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Our first XV will take on Maesteg Harlequins this Saturday for the first ever time in a National Championship fixture.

The Quins have enjoyed a fantastic few seasons and will be a tough cookie to crack this weekend.

Beddau have played the Quins in recent seasons. The last was back in a pre-season friendly on Saturday August 27th, 2016 when Beddau put on an excellent performance to beat an under-strength Quins.

Match report by Lynn West - 

Maesteg Harlequins 7 Beddau 48

There will have been gains all around from this warmly contested pre-season match.

Quins will know that they have a pack which has the potential to be a force and that there is pace outside too, that can deliver enough points to enable them to mount a challenge in Division 1 West. For Beddau`s coaches, a satisfyingly upward curve has developed throughout the pre-seasons and the major headache approaching the season opener is who is in and who out in certain positions. There is, too, the not inconsiderable difficulty of filling some gaps from the continuing unavailability of some senior personnel.

Beddau opened the scoring when Hywel Chatham slotted an easy penalty when Quins were offside under the posts but, for a time, it was Beddau under the cosh as a powerful scrummaging performance from the home 8 threatened to spoil Beddau`s afternoon. Beddau tight head Cerith Jones suffered a neck injury which required the summoning of an ambulance. There had been no reports of his condition as I write this but everyone will be hoping that the injury is not too severe and that Cerith will soon be challenging for a first team spot.

At the restart Quins used a penalty to attempt to prise an opening but Beddau defended well and with Hywel Chatham and Lewis Egal steering a counter a foothold was finally established in the Quins territory. Some sniping from the returning Lloyd Peart kept the Quins on the back foot and good hands behind the scrum half opened the way for Joe Casella to touch down in the corner.

It was still a battle and Beddau were grateful that Cody Baker`s excellent tackle halted a thrust that looked like producing a score. At the resultant breakdown the industrious Jordan Goodwin turned the ball over. Cody Baker then showed his attacking skills in setting up an opportunity for Morgan Williams to show his paces in going in for a try that Hywel Chatham converted.

A half- time lead of 15-0 may have slightly flattered Beddau but it was unarguable that they were now earning the lion`s share of proceedings and it was soon 22 when young hooker Corey Tarrent was on the end of a catch and drive try at a lineout and Hywel Chatham goaled. One of the sights to gladden the hearts of Beddau supporters is to see Cody Baker with space to run, not that he needs a lot, and here he raced in from halfway sending defenders on a chase for shadows.

A long kick from one 22 saw the ball find touch in the Beddau 22. Some indiscretion at the lineout gave Quins some go-forward ball and after a lot of effort a driving maul, with backs adding their weight, drove to the line and a try was awarded and converted. It was no more than the home side had deserved but Joe Casella set off on a run down the right. Tacklers did their job but the winger fired in a deft chip which the speeding Jordan Odgers gathered for a fine try.

It wasn't`t over. As the threatened rain finally arrived young flanker Rob Jones showed a touch of pace as he broke away for a good score and the lively Morgan Williams rounded off an afternoon`s good work when gathering his own kick to reach the line. Hywel Chatham converted each of the three tries with a drop kick and a final score of 48-7 will have given Beddau coaches Ben Daniels and Ross Johnston a lot to be pleased with