Quins Battle but Lose to Mighty All Blacks

Carmarthen Quins showed no fear against their illustrious opponents and started the game at a furious pace playing away at the Gnoll. Within minutes the impressive Jaime Davies had to be bundled into touch only yards short of the line and then, still within the first ten minutes, a backs move culminated in Richard Carter passing inside to Wayne Williams following up. He forced himself over for a try, Gareth Cull converted, and the visitors held the lead.

Neath fought back immediately and always looked dangerous running the ball back at their opponents, particularly ex-Quin, Gareth King, who was playing his 100th. game in an All Black’s shirt. Nevertheless the only score they could muster was a penalty from the evergreen, Arwel Thomas.

Despite Stephen Thomas and King punching holes in the Quins midfield, it was Carmarthen who got the next score. Sione Timani rose high in the line out, Sililo Martens produced a long, high box kick and Jaime Davies was there to pluck the ball out of the air. He then ran in 30m. for an unconverted try in the corner.

For a short time the ping-pong kicking game held sway interspersed with some forward rumbles from each side. Cull and Thomas exchanged penalties so that the score was 15-6 to the visitors at the 30 minute mark and they were well worth their lead.

The powerful and experienced Neath side, however, finished off the half the stronger. The likes of Stephen Thomas, Gerwyn Price and King broke first time tackles, started to punch some more holes in the defence creating space. An Arwel Thomas chip and follow up produced the Neath opening try and the famous King “step” produced the second. One conversion and a penalty by Thomas made the half time score 21-15 to the home side, but this lead was perhaps a little fortunate on the balance of play.

The Quins had had some chances of their own before the interval, the best one possibly going to speedy Jaime Davies. Unfortunately he received the ball too quickly, without the tacklers being committed and Alec Jenkins just managed to bundle him in to touch.

Another shock was in store after the interval for the All Blacks. The classy and hard working Martens managed to charge down a kick before making a long run into the corner. Cull added the touchline conversion and the visitors held the lead again.

Momentarily Carmarthen was on top and James Garland, Gavin Evans and Timani were to be seen making ground and keeping up the pressure. Then unfortunately a Jason Harries chip was knocked down and that was all Neath needed to get their impressive attacking force back on the front foot. Several phases ensued and culminated in a Mike Collins try which Thomas converted.

For the next half hour, and with Neath receiving three yellow cards and the Quins one, there were no further scores. The game, however, did not lack excitement. Timani, Martens, Garland and Davies were still prominent in attack and now the likes of Chris Jones and Ioan Cunningham were also adding their weight. The experienced and assured Arwel Thomas, with so many hard league games behind him, kept taking the heat out of the game when dangerous situations occurred, however. He also added another penalty taking a losing bonus point away from the deserving visitors.

Even into extra time, however, the Quins would not lie down and, after a few promising runs, it was left to Gareth Cull to slot a 50m. penalty to gain that valuable point. It was heartbreaking for him, now on an incredible, career 1500+ point mark in the league, to see the ball dip inches under the cross bar. With the defence in disarray, it was even more shattering for the team when Neath ran the ball out and Alec Jenkins finished off with another converted try in the 49th. minute of the second half.

On the whole the home side were perhaps the stronger of the two sides but the spirited Carmarthen Quins can take great heart even in this 22-36 defeat against the Premiership leaders.

Reporter – Keith Bond

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