Sunday, 3 February 2013

Swalec Cup- Brilliant Benjamin leads battling Beddau into Round 2

Beddau battled to an action packed 32-18 Swalec Cup first round success over Championship rivals Llanharan at the Dairyfield.

The Dairymen were led on to the field by veteran flanker Nikki Allen, who was making his 400th appearance for the club.

In typical Cup tie fashion, tensions were running high as things threatened to boil over on the pitch.
The Green and Golds took a 17-13 lead into the break in a half that was marred by a mass brawl started by a late hit on Llanharan full back Sion Summers, who was subsequently taken off with concussion.
Both sides were reduced to 13 men for the opening exchanges of the second half as Harley Thomson and Bill Carey were yellowed for the hosts, while Chris Cunningham and George Lee were also given time to cool down.

Ultimately, the match was decided by the clinical kicking of Beddau wing Tom Benjamin who fired home two penalties and three conversions to accompany a second half touchdown, while Joe Casella, David Francis and Josh Sheehan also went over.

It may not have been the win Allen was hoping for, but the Llanharan stalwart did get amongst the tries for the hosts along with Jack Phillips and Tom Marley.

The next round will see Beddau bag a plum tie at Premiership side Aberavon, after the Wizards strolled to a 42-0 victory over Whitland.

In Carmarthenshire, it was also a landmark day for Wizards legend Jamie Davies, with the prolific outside half also joining the 400 club, his six conversions helping his side to only their second win in league and cup play this season.

The Wizards led 21-0 at the interval through three tries, all converted by Davies.

Centre Richard Thomas grabbed the first two tries, both coming as a result of breaks by wing Steffan Andrews.

Shortly after, the Aberavon scrum disrupted a Whitland ball and Chris Davies sent wing Richard Carter over.

Despite a yellow card to centre Matthew Jenkins, the visitors were crossing the whitewash again with Carter claiming his second of the afternoon, collecting a perfectly weighted Davies kick.

Craig Evans – who had replaced Jenkins – raced clear to touchdown under the posts, while the Wizards’ final try came from the power of replacement No 8 Steffan Jones and Davies landed his sixth conversion from the touchline.

An injury to scrum half Joe Heatley brought a debut for Will Batcup at scrum half, while his opposing number nine was Andrew Jenkins, the former Aberavon player, who skippered Whitland.

Elsewhere, Championship side Bonymaen had a trip to Rodney Parade to forget after they went down 95-14 to Newport.

The Black and Ambers were rampant throughout with James Leadbeater and DanRobinson both at the double for the hosts, while Owen Broad, Craig Attwell, Ryan Prosser and Elliot Frewen were amongst the tries.

Newport will host Swansea in an all Premiership affair on February 16.

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