Keys come out on top

CROSS Keys coach Greg Woods was delighted his side exorcised last week’s demons by beating Bedwas in a hard- fought Hallowe’en derby.

Against Glamorgan Wanderers Keys were beaten at the death, but it was their turn to pip the opposition at the weekend.

At 13-13 with just two minutes to go, replacement back Will Johnstone did very well to fly down the wing, beat the covering defence and score under the posts.

For the second week in succession Keys shredded the nerves of their fans in an entertaining finale.

And forwards coach Woods was relieved it was Keys who secured the four points this time: “I’m very pleased with the win – it’s such a different feeling from last week in a similar game.

“I thought we played the better rugby, were very good in our tight play and finished with a great try.

“I’ve got a lot of time for Bedwas. They never gave up and put us under a lot of pressure.

“I’m proud of the way we’ve come back after a tough week and I thought our back row of Rhys Peebles, Robert Nash and Tom Lampard were outstanding.”

And Woods was proud of Keys’ clean sweep over all Gwent opposition this season after wins over Pontypool, Newport, Ebbw Vale and now Bedwas: “We’ve set ourselves a target of finishing top team in a ‘Mini Gwent League’.”

For the most part, this was a scrappy affair with countless mistakes.

Both sides did try to play rugby but it was also frustrating to see promising attacks come to nothing, ending in knock-ons or needless penalties being conceded.

It was Keys who opened the scoring after 25 minutes when impressive openside flanker Nash crashed over for a try.

A strong run by centre Matthew Pewtner down the middle caused chaos in the Bedwas defence.

The ball was recycled and stand-off Ryan James’ smart short pass put Nash through and over. Gareth David converted in front of the posts.

It wasn’t long before Bedwas were back in the game after blowing a chance to hit back when centre Kristian Owen knocked the ball on right on Keys’ try-line.

But after the home side cleared their line, Bedwas’ replacement hooker Alan Folwer powered over after a series of drives following a line-out. Adam Greendale’s excellent conversion from close to the touchline made it 7-7.

The second half continued in the same vein as the first with David and Greendale exchanging penalties in an unattractive arm-wrestle.

Keys lost their inspirational leader Lloyd Burns just two minutes after the interval when the hooker left the field with a nasty cut to his ear.

The closing stages did, however, provide a thrilling denouement.

The balance seemed to tilt in Keys’ favour after Bedwas winger Matthew Pizey was sin- binned with ten minutes to go.

After kicking the ball down the line, he was taken out of the game by replacement hooker Richard Emms’ late tackle.

Pizey decided to take the law into his own hands by punching Emms in full view of just about everybody, including the officials.

Keys had the better of the closing stages and pressed home their advantage over 14 men when Johnstone’s piece of magic saved the day after Dai Langdon’s kick ahead caused panic deep in the visitors’ half.

There were a few hairy moments for them near the end, but Keys held on to take a deserved win.

Cross Keys: G David, M Johnstone, M Pewtner, P Williams (W Johnstone 58), L Andrews, R James (D Langdon 58), J Leadbeater (O Jones 18), R Cornock (J Price 75), L Burns (capt) (R Emms 42), C Gould, C Bridges, J Groves, R Peebles, T Lampard, R Nash.

Scorers: Tries – R Nash, W Johnstone; conversions – G David (2); penalties – David (2).

Bedwas: A McLoughlin, S Thomas (D Hitchins 59), K Owen, T Cooper, Pizey, A Greendale (G Worgan 71), K Barrett (T Dickens 59), D Watchurst (M Pettit 65), K Crawford (A Fowler 7), J Jenkins, R Mordecai (J Davies 71), J Murphy, S Gardner (capt), L Dykoff (A Tibbett 59) R Carter.

Scorers: Bedwas: Try – A Fowler; conversion – A Greendale; penalties – Greendale (2).

Referee: Greg Morgan (WRU).

Argus star man: Robert Nash.