IN AN ERROR-STREWN encounter in which strong wind proved a crucial factor, the Quins triumphed against a Neath side who arrived full of confidence following an impressive 15-10 victory against Cardiff, to keep their play off push alive.
With Pontypridd running away at the top of the league, the remaining three spots are seemingly going to shared between 5 sides. The Quins currently lie in third with just seven points separating second from sixth although the Carmarthen side do boast an impressive points difference.
Ebbw Vale, Bedwas, Cardiff and Cross Keys join Carmarthen to make up the five and it is hard fought victories like this one that Quins may look back on come the end of the season if they do make the play-offs.
With the wind behind them in the first half, Quins knew they had to get some points on the board. However the normally reliable Craig Evans missed an early penalty to give the home side the lead, setting the tone for the rest of the day, in which numerous penalties were conceded.
On the ten minute mark the Quins gathered a line out in their own half and launched a breathtaking attack that took play from right to left and back again. This created an over-lap that Rhys Williams used to cross in the Gas works corner. Evans narrowly missed the conversion.
Neath fly-half James Thomas missed a 21st minute penalty to get his team on the scoresheet only to be on target minutes later with a 35 metre effort.
The skill levels associated with both teams was sadly missing as passes went astray and numerous balls were dropped and a dull opening half ended with scores at 5 – 3 to the Quins.
Having had captain Ian Jones sin-binned just before the break, the Quins began the second half with 14 men and despite Evans adding another three points, Neath made the extra man count with a try of their own. Scrum half Tom James made a clever break and his slight of hand fed the ball to flanker Alun Jones who crossed the line, leaving the home crowd worried that an upset might be on the horizon.
On being restored to 15 men the home side began to find their rhythm and wing Chris Banfield sliced open the Neath defence to touch down after Kieran Hardy had put him into a gap.
A red card for Carmarthen lock Haydn Pugh led to nervy final few minutes, but Neath never really threatened and couldn’t take the chance to leave with a bonus point of their own as full back Joel Matavesi saw his last-minute forty metre penalty fall agonisingly short.
TEAM:
- Lee Williams 14. Chris Banfield 13. Iolo Evans 12. Rhys Williams 11. Dylan Morgan 10. Craig Evans 9. Kieran Hardy 8. Rory Gallagher 7. Sion Bennett 6. Lee Taylor 5. Haydn Pugh 4. Aidan Laxton 3. Ian Jones 2. Rhodri Clancy 1. Gethin Robinson
Replacements:
- Steff Phillips 17. Jack Haines 18. Jevan Sebastian 19. Sion Evans 20. Ben Thompson 21. Rhodri Wells 22. Morgan Griffiths 23. Dion Jones
Add Comment