The first 30 minutes belonged to Quins who ran in four tries to earn a bonus point but the following 50 minutes belonged to Bedwas who scored 40 unanswered points to leave their opponents with that solitary bonus point to take back west.
With a strong, cold wind at their backs the Quins were straight onto the front foot and Bedwas were found wanting, a forty five metre penalty goal after only forty seconds by fly half Dan Jones saw them quickly on their way.
A second Carmarthen penalty was kicked for touch and from the line out winger Gavin Thomas crossed, Jones converted and the visitors were ten points to the good. Bedwas could not get any meaningful possession and it was no surprise when Carmarthen added a second try again through Thomas, this time unconverted.
The home defence held for the next twelve minutes or so but were unable to stop a powerful drive by the visiting forwards and flanker Elis Lloyd emerged from a pile of players to claim an unconverted try. Three minutes later live wire scrum half Connor Lloyd exposed a huge gap in the home defence for the bonus point try and with Jones’ conversion Carmarthen were thirty points ahead with thirty minutes ahead.
Bedwas battled back and five minutes before the break scored what was probably the decisive try. Tom Rowlands’ quickly taken tap penalty put winger Mathew John in for a try. Richard Powell expertly converted from wide out but nobody would have predicted what was to happen in the next forty minutes.
From the start Bedwas were determined to get back into the game but were kept at bay until the 51st minute and with the home pack dominating the scrummage referee Dan Jones awarded the home side a penalty try as the visitors scrum disintegrated.
Bedwas were suddenly rampant and Geraint Edmunds charged down a clearance kick, collected the ball and crossed for a try, Powell converted to bring Bedwas to within six points of their visitors. Bedwas continued to pound the Carmarthen 22 metre area and the visitors struggled to keep them out and then were a man down as a replacement prop forward was sin binned for failing to release a tackled Bedwas player.
Bedwas took advantage of their numerical advantage and a driving maul saw Alun Rees last up off the turf to claim a try in the corner. Powell’s excellent kick a metre in from the touchline put the home side in front for the first time with thirteen minutes remaining, at the same earning a bonus point.
Carmarthen tried to get back into the game but the home defence were not about to throw away their good work. With four minutes remaining further pressure by the home forwards worked a gap for centre Adam Williams to cross to the delight of his team mates, Powell converted and forty unopposed points saw Bedwas claim an impressive victory which looked unlikely at the half way point.
Bedwas take a break from league rugby next week (12 December) when Ebbw Vale visit the Bridgefield for a Foster Challenge Cup fixture, the return fixture being scheduled for Wednesday 16 December 2015 at Ebbw Vale.
On Saturday 19 December Bedwas host the British and Irish Cup tie between the Gwent Dragons Premiership Select side and Doncaster Knights and the following weekend Bedwas return to league action with a Boxing Day fixture and a trip to Ebbw Vale.
