After a disappointing opener to the season there was no respite for Carmarthen Quins, on the weekend, when they took on Pontypridd at the Park.
Carmarthen kicked off determined to maintain their proud, unbeaten home record against their illustrious opponents. They began brightly, too, with the backs and pack combining to take the ball up field and then an early disruption of a Ponty scrum led to a penalty and a yellow card for Kristian Boller.
Gareth Cull began his personal, glorious day with the boot by slotting a relatively straight forward 40m. penalty to give the home side the lead.
The Quins had the edge throughout the first quarter disrupting the visitor’s set pieces and getting to the breakdown swiftly in order to provide quick ball for the backs. Sililo Martens in particular was starting to dominate the game and his strong breaks and lay off passes were constantly spelling danger for the opposition.
Despite all the pressure, however, the only other score in this period was a successful penalty by Aaron Bramwell to level the scores.
As the match progressed to half time the visitors settled more into the game and produced some scoring opportunities of their own but still the better chances fell to the home side. A long drop out from Cull found touch well into the opposition half. Ioan Cunningham stole the line out and slick passing from him and Martens left Richard Carter free to speed over the try line. One person in the park detected crossing but unfortunately that person was the referee so play was brought back.
Minutes later several phases of play ended with a line out which again was stolen by Damien Welch but this time a knock on thwarted the score so that only another Cull penalty separated the two sides at the interval.
Immediately after the break Cull converted a 52m. penalty but it was still nervy times for the Quins with only a narrow lead. It was at this time that full back, Anthony Rees, produced the first of a couple of match saving tackles when he took out Lewis Williams, with a try virtually certain, and then cleared his line.
Pontypridd were now coming on strongly, taking advantage of the yellow card awarded Simon Gardener, but Carmarthen continued to tackle strongly. Cull must have disillusioned them, too, when he converted yet another penalty. This time it was wider out to the touchline and easily 54m. in distance before it sailed between the uprights.
Into the final quarter and Rees had to produce another miracle try saving tackle but this time Martens was sin-binned as the Quins desperately defended their line. A man down, and Carmarthen finally conceded the first try when, after a Ponty drive, Darren Waters managed to get the ball down over the try line.
A determined home side now weathered a storm as the visitors fought back with the back row, in particular, of Thomas, Cunningham and Edwards tackling everything that moved. Then Cull was seen to hack through, the Quins were quick to the ball and substitute, Ricky Richards, delivered it to Tristan Davies. He delayed his pass before looping it wide to Brian Edwards. Coolly Edwards laid the ball off to Carter who made the corner at pace.
For the last ten minutes of the match Carmarthen had to defend valiantly and for once the defence cracked allowing Rhys Downes to cross their line virtually unopposed.
However, the Pontypridd side could score no further points and it was actually the Quins attacking when they were able to lob the ball to touch for the final whistle to be blown and for the ecstatic home supporters to cheer a fine and exciting 17 – 13 victory.
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