Quins can use final defeat as motivation

CARMARTHEN Quins coach Aled Thomas has urged his players to use the pain of losing the National Cup final last season as inspiration as they prepare to clash with Bedwas in the Foster’s Cup final at the Brewery Field in Bridgend this afternoon (2.30pm).

A late surge from Llandovery last May saw Quins fall to a 25-18 defeat at the Principality Stadium and Thomas wants Quins to learn from that defeat.

“I’m sure a lot of the players remember the pain of losing that game and they won’t want that to happen again,” he said.

“I’m sure they will use the experiences of last year and hopefully, on the day, we can produce the goods. We’re looking forward to it. We’re excited and confident and it should be a good game.”

Bedwas are aiming to go one step further in the competition than they did last year and head coach Steve Law believes his side can take a lot from their battling 38-34 defeat to Pontypridd in the showpiece last season.

“I think [losing the final last year] is in the back of their minds. They’d like to go one step further and it has been talked about a little bit but not focused on too much,” said Law.

“One thing is for sure, you play until the final whistle. At half time last year we were dead and buried but by the end of the 80 minutes we had an opportunity to win the game but didn’t take it. It’s never over until it’s over.”

The pair clashed as recently as February, with tries from Geraint Edmunds, Robson Blake and Matthew John helping the Wass to a 24-7 victory. But Quins enjoyed a 23-17 win in the reverse fixture earlier in the season so both teams will know they are capable of securing a victory.

Meanwhile in Tier One of the Principality Premiership, Merthyr and Pontypridd face off in a topof-the-table clash at The Wern (2.30pm).

The Ironmen are the highest scoring team in the league, courtesy of their recent 75-14 win over Llandovery, and will look to bounce back from their late 24-20 National Cup semi-final defeat to RGC 1404. Victory for Lee Jarvis’ men would see them leapfrog Ponty into top spot.

But the Valley Commandos are the only side left with a 100 per cent record and they will be hoping to extend that, inspired by their 42-37 semi-final victory over Cross Keys. Ponty could extend their lead at the top to six points if they are able to secure a bonuspoint win.

Elsewhere in Tier Two, Swansea travel to Parc-y-Scarlets to face Llanelli (2.30pm). Both sides have recorded three defeats and one victory from their four games.