Fixture

Saturday December 7th

Maesteg Quins 0 - 29 Bedwas 

WRU Specsavers Championship

Third placed semi-professional outfit Bedwas arrived at South Parade for the first time, keen to win in order remain within striking distance of Pontypool. Quins thought this an opportunity to add to their league points tally at the foot of mountain home.

A cagey opening necessitated a spate of aerial tennis. Making use of the slippery ball, Geraint Evans at scrum-half, box kicked particularly well throughout.

Bedwas took the lead on ten minutes courtesy of a Dion McIntosh penalty. Further chances to score were few as both sides struggled to maintain a slippery ball. In addition, the breakdown was a fiercely contested area.

Apart from the first and last ten minutes the Quins caused the visitors' scrum to creak. Bedwas' pack were effective in the loose, being particularly adept at negating the usually potent Quins choke tackles, cleverly slipping the ball to others who joined the mauls.

The Quins line-out has been a pleasing feature after early season glitches. Returning Nathan Smith joined Nathan Ace in stealing a number of opposition throws. Yet concentration was lacking late on when, despite winning the ball on their own throw, possession was surrendered and good attacking positions lost.

Cameron Thomas was prominent again with a fine all-round display. The hooker even seamlessly slipped in at centre. Steffan Davies debuted in the midfield and there are few games more challenging than Bedwas to make your bow, but he made a fine fist of it.

A second driving line-out attempt saw Mike Dacey emerge from a pile of bodies to claim the first try and extend Bedwas' lead. Dion McIntosh added the conversion.

Reminiscent of an old-fashioned December tour match the natural light was murky to say the least. The pavilion’s fuzzy fluorescent illuminations were the only thing to breach the gloom and half-time arrived with no further scores.

Bedwas wasted no time to increase their lead in the second half. Owen Jones ran through for a try improved upon by McIntosh.

Ethan Longley did well in the scrum when he entered the fray. Aled Evans offered himself for his usual constant carries when he joined the game.

Even with ten minutes to go the Quins felt they could grab a point from the game, if they could ever so slightly up the moderate pressure they were placing on the visitors. A forty metres penalty just went wide, the attempt being made with the view of scoring a try to reach the ten points mark.

The seventeen point difference remained until the final five minutes. Bedwas’ scrum was shored up by their replacements and in the gathering gloom, Matthew Bovington barged through for a try.

Needing a bonus point to keep a simmering heat on Pontypool the three-way charge for the Championship title, Bedwas made a last push to get the bonus point try.

With the clock running down, the bonus point was won by the Bedwas forwards whose driving maul could not be stopped. Mike Dacey was at the bottom of the heap to claim his second try. McIntosh’s conversion was followed by the final whistle.

In this division of ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ victories over the ‘big three’ could make or break a season for the ‘have nots’. However, the clubs who will achieve such significant victories will be few and far between. Maybe the Quins could revisit their restarts and defence probing strategies for matches with the financial elite, but with every Quins player giving every ounce of themselves, nobody can ask for any more.

League positions stayed as you were at the top of the Championship, while the Quins dropped down one spot to settle at seventh.

Next up before a week off for Santa – Cardiff Metropolitan away.