Caerphilly were dealt a blow to their WRU Swalec League Division 2 East aspirations as they lost 13-18 to Brynmawr at Virginia Park on September 6.
A number of injuries and unavailability meant that the team changed from the selections that fared so well in the pre-season friendlies for their first league match.
It was the visitors that opened the scoring when a catch and drive left them over the line but held up.
The resultant scrum saw number eight 8 Adam Lane break from the base before crashing over unopposed after eight minutes.
Brynmawr increased the gap with a penalty following a tip tackle just outside the 22, outside half Ashley Trow converting.
A further try from Lane on 33 minutes was converted by Trow following a Caerphilly mistake that gave possession away and extended the visitors lead further.
Caerphilly finally got into gear and launched a series of attacks on the Brynmawr line but failed to cross the whitewash.
Their only points of the first half came courtesy of outside half Luke Williams on 39 minutes, however, he missed two other shots at the posts on 35 minutes and two minutes into injury time.
The second half started well for the home side. Having replaced outside half Williams with Mitchell Starr due to injury, Caerphilly took possession from the restart and a smart kick ahead was well chased by flanker Tom Ogden and Geraint Pymm.
A favourable bounce saw the ball into the hands of the flanker who wrong footed a defender prop and Pymm was on hand to receive the ball as Ogden went to ground and cross the line.
Starr converted and the side were back in the match after 3 minutes of the second period. A penalty 3 minutes later was converted by Starr, and the side were within 2 points of the visitors at 13-15.
Caerphilly weren’t however able to build on this, and the scored remained at stalemate for the remainder of normal time in the second half, neither side able to break down defence.
Despite losing two players to the sin bin in the last 20 minutes, Brynmawr held on and were awarded a penalty 4 minutes into injury time to extend their lead.
They eventually ran out 13-18 winners in the season opener.
Caerphilly travel to Tredegar this weekend, the Gwent side having had their opener postponed last weekend, whilst the 2ndXV travel to Trehebert.
Both teams kick off at 2:30pm. The Youth team are away to Ruthin RFC in North Wales in pursuit of a second round appearance in the WRU Youth Cup. 2:30pm Kick off.