The game at Pontypridd went well in the first-half, but then the home side powered to a 54-17 win. That left Bedwas hovering below the automatic relegation line and two points off guaranteed safety.
But things are likely to get tougher before they get any easier with the champions of the last two season’s heading to the Bridge Field – and with a flea in their ear from head coach Dale McIntosh in the wake of their home defeat to Cardiff last week.
“Merthyr once again pose a big challenge ahead of what is a crucial New Year for our club. We were particularly happy with our first 40 minutes against Ponty last week, but still require a positive response on the back of our defeat,” said Bedwas head coach Stefan Sankala.
“Merthyr will be hurting after their recent loss to Cardiff, so we need to be at the races right from the off. Our squad will be up for the challenge that a strong Merthyr outfit will undoubtedly bring.”
Bedwas have been boosted by the addition to their line-up of four Cardiff players, Kieran Martin, Sam Pailor, Ramaz Rukhadze and Ian Jenkins, on permit alongside Dragons’ wing George Gasson and the Senghenydd duo of Will Fishlock and Callum Williams.
The selection for this game sees one change in the back line with Tom Rowlands starting at scrum half. Martin and Pailor start up front, while Sam Cochrane comes into the front row. It will be the first home game for Bedwas since 9 November and they have yet to win at home this season in five attempts.
Neath have managed to assemble 15 players to take the field at Bridgend to fulfil their playing commitments, but they have yet to name a bench. It means Bridgend, two off the bottom of the table, will be targeting the full five points as they attempt to build on their recent 16-13 home win over Aberavon as they attempt to climb out of the four automatic relegation spots.
Neath, meanwhile, will travel with a patched-up side led by skipper Aaron Bramwell that contains brothers Jordan and Jarrad Rees, who have both played for Pontypridd, Garyn Payne and newly-transferred Glynneath lock, Ioan Jones. Former Bedwas back row man Craig Hill is another emergency recruit.
“Our remaining boys have pulled together but, with the injuries from the Llanelli game, our numbers are even more depleted. However, new players have taken the opportunity and will wear the Neath jersey with pride and we are very grateful to their clubs for releasing them on permit,” said Bramwell.
Former Neath player and coach Pat Horgan was in charge of training on Thursday night and will be in the dug-out at the Brewery Field. At the other end of the table, meanwhile, two of the top three sides head away.
Merthyr still lead by a point as they travel to Bedwas, while second placed Pontypridd go to Parc y Scarlets. Third placed Cardiff host Llandovery as they attempt to build on last weekend’s win at The Wern against the reigning champions.
Despite that bonus-point win they are still seven points behind the leaders and five off Ponty in second. The match of the day, though, could be at the Talbot Athletic Ground, where fourth placed Ebbw Vale travel to meet the team immediately behind them in the table, Aberavon.
Bargoed welcome Newport for a Gent derby, while Carmarthen Quins travel to Cross Keys and RGC entertain Swansea.
PRINCIPALITY PREMIERSHIP TEAMS – ROUND 16
Aberavon v Ebbw Vale
Aberavon: Chris Banfield; Frankie Jones, Will Price, Rheon James, Stef Andrews; James Garland (captain), Jacob Flynn; Jordan Walters, Luke Davies, Geraint James, Ben Thomas, Rhodri Hughes, Ashton Evans, Andrew Waite, Joe Tomalin-Reeves
Reps: Rhodri Cole, Liam Popham, Luke Joseph, Ieuan Davies, Lee Purnell, Jac Morgan, Rhys Forse, Rhys Henry
Ebbw Vale: Dan Haymond; Paul King, Carl Meyer, Aneurin Owen, Toby Fricker; Rhys Jones, Dai Jones; Luke Garrett, Joe Franchi, Chris Coleman, Kris Parker, Ashley Sweet (captain), Rhys Clarke, Lloyd Evans, Cameron Regan
Reps: Rhys Francis, Curtis Hicks, Rob Sevenoaks, Jonathan Davies, Lewis Young, Sam Ireland, James Lewis, Stefan Thomas
Bargoed v Newport
Bargoed: Calum Jones; Duane Dyer, Darren Humphries, Barney Nightingale, Jordan Purcell; Josh Prosser, James Leadbeater; Rhys Morgan (Captain), Rhys Buckley, Alex Gardner-Key, Louis Blacker, Bryce Morgan, Callum Lloyd Davies, Adam Powell
Reps: Jordan Howells, Wade Langley, Grant Rogers, Ashley Gibson, Keagan Bale, Geraint Edmunds, John Lavender
Newport: David Richards; Harri Lang, Geraint O’Driscoll, Chay Smith, Elliot Frewen; Matt O’Brien, Geraint Watkin; Dan Preece, Henry Palmer, Ton Piper, Joe Bartlett, Dan Partridge, Andy Mann, Kyle Tayler, Rhys Jenkins
Reps: Matt Prosser, Jack Williams, Garin Harris, Josh Skinner, Mathew Reed, Ryan James, Haydn Simons, Haydn Palmer
Bedwas v Merthyr
Bedwas: Joe Scrivens; George Gasson, Tom Hoppe, Adam Williams, Kane Teear-Bourge; Dion McIntosh, Tom Rowlands; Sam Cochrane, Mike Dacey, Chris Budgen, Kieran Martin, Gareth Allen, Sam Pailor, Bradley Hill, Dale Rogers (captain)
Reps: Ramaz Rukhadze, Ian Jenkins, Rhys Hutcherson, Will Fishlock, Josh Hayward, Rory Harries, Ben White, Callum Williams
Merthyr: Matthew Rhys Jarvis; Joe Williams, Joshua Martin, Adam Thomas, Jay Baker; Gareth Davies, Justin James; Nathan Trevett, Sam Evans, Rhys James, Craig Locke (captain), Jake Thomas, Osian Davies, Hemi Barnes
Reps: Rhys Williams, James Howe, Louis Jones, Phil Rees, Jack Perkins, Richard Powell, Arron Pinches
Bridgend v Neath
Bridgend: Cai Evans; Aaron Grabham, Morgan Jones, Nathan Edwards, Ashley Evans; Jamie Murphy, Chris Williams; Owen Jordan, Gareth Harvey, Cai Lewis, Jack Pope, Ben Jones, Tom Morgan, Adam O’Driscoll, Jordan Collier
Reps: Iestyn Merriman, Ollie Evans, Rhodri Apsee, Matthew John, Aled Evans, Connor Tantum, Ryan Evans, Dylan Moss
Neath: Garyn Payne; James Roberts, Jarrad Rees, Aaron Bramwell (captain), Alec Jenkins; Jordan Rees, Nathan Griffiths; Adam Nation, Sion Crocker, Tyla Murvai, Lee Evans, Ioan Jones, Craig Hill, Elis Hopkins, Ceri White
Reps: TBC
Cardiff v Llandovery
Cardiff: Edd Howley; Matthew Powell, Max Llewellyn, Ben Thomas, Joe Gatt; Gareth Thompson, Scott Gibson; Rhys Carre, Ethan Lewis, Peter Lloyd, James Murphy, Macauley Cook, Tom Daley, Zach O’Driscoll, Morgan Allen
Reps: Thomas Davies, Joey Tomlinson, Keiron Brown, Ben Murphy, Jim Botham, Martin Roberts, Steffan Jones, Llywarch Ap Myrddin
Llandovery: Gavin Thomas; Morgan Williams , Corey Baldwin, Rhodri Jones, Aaron Warren; Jack Maynard, Lee Rees (captain); Jamie Hughes, Dafydd Hughes, Berian Watkins, Rhys Jones, Jack Jones, Shaun Miles, Stuart Worrall, Joe Powell
Reps: Llyr Green, Dino Dallavalle, Morgan Jones, Richard Brooks, Ricky Guest, Iestyn Rees, Ryan Evans, Scott Maynard
Cross Keys v Carmarthen Quins
Cross Keys: Leon Andrews; Joe Goodchild, Srdan Majkic, Dylan Fidler, Wes Cunliffe; Jason Tovey, Rhodri Davies; Gary Carpenter, Ellis Shipp, Richard Cornock, Damian Welch (captain), Scott Andrews, Tom Lampard, Joe Thomas, Ieuan Jones
Reps: Rhydian Jenkins, Taylor Hansen, Corey Hewlett, Harvey Reader, Joe Carlin, Will Kelly, Owain Leonard, Rory Budina
Quins: Aled Thomas; Dale Ford, Osian Knott, Josh Batcup, Dylan Morgans; Steffan Marshall, Gareth Rees; Steff Phillips, Torin Myhill, Javan Sebastian, Josh Helps, Lee Taylor (captain), Ed Siggery, Lewys Millin, Shaun Jones
Reps: Carwyn Harries, Thomas Ball, Connor Allen, Hayden Pugh, Ellis Lloyd, Gethin Davies, Aled James, Curtis Ford
Llanelli v Pontypridd
Llanelli: Clayton Blommitjies; Tom Rogers, Ioan Nicholas, Jonny Lewis, Ryan Davies; Steff Hughes, Declan Smith; Rhys Thomas, Taylor Davies, Liam Tobias, Jake Baker, Ashleigh Hyndman, Joel James, Nathan Hart (captain), Joe Miles
Reps: Greg George, Rhys Fawcett, Gareth Harvard, Matthew Davies, Elliott Rees, Gareth George, Ashley Sutton, Kalum Evans
Pontypridd: Ben Jones; Dale Stuckey, Alex Knott, Gabriel Davies, Corey Howells; Ceri Sweeney, Dane Blacker; Corey Domachowski , Rob Jones, Gareth Smith, Shay Smallman, Chris Dicomidis, Lloyd Evans, Rhys Shellard, Alun Lawrence
Reps: Geraint Clarke, Huw Owen, Will Davies-King. Sean Moore, Sion Edwards, Lloyd Rowlands, Cameron Lewis, David Francis
RGC 1404 v Swansea
RGC: Dion Jones; Iolo Evans, Tom Hughes (captain), Danny Cross, Sam Thomas Jones; Billy McBryde, Efan Jones; Joe Simpson, George Roberts, Jordan Scott, Robin Williams, Beau Williams, Andrew Williams, Dan Owen, Tim Grey
Reps: Evan Yardley, Curtis Reynolds, Sam Wainwright, Bryn Jones, Meilir Richard Parry, Ilan Rowlands, Cameron Davies, John Jones
Swansea: Rhys Williams; Ryan Griffiths, Tom Williams, Jedd Evans, Ben Cambriani; John Rhys Williams, Matthew Aubrey; Rhys Davies, Dewi Lake, Mitch Walsh, James Ratti, Will Griffiths, Morgan Morris, Callum Bowden, Jon Fox (captain)
Reps: Paul John, Jack Powell, Greg Cunniffe, Matthew Dodd, Charlie Davies, Chris Morgans, Kieran Charles, Luke Griffiths
