Seven changes to the team and nine players not available for selection. A recipe for disaster in the Premiership
Bedwas turned up to play, The Quins, after a promising start to the contest, fell away badly.
Quins have always strived to produce players and encourage them to play at the level they are able and because of this, nine players were missing with the Scarlets, Wales 7s and the Wales Under 20. One could argue the Quins have become victims of their own success however the abstractions will inevitably interfere with the club’s chances of reaching the League play off stage.
They remain in third place 11 points clear of 5th placed club, but Cardiff have three games in hand, so with Cardiff the next game for the Quins, the season’s success could hinge on this fixture.
Carmarthen got off to the perfect start, with Dion Jones and captain Ian Jones crossing for good tries and a Craig Evans conversion put the home team 12 points up after the opening five minutes, but this is when the magic ended. Bedwas to their credit did not throw the towel in and soon turned things around.
Richard Powell put over two penalties and his side were back in the game. On the half hour it was Harley Thompson who from his full back position got on the score sheet when he came into the line to score a well taken try.
Powell converted to put the visitors ahead. Bedwas continued to play the brand of play that the Quins had been blessed with up to this game, and when Chris Banfield made a 60 meter run only to be halted inches short things looked promising. Alas this was not to be the case and near half time Richard Powell made a telling break and ran 50 metres to go in under the posts and his conversion took his match contribution up 15 points.
Ten minutes into the second period Craig Evans pulled three points back with a penalty, but a little later that man Powell hit the Quins with the killer blow with his side’s third try.
Mid way through the half a Quins attack gave Dion Jones the chance to round the Visitors defence to cross in the Vicarage corner and Craig Evans put over a touch line conversion to give the Quins support some hope.
With ten minutes remaining the bonus point try from centre Aaron Pinches and conversion from Powell gave Bedwas the League points. A disappointing result from the Quins perspective and with a visit to the Capital next on the list, the season’s outcome could be decided next Saturday.
And here is the Bedwas point of view…
Bedwas clawed back a 12-point deficit to record a deserved win with an excellent performance which earned a bonus point into the bargain.
The Quins started as they had left off in the previous weeks’ demolition of Llanelli. With only four minutes elapsed full back Dion Jones won the race to the line from his own kick through and then two minutes later home captain Ian Jones charged over for his side’s second try, this one converted by Craig Evans.
Bedwas responded with some good work by the forwards who took the game to their hosts. Richard Powell’s two penalty goals saw some of the deficit reduced before Deri Mattravers crossed for a try following good work from his forward colleagues, Powell improved upon to put Bedwas ahead.
Four minutes later Powell broke through for a try which he converted himself to put his side eight points ahead at the interval.
The second half saw the home side begin to fight back. With Bedwas’ Arron Pinches sin binned for a high tackle Craig Evans took the opportunity from the ensuing penalty to close the gap. However Powell’s second try of the afternoon as he kicked through twice to gather and cross for a try restored Bedwas’ advantage.
Again the home side fought back with a second try of the afternoon from Ian Jones, converted by Craig Evans before they found themselves reduced to fourteen men as winger Chris Banfield was sin binned for deliberately knocking on a Bedwas pass. Powell made no mistake with his kick.
Bedwas were in no mood to surrender their lead and again good work by the pack created the space for Pinches to run through for a bonus point earning try under the posts, Powell’s conversion stretching the lead to an unassailable thirteen points.
With the win taking Bedwas to fourth in the table (before Sunday’s game between Ebbw Vale and Cross Keys) Bedwas find themselves in good shape to take on Pontypridd on Saturday 14th February, kick off 2-30pm.
