BEDWAS spoilt the party for Ebbw Vale when despite collecting three yellow cards, the visitors scored four tries and ruined the Steelmen’s final home match of a splendid season, writes Howard Evans.

A sensational start saw three tries scored in nine minutes with Ebbw Vale gaining the first but Bedwas instantly hitting back, not once, but twice.

Ebbw Vale coach Jason Strange was disappointed with his team, stating: “I know this is a poor excuse, but Bedwas were far hungrier than we were today. We now have to pick something up in our away games at Llanelli, Llandovery and Cardiff to reach the play-offs.”

Bedwas coach Steve Law proved once more that he has been the best coach in Premiership rugby over the last ten years and commented: “At the end of the day we have got up after two heartbreaking losses to come back with this performance when we really had nothing to play for.

“The players were splendid with their wholehearted efforts and even losing three of them for a total of 30 minutes we finished the stronger side.”

Ebbw Vale scored within two minutes as scrum half Rhys Downes snapped up the ball and took route one to the line with Adam Jones converting.

The Bedwas reply was immediate as Mike Callow broke through and sent Lewis Hudd racing clear and then a Tom Rowlands break ended with a Callow try .

Richard Powell goaled both and became the first Premiership player to 200 points this season and before the interval both he and Adam Jones had twice kicked penalties.

The second half hit a low for 20 minutes but Ebbw kept on attacking until a Bedwas burst by Matthew John sent full back Harley Thomson tearing in for Powell to convert.

Again the Steelmen dug deep and were awarded a penalty try that Jones converted at 27-20, but though victory could still have been obtained, it was Bedwas who gained the clinching score.

Another burst downfield, a ruck and a loose ball saw hooker Richard Wilkes, a former Vale player, grab the bonus-point try that Powell again goaled.

Powell kicked six out of seven yet the seventh had looked over but so very high. “Yes I thought was there,” he smiled. “I will have to kick them lower!” Ebbw Vale – C Meyer; O Williams, D Langdon (T Watkins 62), A Jones, T James; I Smerdon, R Downes (C Thomas 73); R Jones (J Lavender 60), M Williams (R Francis 73), R Sevenoaks, D Hudd (capt), A Sweet, R Clarke (G Williams 75), R Kynes (G Rusby-Davies 73), C Regan.

Tries – R Downes, pen try. Cons – A Jones 2. Pens – A Jones 2.

Bedwas – H Thomson; L Hudd, A Pinches, M Callow, M John; R Powell, T Rowlands (L Crane 19); B Toms (D Preece 67), R Wilkes (R Hutcherson 73), M Petit (J Mills 58), P Rees (capt), K Maiden, J Sawyer (S Grainger 77), D Mattravers (D Crimmins 58), G Lee.

Tries – L Hudd, M Callow, H Thomson, R Wilkes. Cons – R Powell 4. Pens – R Powell 2.

Referee – Rhys Thomas (Cardiff).

STAR PLAYERS – Matthew Williams (Ebbw Vale) and Kyle Maiden (Bedwas).

- Bedwas replacement No 8 Dan Crimmins had to receive oxygen at the finish and was taken to hospital with broken ribs.