CARMARTHEN QUINS : Official Website

Quins  13  Pontypridd  16

The Quins made four changes from the Ebbw Vale match, to take on 2nd placed Pontypridd on a wet and miserable afternoon.

Almost from the kick-off the Quins were awarded a penalty only to see Aled Thomas kick sail inches wide. The Quins pack were up against a heavier and more experienced eight but soon settled and were able to win their own put in at both line out and set piece, and after 10 minutes Aled Thomas put the Quins ahead with a 35 yard penalty.

Jac Wilson was able to nurse the touch line which gained valuable ground, and Haydn Pugh and Josh Helps were able to take more than their share of line outs, the visitors were denied good possession and posed no serious threat. It was 25 minutes into the game before Ponty were able to win a line out in the Quins 22 for wing Corey Howells to cross for a try  and Lewis  Williams to add the extra points,

As has happened in many Quins matches this term, this set back seemed to spur them on, and after a move started by Dale Ford in his own half, and several Quins players handled to see Osian Knott start a run that emphasised the threat he has promised, and his dummy pass fooled the covering defence for him to waltz over near the posts for Aled Thomas to regain the lead with his 35th min conversion. Just on half time Aled slotted over his second penalty to give the Quins an interval lead of 13- 7.

The Ponty outfit are not a side to lie down and Lewis Williams converted two early penalties to level matters, and after a Quins Yellow card, it seemed the visitors had broken the Quins resilience. Not the case as they knuckled down with powerful work by their pack, the ten minutes passed without any addition to the score, and the visitors very rarely pass up a chance like this, so credit must be given to the Quins defensive qualities.

Ten minutes from time Williams held his nerve and with the help of the upright, he put over his third penalty to give the visitors a slender lead. The final passages of the match saw both sides strive to add to their scores, but sound defences took the honours and the final whistle heralded a narrow Ponty victory.

The loosing bonus point keeps the Quins in eighth place and after this fine performance against a dangerous Pontypridd side, who knows what the future holds for this young Quins team.

The next match will be televised live on BBC ScrumV next Friday away at Merthyr Kick Off 7:10pm , and all will remember our outstanding win up there last season so let’s hope for a similar performance.

EBBW Vale clinched a 22-8 win over Carmarthen Quins in a gritty battle in front of the BBC Wales cameras, at Eugene Cross Park on a cold Friday night.

Their first scoring chance came in the fifth minute. Rhys Jones’ kick was aimed for either Josh Lewis or Dafydd Howells, but both mishandled the already slippery ball.

However the referee had blown for a foul on Jones by Lee Taylor, an action that earned the Quins forward ten minutes in the bin.

Ebbw Vale couldn’t take advantage of the extra man, in fact it was the visitors who took a 12^th minute lead via an Aled Thomas penalty, and just before Taylor returned to the field, Toby Fricker was denied a try after Ebbw’s Lee Taylor did well to hold him up over the line.

It looked like that Ebbw Vale had taken the lead on 27 minutes when a length of the field move culminated in Fricker finding a gap and diving over. However, after a consultation with the TMO, it was disallowed after Ross Jones was judged to have made a tip tackle in the build-up. So instead of being perhaps 7-3 up, Ebbw were still 3-0 down and had Jones in the bin to boot.

Ebbw Vale had to settle for a penalty goal instead, Rhys Jones kicking from an angle to level the scores.

Jones had another go to try to give his side an interval lead, an ambitious attempt from 55 metres out that was on target but didn’t have the distance.

But deep into added on time, Fricker finally got his try, burrowing his way over with Jones converting putting the score to 10-3 at the break.

They extended their advantage 12 minutes into the second half. It was an excellent passing move that ended in Dafydd Howells diving over in the corner and Jones converting well.

Carmarthen kept on attacking, desperately looking for a way back into the game, but each time they were met with a blanket defence as Ebbw forced them into errors.

Eventually they were rewarded. Jac Price, who had only been on the field for two minutes, scoring the try, with the conversion going wide.

But the home side cemented the win in the final minutes with a Rhys Jones penalty.

Our festive derby fixture against Llandovery RFC has been selected by BBC SCRUMV to be a televised fixture. The fixture will now move from Saturday 29th December at 2:30pm and will now be played on Friday 28th December – 7:15pm kick off.

I hope you will all join us at the park to get behind the squad for the last fixture of 2018.

#mightyquins #quinsfamily

Swansea 21 Quins 17

image by Dragon Tales Photography

Having lead for most of the match, the second half saw a series of mystery decisions by officials and players, and a denied try at the death, let Swansea in for a lucky four points. Early Quins pressure was rewarded when after a forward surge, Torin Myhill was credited with the score for Steff Marshall to convert. Almost from the restart, The St.Helens outfit were awarded a penalty for Steff Williams to claw three points back. Again from the Quins restart, Swansea’s indiscipline gave Steff Marshall the chance to increase his side’s lead with an 8th min penalty.A series of Quins power drives kept play in the home half and only desperate defence prevented a score. A Swansea raid into the Quins 22 won them a penalty and from a quick tap and go the Quins were caught out and let T. HAND through to score an easy try. Williams levelled the score with the conversion.The Quins were able to win and keep most of the ball only to be denied with some sloppy passing and decision making, and on the half hour mark,power play saw the referee award the Quins a penalty try and another seven points. The home side were awarded a penalty for Williams to convert to see the sides change round with the Quins 17 points to 10 ahead.

Swansea had the use of the wind in the second period but failed to dent the Quins defence, More tight play gave the supporters little to enthuse about right up to the 75th min when from a Swansea catch and drive line out, The Quins were caught napping and the home side darted through to score a fortunate try which went unconverted but gave them a fortunate lead.Another home penalty meant that the Quins had to go for a try, and they pilled on the pressure and from what appeared to be a Quins try the spontaneous reaction of the Quins pack was dashed when the referee failed to see what had happened and blew for time to see a travesty and the Quins could only come away with a losing bonus point which dropped them to 5th place in theLeague when a victory would have taken then up to second spot. The Quins paid the price for not taking the chances on offer and must be far more clinical in future.

Next up is an away trip to Ebbw Vale in Friday 23rd November – kick off 7:15pm

Quins  41    Neath  14

Torrential rain in the hours prior to the game would have caused a cancellation at most grounds, but such is the improved drainage at the Park, the conditions underfoot were amazing, and the handling by both sides was quite brilliant. Minutes before the kick off the rain stopped and gave both sets of supporters hope of an open game, which turned out to be the case.

From the first set piece, the Quins eight signalled their intentions and pushed the Neath pack back a full ten meters and gained a 4th minute penalty. Up stepped Aled Thomas and took his points tally for the Quins past the 600 mark. A Neath passing bout took play into the Quins 22 but as always their tackling was first class and the danger was averted. Neither side wanted to keep the ball tight and as attacks were stopped, counter attacks developed to the delight of both sets of supporters.

The Quins scrums and line outs were soon on top, keeping most of the early play in the Neath half, giving scrum half Gareth Rees ample opportunity to shine and after 16 minutes he was able to snipe over for the opening try for Aled Thomas to convert. A series of Quins power drives and good tactical kicking kept the Neath side deep in their own half and after 24 minutes, Aled Thomas slotted over his second penalty.

From the possession the Quins were winning, they were always dangerous and when Aled Thomas joined the line, he made a fine break taking play up to the visitors line. From the resulting set piece, a powerful drive gave Gareth Rees the chance to pick up and weave his way over for his second try. Aled Thomas took the Quins total up to 20 with the kick.

More of the same gave Neath very little chance to create any thing and the sides changed ends with the Quins promising to run riot. An early second period Quins attack saw the Neath defence fail to gather and play was driven into the Vicarge corner, and when two scrums went the Quins way, their power play gave the referee no alternative other than to award a penalty try and seven points.

The Neath side found it difficult to cope with the Quins power drives and when play was taken up to the Neath line the Quins power play was rewarded with their second penalty try and with it the match bonus point.

From a Neath break down, inside the Quins half, several players handled with neat interpassing the ball ended up in Gareth Rees hands and he was able to make 30 meters to go over under the post for his hattrick. Aled Thomas added the conversion.

To Neaths credit they did not collapse and after a series of dangerous passing moves, Garin Lloyd was able race over in the corner. Ed Howley added the points from the touch line. The Neath support were able to encourage their favourites to new heights and Mike Evans was able to cross for their second try which Ed Howley converted. With all their substitutes on, the game ended with a victory for the Quins which moves them up to 4th spot in the Premiership.

Such is the form of the team at the moment several players were quite outstanding and it would be difficult to pick the Man of the Match.

Next Friday night the team travel to St Helens to take on Swansea – Kick Off 7:15pm

If you are missing rugby on Saturday afternoon why not join us in the Club for Wales v Australia – Kick Off 5:20pm – Happy Hour prices and Snacks available

Quins  35     R G C  22

Fielding the same starting line up as last week, the Quins put in their best performance  to date, to out gun and out play their North Walian visitors.

The Park was at its immaculate best and the playing conditions were ideal for both sides expansive approach. The Quins pack were quick to settle and never took a backward step all afternoon and took the line honours by winning their own throw and seriously disrupting the gogs advantage. Both sets of backs had early touches and pace was going to be the order of the day, testing either sides defence. What has been a feature of the Quins play this season is their ferocious tackling, and ability to counter attack from the results of this. Elis Lloyd was in his element and an early turnover won a penalty for Aled Thomas to register the first score with a 30 meter penalty.

The Gogs were always dangerous when in possession and from a break in their own half, a chip ahead resulted in a very lucky bounce being gathered by former Quins star, Dion Jones to race over under the posts. Billy McBride converted. From the restart the well-placed kick enabled to the Quins back row to win possession and their powerful surge took them into the Vicarage corner for Dale Ford to touch down for an unconverted try and regain the lead.

A 25 minute penalty gave Billy McBride the chance to win back the lead. Again the restart saw the Quins gather and charge up to the visitors line, only to be thwarted by a resolute defence and the danger passed.

The Quins power play took them up to the visitors line, and from the resulting set piece, all expected a scrum drive but Liam Davies fooled the Gogs cover, and spread the ball to his right for his backs to move quick ball out to Dale Ford who darted over in the corner for a well taken try. Aled Thomas converted from the touch line changing the lead for the fifth time, giving the half time advantage to the Quins.

The interval talk had its desired effect as the Quins went on the offensive, and from a Gog line out throw in, Torin Myhill was quick to pounce on their mistake and burst into the 22 to give Shaun Jones a well timed pass and his power and pace took him the 22 meters to go over for a cracking try. Aled Thomas increased the Quins lead with his third kick.

More Quins dominance kept play in the Visitors half and the Gogs found it difficult to handle. Aled Thomas put over his forth successful kick. With the forth bonus point try in sight the Quins stepped up their pressure and with injury time approaching a 50 meter touch finder saw a line out 5 meters out. The Quins line again made it difficult for the visitors to control and a Quins drive gave Hadyn Pugh the chance to crash over for a true captains score. Alad Thomas was on target with his 5th success.

An unfortunate injury halted play for several minutes and saw Dion Jones being stretchered off. The Quins had taken their foot off the gas and this let the visitors in for Jordon Scott and Cam Davies to score what can only be described as consolation tries, and after 30 minutes of extra time the whistle ended the match.

This well deserved five points made up for the disappointment of the Aberavon result and keeps the Quins in the top half of the Premier Division.

It would have been difficult to pick a Man of the Match as this was truly a team effort as the whole squad played a part in this victory, and they look forward to next weeks encounter with Bridgend at the Park with a 1.30 p.m. Kick off.

Following our early kick off the next generation of Carmarthen Quins Youth take the field in their Cup match against Llanelli Wanderers Youth Kick Off 4.30pm