A sixth defeat, 23-22 at the Bridge Field, means they are ninth with only the top eight guaranteed to battle it out for the title. Damien Hudd’s side did pick up a point, but they are still a point off Cardiff in eighth.
Bedwas were forced to come from behind in the second half after completely dominating the opening 40 minutes.
Tries from Mike Callow and James Benjamin, combined with five points from the boot of Richard Powell, saw them build up a 15-0 lead.
But the champions fought back after the break and Craig Duncan threw them a life-line with a try. Just short of the hour mark they were level thanks to a Dai Langdon try at the posts that Josh Lewis converted and a drop goal from Dorian Jones.
Powell kicked Bedwas back in front, but then Rhys Clarke trundled over for a try which Lewis improved to make it 22-18 to the visitors. But Bedwas stuck to their guns and full back Aaron Bramwell crossed in the corner to snatch victory four minutes from time.
Aberavon moved back to the top of the Principality Premiership after a second-half romp saw them end a two game losing streak in the league with a resounding 58-18 win. Wales 7’s star Stefan Andrews bagged a blistering hat-trick, as the Wizards ran riot after the interval to all but secure their place in the top eight.
Neath battled hard in the first-half and were very much in the game at 20-18 at half-time. Ed Howley and James Garland exchanged early penalties. Neath scored the first try through Chris Morgans before Joe Thomas replied immediately to tie the scores following the missed conversions.
Neath went back ahead through a Howley penalty. But the Wizards bit back as Joe Gage crossed and Garland slotted the conversion. And it soon got better when Stefan Andrews went over for the nine-point lead. But, just before the interval, scrum-half Jacob Flynn was sent to the bin and the Welsh All Blacks snatched a try through Kieran Williams.
But the Wizards worked their magic in a blistering second-half blitz. Alex Jeffries crossed 10 minutes after the break, before Andrews had his second, and the bonus-point soon after. Garland found another penalty to add to the lead, before No.8 Chris Davies bagged try number five.
But the Wizards had not finished there, despite Joe Tomalin-Reeves’ yellow card. A penalty try saw them pass 50-points before Andrews had his third late on, to seal the win.
Llanelli kept alive their faint hopes of reaching the top eight as they gave skipper Adam Powell a belated Christmas gift with a 27-23 win.
Powell was celebrating his 300th appearance for the club and helped his side keep the vastly improved Swansea side at bay as they picked up five points on the road with a four try triumph.
Powell and All Whites stalwart Dai Watts, who was making his 250th appearance for the home side, ran onto the field together through a guard of honour made up of the two teams. Swansea drew first blood with an early penalty from outside half Jac Wilson, but the visitors were in command at 17-8 at the break thanks to tries from wings Matthew Bewer and Ryan Conbeer and another from back row man Jack Condy.
Wing Richard Williams provided home fans with the highlight of the first-half with his try, but they had much more to shout about by the hour mark when a second Wilson penalty and lock Tudor Hughes cut the gap to a single point.
Llanelli then opened up an 11 point gap as Ioan Hughes kicked a penalty and converted the bonus point try from centre Ioan Nicholas, but Swansea finished strongly to bag a losing bonus point thanks to a try from Jon Fox which Wilson converted.
Bargoed picked up only their second Premiership win of the season as they put an end to Bridgend’s hopes of reaching the Premiership’s top eight with a 14-6 triumph. The Bulls remain bottom of the table despite a comeback victory that continues their positive run of form.
They shocked league leaders Merthyr in the Foster’s Challenge Cup last week, and are looking to show signs of adapting to life in Wales’ top tier of rugby. Bridgend had a slim chance of making the top eight, but are now consigned to the wrong end of the split after Boxing Day’s disappointment.
A turgid first-half lacked inspiration, as it appeared to be a contest of two teams battling Christmas hangovers. Joseph Scrivens, called in late to the Ravens team, saw a penalty boom off the uprights, before he adjusted his radar to dissect the posts in the 32nd minute for the only points of the half.
It took just one minute after the interval for the half’s first score, as Scrivens doubled the visitors’ advantage. But Bargoed found the games’ first try from Lewis Protheroe to squeeze into the lead.
Jamie Murphy had a go from halfway for the Ravens, but his attempt fell short, and soon after Bargoed full-back Calum Jones blew the chance to extend their lead when his penalty sailed past the posts. But with 10 minutes to go, Ross Coombes crossed to add to the advantage as the hosts sneaked home for victory.
Five penalties from Aled Thomas saved Carmarthen Quins’ from stumbling to defeat against Llandovery in a game that ended 20-20. The Quins were 11-10 ahead at the break after wing Lee Williams had struck with a 12th minute try.
Wing Corey Baldwin struck twice for the visitors in the first half and Phil Day grabbed a 73rd minute try to allow Jack Maynard to strike the conversion to level the scores and leave both teams locked on 37 points in sixth and seventh place in the table.
Cross Keys did their chances of finishing in the top eight a power of good as they beat arch-rivals Newport 23-8 in a typical derby day slog. Keys lost prop Luke Garrett to a red card in the 59th minute, but by that time they had picked up two penalty tries and were on their way to victory.
Josh Prosser added the rest of the points with three penalties and two conversions, while Newport had an Elliot Frewen try and a Matt O’Brien penalty in the first half.
