The Park, bathed in glorious sunshine, was the venue for another titanic battle with the illustrious “Welsh All Blacks”. Neath came with a squad studded with International and Ospreys stars but Carmarthen Quins fought them all the way.

The game did not start well for the home side, however, and they were a try down in 48 seconds. Soon after their kick off Luke Ford hacked through, Nathan Brew picked up and released Osprey, Kristian Phillips who beat the in-goal area to touch down in the corner.
         
James Garland reduced the deficit some minutes later but it was all Neath in the first quarter and Quins could do nothing but defend heroically. Wave after wave of attacks came from the visitor’s forwards and the angled running of their backs was causing all sorts of problems. At this time some fierce tackling, particularly from Tristan Davies and the Carmarthen back row caused final ball errors from their opponents and prevented any further scores.
         
Surprisingly the home side secured the lead when Garland slotted his second penalty but it was short lived as Arwel Thomas replied some minutes later. There were no further scores in the half but now the Quins were beginning to settle into the game. Flanker, Wayne Williams, was making a nuisance of himself all over the field and Anthony Rees was again immense as the last line of defence. Rees’ tactical kicking also began to give Neath problems as Carmarthen were able to build upon them and create attacking moves of their own.
         
Soon after the break the Quins were in trouble again when an Arwel Thomas penalty found touch 5m. out. Peter Sidoli rose high, his fellow forwards drove on and it was Ashleigh James who claimed the try. Thomas added the extras.
         
In reply replacement, Gareth Cull, got his line moving but after several phases play broke down. Cull did convert a penalty, however, and Gareth King received a yellow card for “killing the ball”.
         
Some minutes later Cull got another penalty and it became a much more even game. Darren Simpson, Tristan Davies, Anthony Rees and Darren Daniel were all seen to create dangerous opportunities but Neath were able to hold out and it was down to Cull to level the scores with only 10 minutes of normal time to go.
         
It was heart-breaking, therefore, for the home fans when Gareth McCarthy regained the lead with 2 minutes to go. Then, in extra time, a pressurised poor relieving kick allowed Kevin Morgan to pick up the ball at pace and off load the ball to Kristian Phillips to score his second try in the corner and for McCarthy to convert.
         
After all the hard work from everybody in the home side it was soul destroying not only to be behind at this late stage but also to lose the bonus point.
         
To hear the cheer then, when Richard Carter was seen to speed straight through the centre of the defence and make 30m. before finding two forwards on his shoulder, was tremendous. Richard Wilkes and Ioan Cunningham then interchanged passes before Cunningham touched down extravagantly under the posts. Cull added the points and, although beaten, Carmarthen Quins got their well-deserved bonus point.
         
To see the Neath players struggling up the Club steps at the end of the game, you knew that they had been in a tough game and it was a fitting testament to the fitness and commitment of the Carmarthen Quins squad.