt wedi troi a chryfhau, gan wneud cicio yn anodd iawn: doedd Glynebwy ddim yn gallu clirio ac roedd ymdrechion Bedwas i ennill tir yn gorffen dros y linell derfyn.

Roedd gan Lynebwy gyfleoedd i ymestyn eu mantais yn gynnar yn yr hanner, ond arwainodd pêl gwlyb, a chwaraewyr yn colli eu gafael yn y tir, at gamgymeriadau. Aeth unig sgôr yr ail hanner i Fedwas, trwy gic gosb Richard Powell ar ôl 50 munud.

Cafodd Bedwas gyfle olaf mewn amser ychwanegol, gyda’r ymwelwyr lawr i 14 ar ôl cerdyn goch i Damien Hudd, ond aeth y pas olaf ymlaen. Felly cafodd ‘cais’ James Dixon ei wrthod gan y dyfanwr ar ôl iddo ymgynghori â’r llumanwr. Roedd y gêm wedi cwpla, a Glynebwy yn ennill gan 16-8.

Llongyfarchiadau enfawr i’r ddau dîm, a’r swyddogion, am orffen y gêm, a pob lwc i Fedwas am eu gêm yn Rownd Terfynol Cwpan Fosters.

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Dan Haymond, David Williams, Nathan Preece, Adam Jones, Ryan Gardner; Iain Smerdon, Chris Thomas; Ian George, Mathew Williams, Rob Sevenoaks; Damien Hudd (capt), Ashley Sweet; Rhys Clarke, Ronny Kynes, Cameron Regan.
Subs: Joe Franchi, Ross Jones, Gethin Robinson, Luke Crocker, Ethan Doyle, Tom Edwards, Dai Langdon, Jordan Howells.