Carmarthen Quins gained another losing bonus point on Saturday but perhaps lost a match they could have won for the second week in a row. They matched the opposition in every aspect of the game but in this tight league any mistakes cost you dearly.
The Quins took time to settle into their game and were already a Scott Snedden penalty down before they started putting pressure on the visitors. The Wanderers were pegged down in their 22 for some time before trying to run the ball out and giving Richard Carter the chance of an interception try which he ran in from 30m. Gareth Cull added the points.
Minutes later Ricky Richards took a quick penalty, followed up and forced their full back into touch 5m. out. Gavin Lucas rose high to take the line out ball and after a strong forward drive a smiling Andrew Beaujean was seen to emerge from the pile up claiming the try. Cull again converted and matters were looking comfortable.
The home team went even further ahead when heavy pressure on the line forced Dan Fish to throw the ball out of play. Cull slotted the resulting penalty from out wide and the lead was 17-3. Then the Quins failed to claim the restart, as they did all afternoon, but this time the Wanderers’ forwards took advantage of the line out that ensued and Gareth Knight forced himself over for a try which Snedden converted.
This seemed to give the visitors confidence and the speedy Dan Fish and Rory Budina started to make some telling runs. It was a 40m. Fish run that ended in a successful penalty attempt by Snedden. Later a Budina run and quick off load to Richard Thomas eventually saw Dafydd Hewitt clear for his team’s second try. The ever reliable Snedden was again accurate with his kick and the Quins were yet again behind and their supporters in a state of shock.
Just before the half time whistle Cull levelled the scores with another penalty but it would have been the Wanderers who were the happier going into the break after the Quins had relinquished such a commanding lead.
Carmarthen kicked off for the second half and again had not settled before Fish broke through and gave a free passage for Snedden to touch down under the posts and then convert his own try.
For the rest of the quarter the home side gave as good as they got. Tristan Davies worked hard in the centre and Carter looked ever dangerous but the only two scores came from the boot of Cull to keep the Quins in the game.
Just into the last quarter, Snedden extended the lead with another penalty but then disaster struck. An innocuous high kick was allowed to bounce, Andrew Banfield was wrong footed and winger, Ryan Healey was able to pick up and have the easiest of runs under the posts. Snedden added the points and the Wanderers had a good lead going into the last quarter of an hour.
It is a credit to Carmarthen Quins, their attitude and fitness, that they would not give in. They kept the ball in hand, played probably their best rugby, and sent wave after wave of attacks against the opposition. Glamorgan wanderers were on the back foot but tackled ferociously knowing that the game was theirs to lose.
Eventually The Quins stole a scrum and Mat Monaghan, Rich Wilkes and Gavin Evans had several “snipes” before Evans was able to get away an overhead pass to Carter who scored in the corner. Cull added the extras and a bonus point was gained.
To the end it was all Quins and there was even the excitement of a last minute win when some excellent passing saw Carter again completely free, and the line at his mercy, when the referee pulled play back and gave Carmarthen a penalty which was not taken as the points difference was too great at 33-37.
Carmarthen Quins are showing that they are good enough at this level but they must take all the chances on offer to them and then not switch off at restarts and breaks in play, giving easy chances to the opposition, which was possibly the difference between the two teams on this occasion. |
