- Quins fight back in the second half to take the lead
- Callum Woolley scores a hattrick
- Cardiff hit back to regain the lead, and secure the victory
The opening few minutes was all Cardiff with the visitors putting Quins under pressure, keeping ball in hand and edging towards Quins’ try line.
Despite a strong defensive effort from the Quins loosehead prop Ioan Emanuel plummets over the whitewash with seven minutes on the clock. Outside half Harri Wilde adds the conversion.
0-7
The Quins receive a warning from referee Ben Whitehouse for multiple penalties against them in the opening phase of play that led to Cardiff’s try.
With 15 minutes on the clock Quins find themselves with an attacking line out five metres out. Hooker Lewis Morgan goes on an attacking run, the ball is pushed left to Jac Howells, he finds Iori Badham who puts in a lovely grubber kick from Iori Badham, Ifan Davies doesn’t quite get his hands
Cardiff carry the ball over the line and in turn award Quins a scrum. It’s a strong scrum by the home side, Whitehouse plays penalty advantage to Quins, the ball is held up over the line, and we come back for another scrum.
Cardiff hold up strong in the reset scrum and Connor Allen is penalised for not scrummaging straight. The visitors kick down field and are quickly back in a decent attacking position.
An attacking line from Cardiff and they once again look dangerous with ball in hand, but Quins’ defence holds strong. Lewys Millin steals the ball from Cardiff and Elis Price clears the ball to touch.
As we edge towards the half hour mark, Quins lose the ball at the top of the line out, we win the ball back and we see a promising attacking phase. 28 minutes – lose line out, promising attack but Cardiff steal the ball and Wilde kicks a 50-22.
Ben Williams is yellow carded for not rolling away in the ruck in his own 22, a culmination of Quins’ penalty count. Continued pressure from Cardiff is halted by Quins, holding them away from the whitewash in the closing five minutes of the first half.
The forwards secure the ball safely from the scrum, the young backs show great composure deep in their own half with Ifan Davies clearing the ball to touch.
A loose ball in midfield is kicked downfield, Callum Woolley shows his pace as he chases, but the bouncing ball heads into touch.
A line out apiece, and then a Cardiff scrum on their own line. Despite Quins being in the right location, it looks as though Cardiff will bring the first half to an end 0-7 points ahead.
However, the loose ball is collected in midfield by winger Woolley, he puts boot to ball, before chasing his own kick deep into Quins territory. He shows great pace, collects the ball and touches down! Elis Price adds the conversion to bring the score to 7 apiece to bring the first half to a close.
Half time: Quins 7 Cardiff 7
Williams returns from the sin bin for the second half bringing Quins back up to a full complement.
It’s Cardiff that gets first footing in the game with a Wilde kick downfield winning territory for the visitors. An accidental offside from the Quins hands Cardiff a scrum penalty just shy of Quins’ 22.
Cardiff get the ball away from the scrum but Jac Howells and Lewys Millin combine in the ruck and win a turnover ball.
Both sets of back-three look to get a hold on the game in the opening five minutes with an aerial battle. Cardiff come out on top with Wilde stepping up for the penalty kick.
7-10
Cardiff replace their front row (49’)
Quins hit back immediately from the restart. Tom Phillips puts in a good carry into Cardiff’s 22, a show-and-go from Lewis, Lewis Morgan charges forward, and the homeside put pressure on Cardiff.
Cardiff are penalised offside handing Quins the advantage. Quins waste no time, and scrum half Rhodri Lewis claims the try right next to the posts. Price adds the conversion, and Quins lead for the first time this evening.
14-10
We head straight back downfield with possession and territory advantage for Cardiff. Quins are penalised on their own line for two offside penalties. Cardiff come again. Quins once again put in a solid defensive effort, but replacement hooker Alun Rees finds the gap to dot down for Cardiff’s second try. Wilde adds the conversion and Cardiff are back in the lead.
14-17
61’ Tom Phillips is replaced by Lee Taylor.
A third try comes quickly for Cardiff after Quins are penalised once again with Cardiff kicking for territory. Wilde pulls the strings; Cardiff find the space and centre Elijah Evans breaks through to cross the whitewash. Wilde adds the conversion.
14-24
64’ Joe Goodchild yellow card for a deliberate knock-on.
Elis Price kicks the Quins downfield. We win the ball at the line out. The ball is shipped back out to the backs. Gabe McDonald with a lovely pass to Price, who puts in a great Crossfield kick to Woolley.
Woolley has open space in front of him and he’s over. A brace of tries!
19-24
It’s a turnover for Millin just short of Cardiff’s 22. We kick for the corner, but Cardiff wins the ball back from the line out. They clear to touch.
We’re now in the final ten minutes, we are back in Cardiff territory for another line out. The ball is recovered safely on this occasion. We work the ball through the hands, it heads out wide, reaches the hands of Callum Woolley and he’s over again. A hattrick! Price adds the conversion.
26-24
74’ Bowyn Clark on for Rhodri Lewis
Cardiff head straight back into Quins territory. Matty Young breaks through the defensive line unopposed and Tom Williams crosses the whitewash. Wilde adds the conversion.
26-31
The final minutes are end-to-end thrilling stuff. Woolley is off once again. He outs in another chip and chase. It’s close. Cardiff get hands to it first. They have a goal line drop out.
Quins are not giving up. We’re in the last minute and we have the advantage. The ball is worked through the hands. We come back for the penalty. Price kicks for the corner. The clock is red and it’s the play of the game. Lewis Morgan throws into the line. The maul drives forward.
Cardiff are penalised offside. Iestyn Richards goes for a tap penalty. Morgan goes for the line. Desperate defence from Cardiff keep the Quins away from the whitewash. The ball is passed out, Cardiff pounce and steal possession. They kick the ball off the field and secure the win.
Final score: Quins 26 Cardiff 31
Scorers
0-5 Try Ioan Emanuel
0-7 Conversion Harri Wilde
5-7 Try Callum Woolley
7-7 Conversion Elis Price
Half time
7-10 Penalty Harri Wilde
12-10 Try Rhodri Lewis
14-10 Conversion Elis Price
14-15 Try Alun Rees
14-17 Conversion Harri Wilde
14-22 Try Elijah Evans
14-24 Conversion Harri Wilde
19-24 Try Callum Woolley
24-24 Try Callum Woolley
26-24 Conversion Elis Price
26-29 Try Tom Williams
26-31 Conversion Harri Wilde
