CROSS Keys’ hopes of a top eight Premiership finish were kept alive after they beat Bedwas in a thrilling Gwent derby at Pandy Park.

The injury-ravaged hosts showed great character to edge the high-flying visitors.

Despite dominating most of the first 20 minutes, the hosts found themselves 3-0 down when Bedwas outside-half James S Dixon slotted over a penalty.

Keys had battered the Bedwas try-line but just couldn’t find a way through their impressive defence.

For the rest of the half, precious little happened of any note as both sides struggled to get the upper hand in an error-strewn second quarter which was shaded by the away team.

The interval came with just a penalty separating the sides.

The second half began with Keys getting a big break and a score which finally brought the game to life.

Bedwas were hammering away at their try-line only for Keys wing Mathew Powell to intercept and tear down field.

He hacked ahead before regathering and his delightful pop up pass found fellow flyer Nathan Williams who put outside-half Josh Prosser in for a breathless unconverted try.

Their lead was short-lived however as the visitors hit back when lock Geraint Edmunds powered over for an unconverted try after a sustained period of pressure.

Bedwas extended their advantage in the 60th minute when replacement fly-half James S Dixon proved to be as accurate as his namesake by slotting a penalty won from a scrum.

Keys retook the lead with a terrific try created by centre Leon Andrews whose wonderful break opened up Bedwas before he put in replacement wing Joe Goodchild.

Prosser’s conversion made it 12-11 with just under quarter of an hour to go.

A Prosser penalty extended their lead with five minutes to go after their opponents conceded for holding on after Andrews chased his own kick.

Keys had to defend for their lives in the nerve-shredding dying minutes with Bedwas camped on their try-line and had a number of scrums five metres out before the ball squirted out and the hosts kicked the ball dead, much to the delight of their fans.

Cross Keys scorers: Tries – Josh Prosser, Joe Goodchild, Conversion – Prosser, Penalty – Prosser Bedwas scorers: Try – Geraint Edmunds, Penalties – James S Dixon, James Dixon.

Cross Keys: L Andrews, M Powell, L Barnett, B Nightingale, N Williams (J Goodchild 61), J Prosser, J Leadbeater (capt) (O Leonard 61), L Garrett (C Hewlett 54), E Shipp (D Hughes 61), G Carpenter, D Hodge, S Andrews, T Lampard, R Fitzgerald (Joe Thomas 46), A Powell.

Bedwas: A Bramwell, M John, C Edwards, M Callow, P Pariyo (A Williams 50, J S Dixon (J Dixon 47), N Griffiths (capt) (L Crane 69), B Toms (D Preece 57), A Rees (D Harris 78), K Dowding (M Pettit 57), G Edmunds (T Bell 67), J Davies, J Richards (A Waite 12), G Lee, D Crimmins.

Referee: Simon Rees (WRU) Argus star man : Scott Andrews (Cross Keys)