All Whites Too Good For Quins

A poorly supported Carmarthen Quins were second best to a confident Swansea side. Once again too many turnovers and, all too often, some indifferent tackling cost them dearly.

Swansea kicked off and immediately some untidy work resulted in a penalty. An unusually unprofessional bit of preparation by the home side resulted in a kicking tee not being available but the resourceful, James Dixon, gained the points with a dropped goal penalty.

The visitors immediately took the game to their opposition and a Jason Harries to Richard Carter move looked dangerous until the ball bobbled into touch. From the resulting line out a blind side move, some slick inter passing and poor tackling allowed Hanno Dirksen to finish off the 60m. move with a fine try in the corner.

Still with only ten minutes on the clock, Ricky Richards took a quick penalty and after several phases with the forwards, Gavin Evans, Andrew Thomas and Richard Wilkes prominent, Gareth Cull looped a pass to Richard Carter. The ball bounced off his knees but he was able to follow it up and score an unconverted try in the corner as the Swansea defence momentarily stopped.

The Quins turnovers were now starting to mount and the All Whites’ running game was beginning to spell more and more danger when Ben Lewis intercepted a very loose pass and quickly took play down field. From the scrum that followed Dixon passed to Dirksen, who had run a beautiful inside line, and he took advantage of the massive gap in the defence to score under the posts. Dixon added the extras.

Into the second quarter and Cull reduced the deficit with a successful penalty attempt but Carmarthen already seemed to be chasing the game. Play became more frantic, penalty attempts at goal were being turned down, line out were being lost and passes were becoming longer and less accurate until they were punished further. Some hectic defensive work was momentarily relieved with a kick to touch. Richard Kelly rose in the line out, the Swansea pack pushed on and finally Scott Baldwin emerged from the ruck with his sides’ third try.

Carmarthen Quins finished off the half with some moves of their own and Ryan Llewellyn and Wayne Williams particularly were prominent before again lost ball saw Nicky Thomas make 40m. down field and the Quins defending desperately again. Even so they held out until the interval, despite Andrew Thomas being yellow carded, so that the half time score remained 20-8 to Swansea.

Cull clawed back the score with a fine 48m. penalty straight after the break but respite was short lived. Dirksen could not fail to score when a flying tackle from Harries drove him into touch inches from the line. Still the much shorter line out jumpers for the visitors lost the line out that ensued and it was Sam Kiley, this time, who pushed over for the try.

Despite their errors, the Quins would not give in, although well beaten at this stage, and held out for the next 30 minutes. Wayne Williams had a fine game getting all round the field and ferociously ripping ball off the opposition on four or five occasions. Other forwards such as substitute Sion Timani, Andrew Thomas and Gavin Evans were also working hard to drive the ball forward. Tristan Davies, Ryan Llewellyn, Richard Carter and James Garland had runs but cool defensive work by the Swans and loose, last ball passes from Carmarthen made sure the moves came to no avail.

The home side got the final score five minutes from the end when Richard Kelly and, man of the match, Ben Lewis showed “lovely hands” to take the ball 50m. down field and for Lewis to claim the fifth try for his side. Dixon converted to make the final score 32 points to 11 in favour of Swansea.

It is the Cup next week with an away fixture against Blackwood and perhaps the Quins will need to work on their passing, first time tackles and turnover ball to progress to the next round.