Cross Keys tore up the form book and deservedly took the spoils in a game that could have gone either way but the home side made fewer mistakes in key areas to claim the 25 - 22 win over Brynley Toms and his Bedwas teammates.
Bedwas were first on the board after a penalty kick to touch set up a driving maul with hooker Dale Rogers driven over for a try; Steffan Jones’s successful conversion putting his side 7-0 up in as many minutes.
Defences ruled the roost for the remainder of the half with both cancelling out all attacking play with a penalty goal from the home sides’ Josh Prosser being the only score of the half.
Bedwas scored the first points of the second half as Steffan Jones added a penalty five minutes after the restart but the joy was short-lived as Prosser added a penalty for Keys followed by an unconverted try out wide from winger Joe Goodchild to give his side a one point advantage.
Keys extended their lead just before the hour as hooker Rob Jones was driven over for a try which with Prosser’s conversion extended his sides’ advantage to eight points.
Two Bedwas tries in three minutes; Mike Callow after a break through the middle and the Lewis Evans out wide, the first converted by Jones looked as though the pendulum had swung Bedwas’ way.
Keys had other ideas and upped the ante gaining their reward as winger Mathew Powell ran through a static defence to cross for a try converted by Prosser with only a minute left to play.
Bedwas had one last attack to salvage more than the losing point they had earned but surrendered possession allowing Keys the chance to clear to touch to claim the win.
