- Carmarthen Quins headed to the capital city to take on Cardiff RFC in the second round of the 2025-26 Super Rygbi Cymru competition.
- A late try by the hosts Bridgend meant defeat for Quins at the Brewery Field in the opening round last Saturday, and a quick five-day turnaround and dusting off to try and get back to winning ways on Thursday evening, 18th
- Cardiff on the other hand headed into their second-round clash sitting pretty at the top of the SRC table having secured a bonus point victory away from home to RGC on the opening weekend.
- Quins were also keen to right the wrongs of their last encounter at the Arms Park where the home team ran in eight tries and secured a 50-0 victory.
Match report
Outside half Elis Price gets the game underway kicking towards Westgate Street. Despite early possession and territory Quins ill-discipline hands opportunity after opportunity back to the homeside, allowing them to creep upfield into Quins’ half.
With just three minutes on the clock, Cardiff backs work the ball through the hands with winger Dewi Cross racing up the touchline to touch down in the corner. Try is converted by outside half Lloyd Lucas.
7-0
Price kicks downfield with precision after Cardiff are penalised. Hooker Lewis Morgan throws in at the 5-metre line out and Quins get a push on the home defence. Despite a solid effort, with the forwards edging just inches from the line, a forward pass out on the far side hands possession back to Cardiff.
Jac Howells makes a break in midfield and finds number 8 Lewys Millin, which starts another Quins attack into Cardiff’s 22. A penalty comes the visitors way and captain Shaun Evans points to the uprights. Price gets the Quins scoreline up and running with a penalty.
As we head towards the 20-minute mark, Cardiff have ball and territory. A messy phase of play sees them work their way up-field looking dangerous with ball in hand. Quins get boot to the loose ball and kick it into touch. Cardiff continue to pile the pressure on from the line out but Quins’ scramble defence keeps them off the whitewash.
22’ Tirion Bowen replaces Ben Fry after receiving medical attention in the shadow of the sticks.
Scarlets’ Ben Williams crosses for Quins’ first try of the evening in a move started across field by former Scarlet Steff Evans. He darts up the far wing, gets the ball away safely to Dafydd Waters before Tom Phillips makes the yards in Cardiff’s 22. A neat cross field kick from Rhodri Lewis finds Williams in space. Price converts.
7-10
Cardiff’s restart heads straight into touch. Quins win a penalty at the scrum and kick to win a line out on the home side’s 22. Morgan finds Quins hands at the line but Cardiff are given a reprise from a knock on.
Not shy of the whitewash, hooker Lewis Morgan crosses for Quins’ second try as a clinical rolling maul marches at pace across the line.
7-15
Joe Goodchild is yellow carded for a dangerous high tackle on centre Ifan Davies.
It’s Quins who finish the half with fire in their bellies. Perseverance pays dividends with Quins winning a penalty just outside of Cardiff’s 22. Price lines up and hoofs it through the uprights.
7-18
Half time: Cardiff 7 Quins 18
Cardiff come out of the blocks on fire for the second half with Dewi Cross crossing for his second of the evening in the first few phases as Rhys Cummings gathers Quins’ return kick from the restart. The home side have made wholesale changes to the front row and Goodchild returns from the sin bin.
14-18
With five minutes on the second half clock, Quins are attacking in Cardiff’s half, but the home defence looks solid. Quins get the ball away from the ruck and away to Steff Evans who finds to Elis Price, he passes out to Scarlets’ Thomas Williams who finishes superbly.
14-23
Cardiff hit back immediately with a try in the far corner from a maul, which came from a Quins penalty just shy of their own 22 handing the home side the golden opportunity.
19-23
Cardiff are penalised offside on their 22 line handing Elis Price a kickable penalty. He adds the all-important three points.
19-26
Cardiff get momentum and find territory deep in Quins; 22. Ifan Davies puts in a try-saving tackle just metres from the whitewash. It’s a line out for the visitors on their own five-metre line. The throw isn’t straight, Cardiff now have an opportunity to throw into the line.
They waste no time in pushing the maul over the line with replacement hooker Gavin Parry claiming the points. Outside half Lucas adds the conversion bringing the score to 26-all.
26-26
Ryan Bean replaces Lee Taylor. Rhodri Davies and Connor Allen replace Rhodri Lewis and Ifan James.
Quins are in Cardiff’s 22 on the hour mark but it’s not long before the home side find themselves back in an attacking position in visitor territory. However, a knock on penalty gives Quins an opportunity to attack the scrum and clear a kick down field.
Rhys Fawcett replaces Sam O’Connor.
The ball is regathered from a half way line but it’s Cardiff who once again kick for territory as Quins are penalised for holding on.
Lewys Millin is yellow carded for pulling down the maul. Cardiff go again as they look to go back in front for the first time since early the twenty minute mark. The referee has a word with captain Shaun Evans for continuous infringements at the maul. Cardiff have a fourth line out. This time they lose the ball and Price kicks to touch.
Tom Phillips is yellow carded, and Lewys Jones replaces Lewis Morgan at hooker.
Cardiff’s determination paid off as Rhodri Morgan crosses on the far side for the home side’s fifth try of the evening and pushes the Arms Park side back into the lead. Lucas adds the conversion
33-26
Quins get back into Cardiff territory, Rhodri Davies and Ifan Davies combine in midfield with Davies crossing under the sticks, but the referee calls them back. Price kicks for the corner but the ball goes dead. It’s another opportunity for Cardiff to get out of their half.
With 74 minutes on the clock Quins were in possession deep in Cardiff’s half but the home side turnover ball and kick away. It’s Quins who win the aerial battle however and secure themselves a line out on Cardiff’s 10-metre line.
Advantage goes in Quins’ favour, Price kicks to the corner and the visitors drive a powerful line out maul over the line with replacement hooker Lewys Jones with tight grip of the ball on this occasion. Price shows nerves of steel, adding the conversion with 15 seconds left on the shot clock to bring the score to 33-all.
33-33
We’re into the final minute of the game. Cardiff have possession and look for space in midfield on the halfway line. Cardiff are penalised for a high tackle and Price steps up for a long-range penalty, inside his own half.
The clock is red and the kick is short. Cardiff recycle the ball. They run out of the 22. Quins turnover. Evans beats the first defender, he’s won vital metres. Cardiff are penalised at the ruck and Quins have another bite of the cherry. Price steps up for a penalty, this time within Cardiff’s 22. Calm, collected, it’s over.
It’s a victory away from home. It’s a bonus point victory in the second round of Super Rygbi Cymru.
Final score: Cardiff 33 Quins 36
Man of the match: Shaun Evans
Scorers
3’ 5-0 Cardiff Try Dewi Cross
4’ 7-0 Cardiff Conversion Lloyd Lucas
17’ 7-3 Quins Penalty Elis Price
25’ 7-8 Try Ben Williams
26’ 7-10 Quins Conversion Elis Price
32’ 7-15 Quins Try Lewis Morgan
40’ 7-18 Quins Penalty Elis Price
Half time
40’ 12-18 Try Cardiff Dewi Cross
41’ 14-18 Conversion Cardiff
45’ 14-23 Quins Try Thomas Williams
48’ 19-23 Cardiff Try Tom Cottle
51’ 19-26 Quins Penalty Elis Price
56’ 24-26 Cardiff Try Gavin Parry
57’ 26-26 Cardiff Conversion Lloyd Lucas
69’ 31-26 Cardiff Try Rhodri Morgan
70’ 33-26 Cardiff conversion Lloyd Lucas
77’ 33-31 Quins try Lewys Jones
78’ 33-33 Quins conversion Elis Price
80’ 33-36 Quins penalty Elis Price
Cardiff team
15 Rhys Cummings, 14 Joe Goodchild, 13 Tom Williams, 12 Jason Harries (C), 11 Dewi Cross, 10 Lloyd Lucas, 9 Ieuan Davies, 1 Joe Cowell, 2 Gruff John-Morris, 3 Will Davies-King, 4 Tom Cottle, 5 Ethan Phillips, 6 Ben Fry, 7 Lucas de la Rua, 8 Evan Rees
Replacements: 16 Gavin Parry, 17 Christian Brooke, 18 Cam Tyler-Grocott, 19 Tirion Bowen, 20 Rhodri Morgan, 21 Ethan Lloyd, 22 Ioan Penry, 23 Joseff Jones
Quins team
15 Steff Evans, 14 Dafydd Waters, 13 Ifan Davies, 12 Jac Howells, 11 Thomas Williams (Scarlets), 10 Elis Price (Scarlets), 9 Rhodri Lewis (Scarlets), 1 Sam O’Connor (Scarlets), 2 Lewis Morgan, 3 Ifan James, 4 Tom Phillips, 5 Lee Taylor, 6 Ben Williams (Scarlets), 7 Shaun Evans (c), 8 Lewys Millin
Replacements; 16 Rhys Fawcett, 17 Lewis Jones, 18 Connor Allen, 19 Ryan Bean, 20 Iestyn Wood, 21 Iestyn Richards, 22 Rhodri Davies, 23 Eilir George
