“An opportunity missed”, lamented Bedwas head coach Steve Law after watching his side lose to Carmarthen on Saturday November 5, a result which moved Quins to within a point of fourth-placed Bedwas.
Carmarthen did the bulk of their work in the first period, giving themselves an early platform with a try in the first minute.
Starting at an express pace, quick passing put winger Morgan Griffiths through in the left hand corner with the Bedwas defence in disarray.
Craig Evans followed up the successful conversion with a penalty five minutes later, and Carmarthen enjoyed a ten point lead with Bedwas struggling to find any cohesion.
The home side eventually hit back in their first foray into the opposition half, as fly-half James Dixon notched a close range penalty after Quins were adjudged offside. Bedwas joy was short-lived, however, as Evans slotted a penalty of his own.
The game sprung to live on 28 minutes, when a loose Carmarthen pass was seized upon by winger Pat Lewis, who sprinted fifty metres to touch down under the posts. Dixon easily converted, and Bedwas were only three points adrift.
Once again, Quins were not to be deterred, and added a penalty to their tally before being awarded a penalty try on the stroke of half time.
After a series of scrums close to the Bedwas line disintegrated, the referee signalled for the penalty try, and blew his whistle as Evans’ conversion sailed through the posts for a 23-10 half-time score.
The second half continued in the same vein, as Carmarthen’s dominance at the scrum led to Bedwas prop Bryn Toms being sent to the sin-bin, and the home side threw on five replacements in a bid to get something from the game.
Bedwas tried to run the ball at every given opportunity, but the final pass was all too often inaccurate and the chances were lost.
However, after winger Phillip Pariyo gleefully dived over for a try, which Richard Powell converted, Bedwas sensed a comeback with the win within reach of a single score at 23-17.
Outside centre Mike Callow and Powell both came close, but Quins’ defence held firm and the home side had to settle for the losing bonus point.
Bedwas will need to dust themselves down for the visit of table toppers Aberavon on Saturday November 12.
• Match report and photography by Ian Lovell of Bedwas RFC.