Mattravers’ 65th minute score proved vital and with Richard Powell kicking three conversions and a penalty, Bedwas claimed a 16-11 victory.
It meant yellow cards to Mattravers and James Sawyer mattered little as Steve Law’s side stayed in seventh place.
Aberavon had actually led 8-6 at the break thanks to a try from Jonathan Phillips but two penalty goals from Jamie Davies weren’t enough for them to take home the spoils.
As a spectacle, this game probably won’t linger long in the minds of those that were there but it was an encounter both clubs knew they had to win to move away from the foot of the table.
Powell opened the scoring with a penalty goal after barely five minutes but Aberavon weren’t behind for long as full back Phillips turned attack into defence, running 80 metres and gathering his own kick through for a superb solo try. Davies missed the conversion.
Powell replied with a second penalty on the half hour mark but both sides were guilty of putting good opportunities to waste.
Mattravers was then yellow carded for a high tackle and penalties either side of half time from Davies put Aberavon in control.
At this stage, Bedwas were labouring but when Powell kicked another three points and Mattravers crashed over for a converted score, the complexion of the game changed.
Now up against it, Jason Hyatt’s Wizards launched wave after wave of attack, causing Bedwas to again go down to 14.
This time around it was Sawyer who was yellow carded but Bedwas refused to let their numerical disadvantage count against them as they held out for victory.
