The Quins picked up the points with a 23-17 away win that moved them to within a point of their hosts in fifth. Meanwhile, Aberavon were losing their unbeaten record to a last play try from Cardiff at the Talbot Athletic Ground.
It means both teams will be determined to put those defeats behind them in one of the ‘pick of the day’ matches. Last weekend’s defeat was the third suffered by Bedwas this season, but they didn’t lose much ground on the leaders as none of the three teams above them won.
“There was a lack of effort in the first half and, whilst Carmarthen deserved their victory, my players have been told in no uncertain terms that last week’s performance was unacceptable to myself and to the club,” said Law.
Pontypridd host bottom of the table Swansea looking to atone for their 37-3 defeat at Llandovery in a game that saw three four cards issued last weekend. That result saw Ponty drop to eighth place in the table.
Neath head to Merthyr, where last season’s Championship winners will be another team seeking to put things right after they were on the end of a 40-10 beating at Bridgend last weekend. Neath, on the other hand, found themselves let another game slip through their grasp as they were pipped at home by Newport.
“Newport was another one that got away. In the last five minutes alone, two dropped goal attempts went just wide and Ed Howley’s last-kick penalty hit the upright. But it’s no good looking at what might have been – we need to make the most of our opportunities and Merthyr,” said head coach Gareth Llewellyn.
“They will be doubly tough following their shock defeat at Bridgend, so we have to concentrate on ourselves. Our scrum and line-out are going well and our pace behind is frightening sides.
“We are not operating a strict rota system, but this Division requires more than 15 players and regular changes allow rest and recuperation and help to keep players fresh for new challenges.”
Bridgend are very much on a roll at the moment having won five consecutive games in all competitions. The talented Joe Scrivens will look to steer the Ravens to another victory in the wake of his stunning performance against Merthyr last weekend.
Llandovery travel to Newport on Sunday for a game that will see their skipper and lock, Phil Day, play his 150th game for the club. Still only 25, Day has led his side to six victories this season and they will be hoping to rise even higher up the table than their current seventh spot.
PRINCIPALITY PREMIERSHIP – ROUND 9
Friday, 11 November
Cross Keys v RGC 1404
Saturday, 12 November
Bedwas v Aberavon 13:30
Bridgend v Llanelli 13:00
Cardiff v Bargoed 12:00
Ebbw Vale v Carmarthen Quins 13:30
Merthyr v Neath 13:30
Pontypridd v Swansea 13:30
Sunday, 13 November
Newport v Llandovery
TEAMS
Saturday, 12 November
Bedwas v Aberavon
Bedwas: Aaron Bramwell; Adam Williams, Connor Edwards, Mike Callow, Pat Lewis; James S. Dixon, Nicky Griffiths (captain); Dan Preece, Alun Rees, Matthew Pettit, Geraint Edmunds, James Richards, George Lee, Dan Crimmins, Andrew Waite
Reps: Brynley Toms, Rhys Buckley, Rhys Hutcherson, Rhys Verley, Nathan Hudd, Luke Crane, Richard Powell, Phillip Pariyo
Aberavon: Joe Gage; David Evans, Will Price, Rheon James, Stef Andrews; James Garland, David Pritchard; Mike Burgess, Ieuan Davies, Jon Thomas, Ben Davies, Ben Jones, Lee Purnell, Chris Davies (captain), Nathan Brown
Reps: Jacob Flynn, Steffen Williams, Jonathan Phillips, Luke Davies, Luke Joseph, Alex Jeffries, Rhys Forse, Sam Williams
Bridgend v Llanelli
Bridgend: Marc Bennett; Ryan Griffiths, Ryan Evans, Jamie Murphy, Mike Powell; Joe Scrivens 9. Chris Williams; Rhodri Apsee, Iestyn Merriman, Keiron Jenkins, Jack Pope, Owain Lloyd, Adam O’Driscoll, Gareth Beer, Ashton Evans
Reps: Jordon Liney, Nicky Boyce, Cai Lewis, Kyle Evans, Matt John, Will Baird, Joe Gatt, Garin Lougher
Llanelli: Dion Jones; Kalum Evans, Nathan Edwards, Jonny Lewis, Ashley Evans; Ioan Hughes, Rhodri Cole; Rhys Fawcett, Richard Bassett, Simon Gardiner, Adam Powell (captain), Chris Long, Lloyd Pike, Shaun Edwards, Trystan Lloyd
Reps: Rhys Thomas, Tom Curry, Tom Kaijaks, Ed Curtis, Jack Davies, Matthew Flanagan, Paul Davies, Lawrence Thomas
Cardiff v Bargoed
Cardiff: Codey Rees; Olli Smyth, Harri Griffiths, Will Rees Hole, Ceri Young; Diggy Bird, Liam Free; Rob Lewis, Joe Tomlinson (captain), Ben Leung, Ben Thomas, James Murphy, Jonathan Edwards, Jordan Viggers, Luke Crocker
Reps: Gavin Nash, Joe Page, Kieron Assarratti, Owen Lloyd, Joe Miles, Tom Slater, Lewys Montague, Gareth Thompson
Bargoed: James Hallett; Duane Dyer, Darren Humphries, Lewis Bowden, David Evans; Calum Jones, James Pizey; Jack Williams, Leigh Meades (captain), Alex Gardner-Key, James Locke, Gavin McDonnell, Adam Coupe, Grant Rogers, Louis Blacker
Reps: Keiron Brown, Lewys Lippiett, Rhys Morgan, Alex Herbert, Lewis Weyman, Lewis Protheroe, Luke Smalley, Ashley Norton
Ebbw Vale v Carmarthen Quins
Ebbw Vale: Dan Haymond; Chris Levesley, Nathan Preece, Dai Langdon, Ryan Gardner; Josh Lewis, Chris Thomas; Ian George, Joe Franchi, Gethin Robinson, Joe Bartlett, Damien Hudd (captain), Ronny Kynes, Dawid Rubasniak, Rhys Clarke
Reps: Jonny Bowen, Ross Jones, Rob Sevenoaks, Ashley Gibson, Ben Papp, Ben Ellis, Liam Jones, Craig Duncan
Carmarthen Quins: Gavin Thomas; Chris Banfield, Iolo Evans, John Williams, Kieron Jones; Craig Evans, Connor Lloyd; Gethin Robinson, Torin Myhill, Steffan Thomas, Ben Thompson, Haydn Pugh (captain), Shaun Jones, Elis Lloyd, Lee Taylor
Reps: Steffan Phillips, Rhodri Clancy, Javan Sebastian, Roy Osborn, Shaun Evans, Gareth George, Steffan Marshall, Josh Batcup
Merthyr v Neath
Merthyr: Matt Jarvis; Kyle Evans, Harley Thomson, Arron Pinches, Matt Trowbridge; Gareth Davies, Rhys Downes; James Howe (captain), Rhys Williams, Louis Jones, Tom Daley, Ben Murphy, Ed Siggery, Osian Jones, Nathan White
Reps: Rhys James, Gary Powell, Matt Dwyer, Ben Sier, Matt Rees, Tom James, Dean Gunter, Owen Howe
Neath: Ed Howley; Alec Jenkins, Matthew Pearce, Gavin Evans, Kristian Corbisiero; Dan Guarneri, Chris Morgans; Ben Uphill, Sion Crocker, Ryan Thomas, Jon Barley, Lyndon Bateman, Charlie Davies, Leon Ward, Jordan Collier (captain)
Reps: Aled Morris, Neil White, Geraint James, Jonny Griffiths, Calum Davies, Josh Guy, Iwan Evans, Aaron Grabham
Pontypridd v Swansea
Pontypridd: Gary Williams; Dale Stuckey, Dafydd Lockyer (captain), Declan Williams, Cameron Lewis; Lewis K Williams, Joel Raikes; Joe Popple, Huw Dowden, Mitch Auger, Sean Moore. 5.Chris Dicomidis, Jake Thomas, Rhys Shellard, Owen Sheppeard
Reps: Greg Mogford, Callum Hall, Bradley Coombes, Corrie Tarrant, Dafi Davies, Dan Godfrey, Connor Lewis, Sam May
Swansea: Julian Mogg; Josh Jones, Ryan Evans, Josh Maertin, Will Lewis; Jac Wilson, Rhodri Wells; Tom Sloane, Paul John, Mitchell Walsh, Jon Fox, Tudor Hughes, Jon Vaughan (captain), Mike Sully, Rory Gallagher
Reps: Ricky Guest, Richard Murphy, Sam Martin, Jay Williams, Jack Perkins, Martin Luckwell, Rory Garrett, Ewan Gully
Sunday, 13 November
Newport v Llandovery
Newport: Geraint O’Driscoll; Jon Morris, Tom Pascoe, Chay Smith, Wes Cunliffe; Matt O’Brien, Ryan James; John Lavender, Henry Palmer, Tom Piper, Adam Brown (c), Rhodri Jones, Craig Attwell, Kyle Tayler, Rhys Jenkins
Reps: Evan Whitson, Matt Prosser, Garin Harris, Dan Mock, Henri Williams, Aaron Bidgood, Llywarch ap Myrddin, Tom Riley
Llandovery: Mike Evans; Corey Baldwin, Rhodri Jones, Craig Woodall, Aaron Warren; Jack Maynard, Scott Gibson; Dean Howells, Dafydd Hughes, Berian Watkins , Bryn Griffiths, Phil Day (captain), Stuart Worrall, Duane Eager, Richard Brooks
Reps: Greg Cunniffe, Jamie Kaijaks, Joe Powell, Richard Rees, Andrew Pritchard, Rhodri Wall, James Davies, Alex Davies
