Bedwas’ Principality Premiership start ended in defeat as they let slip a promising lead against Llanelli at home on September 14.
The visitors drew first blood in the 37-30 win, from a Frazier Clemo penalty, but Bedwas hit a purple patch when a great Harley Thomson break put Lewis Hudd in for a sprint down the left wing.
Richard Powell’s touchline conversion made it a seven pointer and he added a penalty shortly afterwards.
Five minutes later Pinches ripped the ball from a Llanelli defender and ran through for a try that Powell again converted to put the home side 17-3 ahead.
Llanelli’s live wire scrum-half Justin James escaped some poor Bedwas tackling to score a converted try and pull his side back into the game.
Powell added another penalty before once again Bedwas hit the self-destruct button.
The Llanelli full-back Steffan Evans ran through poor tackling by the home side for his side’s second try, which Josh Adams again converted.
Powell hit back with his third penalty of the half before Llanelli’s Clemo added a penalty, try and conversion all in the space of two minutes to put his side 27-23 ahead at the interval.
Powell missed an early second-half penalty attempt before Clemo added another penalty after Bedwas were judged offside.
Bedwas made a raft of changes between 50 and 60 minutes as all eight replacements came onto the field.
There was no immediate impact and Josh Adams crashed through for a try, converted by Clemo to re-exert the visitor’s dominance.
Bedwas grabbed a try back after 66 minutes when Thomson and Pinches broke from their own 22 yard line and put Matthew John in to score.
Jack Maynard converted to put them withing seven points and huffed and puffed but could not find another try.
Llanelli held on for a deserved win with Bedwas claiming a losing bonus point.
On Saturday September 20 Bedwas face local rivals Cross Keys, who beat Aberavon 33-18 in their opening league game. Kick off is at 2.30pm at Pandy Park..
• Match report and picture by Ian Lovell