Carmarthen Quins 30
Llandovery 22
THE PARK passed a mid day inspection to entertain neighbours Llandovery for this Fosters Challenge Cup match, knowing that a win would guarantee a place in the semi-finals of the inaugural cup competition.
Their spirits were high after a well deserved Swalec Cup victory away at high flying Newport last weekend, and this with several players assisting the Scarlets Region side in the British & Irish Cup up in Bristol.
More Quins players were called into to represent the Select at Bedford on the weekend so despite this, they were still are able to put out a competitive squad, which is testament to the fine youth talent the club is producing.
These last two victories over Premier sides could mean that they have turned the corner on what has been a difficult start to their season, and with three of the squad being selected for the Wales Under 20 squad, who knows what the rest of the season will throw up.
Early Quins pressure was capitalized on when Craig Evans threw out a long pass that missed two of his players to find Iolo Evans in space to race over under the posts. Craig added the extra points.
It was Craig Evans who found a 60 yard touch finder to thwart a Drovers attack, but the Quins were unable to turn pressure into points due to their failure to hang on to the possession they had gained when in scoring positions.
On the half hour the Drovers powered up field and a missed tackle let prop Scott Jenkins through for an easy try. James Davies levelled matters with the conversion.
The Quins were able to pin the visitors in their own 22 and Craig Evans again used his missed pass ploy to find Morgan Griffiths clear to dash over, restoring the home lead. The Injury time hoodoo struck again when after 42 mins a Drovers attack saw Sam Soul go over for Davies to convert and give the visitors an interval lead.
The half time team talk had an immediate effect as the Quins went on the offensive and took play up to the Drovers line, and a slick pass to the ever improving Ifan Phillips led to him crash through two defenders to cross under the posts for Evans to convert and restore the Quins lead.
More Quins pressure went unrewarded due to them loosing the ball all to often, but when Iolo Evans, who is having a purple patch, was given the ball after 50 mins he used all his skill to weave through for the bonus point score, Craig Evans took the total to 30 points with the kick.
With victory in the bag all the Drovers could manage was to play catch up rugby, which eventually paid off in the 79th minute when Sam Soul went over in the Vicarage corner, to give his team a losing Bonus point.
This win was a credit to the reversal in luck for the Quins who had the upper hand in both set piece and lineout, with Steff Thomas, Ellis Lloyd and Jon Gardiner always in the thick of things, and scrum half Gareth George provided the good ball that his dangerous backs used well.
The next home match will be against Pontypridd and who knows what surprises this new look Quins outfit will deliver, when they come up against the league’s premier force.
Teams:
Carmarthen Quins: 1 Nathan Williams 2 Ifan Phillips 3 Ian Jones 4 Jon Gardiner 5 Haydn Pugh 6 Ellis Lloyd 7 Rhodri Clancy 8 Lee Taylor: 9 Gareth George 10 Craig Evans 11 Kieran Douglas Jones 12 John Williams 13 Iolo Evans 14 Morgan Griffiths 15 Lee Williams
Replacements: 16 Gethin Robinson 17 James Pierce 18 Steffan Thomas 19 Lewys Millin 20 Harry Clement 21 Callum Price 22 Dale Ford 23 Roy Osborn
Llandovery: 15. Sam Soul 14. Rhys Gealy 13. Rhodri Jones 12. Craig Woodall 11. Rhodri Wall 10. James Davies 9. Lee Rees: 1. Dean Howells 2. Tom Ball 3. Scott Jenkins 4. Jake Simm 5. Colin Markham 6. Shaun Miles 7. Richard Rees 8. Joe Powell
Replacements: 16. Berian Watkins 17. Jamie Hughes 18. Jake Baker 19. Ellis Richards 20. Elgan Lewis 21. Rhodri Davies 22. Rhydian Morris 23. Dan Brooks
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