The narrow defeat on Saturday was a bitter pill to swallow for the Quins particularly as they were the better team on the day. However, an inordinate penalty count against the visitors at crucial points in the game conspired to bring about their downfall.

Both teams made a bright start and showed some attacking flair but Carmarthen had the edge in the set pieces early in the game allowing Sililo Martens, Jason Harries and Richard Carter to make telling runs. In the first quarter, however, the only scores came from two successful penalties each by Gareth Cull and Cerith Rees.

The Quins had even more of the ball in the second quarter, stole more line out ball and made the scrums very difficult for their opponents. Andrew Thomas was brought down 5m. short but the Drovers escaped with a penalty, a fine backs move with the line clear was inexplicably brought back for crossing and a Tristan Davies move was also brought back for a penalty.

Fortunately for the visitors, an earlier move involving a number of phases of flowing rugby eventually created an overlap. Cull threw a long pass to Martin Morgan and he found prop, Simon Gardener, free on the wing to crash over for the first try of the match. Cull added the extras and, despite all the near misses, 13-6 remained the score at the interval.

Into the second half and Anthony Rees was seen to make a fine break and continue with the excellent tactical kicking he has brought to his game in the last few weeks. All was looking good for Carmarthen but then in the space of 5 minutes Cerith Rees slotted another penalty in front of the posts and Llandovery were granted a penalty try. Wing, Joe Ajuwa, hacked the ball down the touchline and followed up. Someone was adjudged to have obstructed, a penalty try was awarded and converted and Martens was yellow-carded.

Undeservedly the visitors were behind but were soon on the attack again. Substitute, Ricky Richards, charged the ball down, forced a knock on and from the resulting scrum Ioan Cunningham drove to the line. The ball got out to Rees but he was forced into touch 5m. short and the Drovers escaped with yet another penalty.

It was into the final quarter before the Quins regained the lead. A Cull penalty made 40m. to touch and a scrum resulted from the line out. First Richards and then Cull spun the ball quickly to give Harries just enough space to use his strength to push off would be tacklers and score a much needed try. Cull again converted.

A kicking error soon saw Llandovery back on the attack with a penalty to touch less than 10m. out. Ajuwa took advantage of the space he was afforded and scored in the corner. A wall of blockers, American football style, remained undetected by the officials to the delight of the home fans.

Gareth Cull gave the lead back to Carmarthen with a penalty in normal time. He was laid out by a late tackle but managed to clear his head for the kick. With the referee playing 6 minutes extra time, somehow the feeling was there that this was not going to be Carmarthen Quins’ day. And so it was that Llandovery were granted a late penalty, for talking out of place, which Cerith Rees converted for the home side to steal the spoils.

League points were lost in this encounter and it showed how important it is to keep going and maintain discipline even when events go against you in this tough Premiership League. The coaches now have the task of raising spirits again ready for another hard game next week against Glamorgan Wanderers.