In the end a draw was probably about right as there was not much between the sides on the day.
On yet another wet and cold windy day Bedwas had the elements at their backs for the first half and used them well with James Dixon’s kicking pinning back the Ebbw XV. The opening 20 minutes was evenly contested with neither side really threatening to score.
That changed after 24 minutes as Bedwas forwards drove forward and Andrew Waite peeled off the back of a rolling maul to dive in for a try, Dixon’s conversion went wide. Four minutes later and with the home forwards again had their opponents going backwards and this time Richard Wilkes was last off the turf to claim the try; Dixon added the extras.
Ebbw hit back and after Bedwas conceded three consecutive penalties the referee quickly brandished a yellow card to Andrew Waite for not retreating 10 metres. Ebbw made the superior numbers count and centre Jordan Howells crossed for a try, which was unconverted.
With no let up to the weather the second half saw play continue in a similar fashion as heavy underfoot conditions saw players beginning to tire. Bedwas stretched their lead after 64 minutes when Dan Crimmins powered over for a try converted by Dixon which saw the home side lead extended to 14 points with 15 minutes to play.
Ebbw battled back and won possession in the home twenty two meter area after a Bedwas mistake. The visitors pounced on the error and replacement prop forward Chris Thomas crossed for a try converted by Iain Smerdon to reduce the deficit to eight points.
It looked as though Bedwas would hold out but were penalised 25 meters from goal and from the resulting penalty Ebbw set up a platform for backrower Ronny Kynes to cross for a try converted by Smerdon followed immediately by the final whistle.
The two sides meet again on Wednesday 16 December 2015 at Eugene Cross Park for the return leg in this competition (kick off 7-15pm) before meeting once again in Ebbw Vale on Boxing Day (26 December) for a Principality Welsh Premiership fixture.
