Bedwas RFC ended the year with a loss to Ebbw Vale in the Principality Premiership on Boxing Day.
Tries from Tom Hoppe, George Gasson and Dan Crimmins weren’t enough for Bedwas, who remain 13th in the table.
Ebbw Vale took an early lead at the Bridge Field through two Rhys Jones penalties, but Bedwas scored the first try of the game when Joe Scrivens set up Hoppe to cross the line.
However, Scrivens missed the conversion and Bedwas still trailed.
Ebbw Vale responded through Carl Meyer, who powered through the home defence to score his first try of the game. Rhys Jones’ conversion extended the lead.
Jones then gave Bedwas further problems when he started a move which resulted in a Lloyd Evans try.
Jones then converted the try and slotted over a penalty kick to give Ebbw Vale a comfortable 23-5 lead at half-time.
The lead was further extended in the second half, with Jones kicking another penalty.
Bedwas responded through quickfire tries from Gasson and substitute Crimmins to reduce the deficit to nine points.
But any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Ebbw Vale’s Meyer crossed over for his second try.
However, Jones missed the conversion after the kick was delayed while the referee spoke to the Television Match Official.
With the final whistle approaching, Bedwas props Chris Budgen and Ramaz Rukhadze were both yellow-carded and sent their marching orders by the referee, who awarded Ebbw Vale a penalty try to see the game finish 38-17.
Next up for Bedwas is a trip to Rhydyfelin RFC in the first round of the Welsh Cup on Saturday, January 5.
The club then returns to Principality Premiership action a week later when they travel to Llandovery.
Report and imagery courtesy of Ian Lovell