The battle to the top six heats up as opportunities to secure victories and all-important points are limited.
Carmarthen Quins welcomed Aberavon to Carmarthen Park for the penultimate game of the regular season. The homeside was keen on securing a win to keep the top six dream alive, and in doing so avoiding the additional Wildcard round, Aberavon on the other hand already out of top six contention.
Visitors Aberavon got the got the game underway and managed to keep hold of territorial advantage in the Quins’ half in the opening few minutes.
Aberavon are penalised in their own half and Elis Price, making his first appearance since January following injury, kicks the Quins to the corner. Hooker Lewis Morgan finds his man and the pack drives Aberavon’s defence over the whitewash. Flanker Ben Williams claims the first try of the afternoon and gets Quins’ score ticking over.
5-0
Aberavon’s Ashton Evans is binned giving Quins a man advantage with a line on the opposition’s 22. The ball is lost but we come back for another penalty, with Price kicking to the corner on this occasion. Aberavon have the upper hand and kick downfield after Quins are penalised for crossing.
Quins storm Aberavon’s line from a 5-metre line out once again, but it’s held up. Plenty of ambition and attacking flair on show from the homeside.
A scrum under Aberavon’s posts turns into territorial advantage for the visitors with Sam Jardine kicking to touch.
Lewis Morgan gathers the ball at the back of Aberavon’s line out. Quins make the yards into Aberavon’s 22 but it’s the Wizards who get their hands on the ball from Price’s grubber kick.
The visitors get their hands on an interception pass, and they look as though they’ve got the space to run in a long range try. Speedster Callum Woolley had other plans, taking down his man with prowess.
The Wizards edge deep into Quins territory. Advantaged is played in their favour as Quins fail to roll away. They come again desperately looking for a gap to hit the whitewash. Quins’ defence holds strong, and Price kicks the ball downfield.
Several penalised against Quins allows Aberavon back into the game on the half hour mark. They kick for the corner, gather the ball in the lineout but are penalised for holding on to the ball on the ground. Quins reprieve.
Despite attempts by both sides to get the game going and to secure dominance in the latter stages of the first half, the score remains the same.
Half time: Quins 5 Aberavon 0
The second half spark appeared bright in the Wizards XV immediately from the off. A penalty inside Quins’ territory and they opt for an early kick at goal. The attempt is wide but a clear message of intent.
Aberavon make a break into Quins’ half. Woolley once again has his eyes fixed on his prey, takes him down and wins a turnover penalty just shy of Aberavon’s 22. Price steps up for a penalty and nails it.
8-0
Aberavon hit back with a grubber kick into Quins territory. Ifan Davies gathers the loose ball ahead of the attacking visitors. He ships it back inside, but he doesn’t find his man. Wizards pounce on it and flanker Gwilym Evans crosses the whitewash. Scott Delnevo adds the conversion.
8-7
Aberavon win a turnover inside their own half. They get the ball away and make an attacking break into Quins territory. A neat grubber kick gets them within touching distance of the try line. Replacement Thomas Williams clears under pressure for Quins, but the ball remains in play. Aberavon gather and come again. It’s heads into touch, Wizards line out.
The forwards drive the maul forward and they cross for their second of the afternoon and add the conversion.
8-14
Quins hit back from the restart. The ball is worked through the hands, patient and composed period of play. The ball goes left and right. Aberavon’s defence looks strong and make Quins work for the opportunity. Hooker Lewis Morgan eventually claims Quins’ second try. Conversion added by Ifan Davies putting the homeside back in the lead by a single point.
15-14
It’s not long before the visitors take the lead once again. Quins are penalised for not rolling away inside their own half. It’s a kickable penalty and Aberavon waste no time in lining up their shot. It’s over. They go back into the lead.
15-17
With Storm Dave gusting a sideways downpour in town’s direction, Quins head downfield and launch an attack on Aberavon’s line. Despite a good phase of play the ball is lost forward and possession is lost. The minutes ebb away, and possibly the all-important victory.
The final say goes to the visitors. They win territorial advantage. Push Quins back into their own half. A penalty against the home team and it’s another penalty opportunity for the Wizards. It’s over. The victory is secured.
Final score: Quins 15 Aberavon 20
Carmarthen Quins:
15 Ifan Davies, 14 Callum Woolley (Scarlets), 13 Jac Howells (C), 12 Gabe McDonald (Scarlets), 11 Tomos Lewis, 10 Elis Price (Scarlets), 9 Bowyn Clark, 1 Rhys Fawcett, 2 Lewis Morgan, 3 Connor Allen, 4 Tom Phillips, 5 Ryan Bean, 6 Iestyn Richards, 7 Ben Williams (Scarlets), 8 Lewys Millin
Replacements: 16 Ifan James, 17 Jake Bowen, 18 Iestyn Cooke (Scarlets), 19 Sam Williams (Scarlets), 20 Iestyn Wood, 21 Dylan Rowe, 22 Eilir George, 23 Thomas Williams (Scarlets)
Aberavon:
15 Felix Gilbert, 14 Frankie Jones, 13 Sam Matthews, 12 Scott Delnevo, 11 Cian Evans, 10 Sam Jardine, 9 Elis Horgan, 1 Freddie Chapman, 2 Saul Hurly, 3 Geraint James, 4 James Clegg, 5 Lewis Marsh, 6 Ben Gregory, 7 Gwilym Evans, 8 Ashton Evans
Replacements: Scott Whitlock, 17 Tomi Booth, 18 Moah Mason, 19 Zac Evans, 20 Elis Cox, 21 Luke Davies, 22 Eli Cowan, 23 Jordan Walters
Scorers:
5-0 Try Ben Williams
8-0 Penalty Elis Price
8-5 Try Gwilym Evans
8-7 Conversion Scott Delnevo
8-12 Try Aberavon
8-14 Conversion Aberavon
13-14 Try Lewis Morgan
15-14 Conversion Ifan Davies
15-17 Penalty Aberavon
15-20
