CROSS Keys coach Morgan Stoddart is demanding a reaction from his players to a second half horror show when they entertain Principality Premiership East pace-setters Bedwas tomorrow afternoon.

The Pandy Park side will try to inflict a first defeat of the season on their Gwent rivals, something they failed to do against Cardiff in the capital last weekend.

It was nip and tuck when Keys led 14-13 as they returned to the away changing room at the Arms Park but things went wrong after the resumption with the Blue and Blacks running in five tries on the plastic pitch to cruise to a 46-19 victory.

“We missed lots of one-on-one tackles against strong runners,” said Stoddart. “Cardiff got on a roll and we couldn’t stop them.

“Bedwas are a completely different sort of a team to Cardiff and Pandy Park is obviously a different surface to the Arms Park.

“It will be a good test for us because they are flying high and we have to see a reaction to last week.

“Everyone was really disappointed with how things went in the second half and I hope that frustration will come out on the pitch this weekend.

“We need to be winning most of our games at Pandy Park this season and we want to see lots of improvement from Cardiff.”

Keys have made no secret of their desire to move away from the abrasive style that has served them so well in recent seasons but Stoddart knows they must play smart rugby against a Bedwas side guided by one of their old boys, Steffan Jones.

“We want to play attacking rugby but we have got to play in the right areas rather than digging ourselves into a hole like we did in Cardiff,” said the former Wales full-back.

“In years gone by this might have been a bit of a forward-dominated game but I think that both teams have changed their style and Bedwas have had a good start with an all-round game.

“Steff has been going really well for them and is a quality player, so we will have to cope with whatever he brings.”

While Keys have a solitary home win against Ebbw Vale to their name, Bedwas have maximum points thanks to a quartet of bonus point successes.

The latest came against Bargoed with a 37-5 win at Bridge Field but head coach Ian Gardner is still calling for his side to improve.

“It’s been a really good start, we have scored some good tries, are defending well and are getting the basics right,” he said. “But it’s still about progressing week to week and we have to keep that momentum against a dangerous Keys side.

“We went there last year in good form and came unstuck so we are under no illusions about what we need to do well because these derbies produce some results that don’t go to form.”

Bedwas are without wing George Gasson and lock Joe Davies, who feature for the Dragons this evening, so call on Rory Budina and Geraint Edmunds while centre Adam Williams and back rower Andrew Waite come into the XV.

Flanker Dave McGuigan, an Ireland 7s international who is teaching in south Wales, will be among the replacements.

l Cross Keys Past Players Association will hold their first reunion of the season before the game.

All former players are welcome with the annual general meeting taking place at midday before the gathering at 12.30pm.