Carmarthen Quins began the new season with a home match against local rivals, Whitland. The day was perfect for rugby and the fans were full of expectation but it was a lack lustre display from the home team leading, perhaps, to a slightly fortunate victory.

The opening exchanges saw a lot of errors and play seemed to go backwards and forwards without any real penetration from either side. The match was 15 minutes old before Mark Jones converted a penalty awarded for a man being tackled off the ball.

Ten minutes later Emyr Williams levelled the scores for Whitland but now the Quins were beginning to exert some control. Mark Jones kicked long, Arwel Davies took the ball cleanly from the lineout and the pack rumbled over the line allowing Alan Mason to score the first try of the season.

Mark Jones missed the conversion but was successful with another penalty some minutes later to see Carmarthen go into half time with an 11 points to 3 lead.

Soon after the break Jones put his team further ahead with another penalty but then the visitors quickly fought back. They were awarded a penalty but, realising the line outs were being overwhelmingly dominated by their opposition, opted for a scrum. The ball was heeled quickly, Gary Evans dummied the pass and was clean through the defence without a hand being laid on him. Emyr Williams added the extra points.

Although the scores were now close, the home fans were still feeling confident. Their pack was winning virtually every lineout and looking very comfortable in the scrums.

However, it was all Whitland in the last quarter. They took advantage of poor kicking out of hand to run the ball back at the Quins. This combined with the good fortune to be permitted uncontested scrums allowed them to keep hammering the Carmarthen defence and, as for most of the game, the home side were failing to gain any meaningful territory. A scrambling defence and some Whitland errors at crucial moments prevented any further scores and it was a relieved Carmarthen team when the final whistle blew and they had managed to hold on to a 14 – 10 score line.

Next Match – Bonymaen (Away)
September 8th.

Reporter – Keith Bond