It was Quins who drew first blood at the Ciner Glass Community Stadium with a penalty from Elis Price, but it was Ebbw Vale who went on to keep a hold on the game and secure a bonus point victory.
A strong forward pack, and an efficient set piece, kept the pressure on Quins and saw Ebbw Vale score five tries and secure a double bonus point victory.
Ebbw Vale get the first hit in the game at Ciner Glass Community Stadium winning the possession and territory battle in the opening minutes.
The home side storm towards the whitewash, Quins are penalised for obstruction, and despite the advantage Ebbw Vale fail to capitalise on the opportunity.
A monster kick downfield by scrum half Rhodri Lewis gets Quins into Ebbw Vale territory.
A penalty advantage sees outside half Elis Price step up for a penalty. He slots it neatly and gets the visitors’ score underway.
0-3
Ebbw Vale take no time at all to hit back. They find themselves in Quins territory, a grubber kick find its way through Quins’ defensive line, and winger Dafydd Thomas touches down for an opportune try. Outside half Dorian Jones converts.
7-3
With 15 minutes on the clock Quins find themselves back in Ebbw territory and make their second visit count. A penalty against the home side, Price steps up, and it’s another three points for the outside half and for the Quins.
7-6
As we head towards the half hour mark, the heavy conditions underfoot sees both sides opt for the high ball and an aerial battle ensues. The Quins back-three trio of Steff Evans, Ifan Davies and Ilan Phillips work in tandem and get the better of their counterparts.
34 minutes on the clock and Ebbw Vale’s forwards show their strength with Ieuan Morris crossing the whitewash to push the home team further in the lead. Dorian Jones adds the conversion.
Half time: Ebbw Vale 14 Quins 6
Quins make a change at half time with Eilir George replacing Steff Evans.
Evan Lloyd’s kick is long and heads straight to touch giving the Quins an opportunity to put pressure on Ebbw Vale in their half.
The pendulum swings quickly with Quins penalised for a contentious late tackle deep in Ebbw territory. As a result they find themselves deep in Quins territory. The home team kick to touch, regain the ball at the line out and look to attack the defensive line.
Tom Phillips puts in a solid tackle with Shaun Evans in support winning a turnover.
Despite heroic efforts by Quins in their own half Ebbw Vale are awarded a penalty for the visitor’s ill discipline. Dorian Jones steps up and secures the three points.
17-6
Ebbw Vale are penalised in their own half for blocking. Elis Price kicks to the corner and Tom Phillips is a safe pair of hands at the top of the line out to receive Lewis Morgan’s throw in.
The maul marches towards the whitewash, hooker Morgan gets the ball back safely to Osian Williams, before Morgan returns to shepherd the ball. Ebbw Vale’s defensive line absorb the pressure and Quins lose the ball in the melee.
The home side claim something of a grasp on the game towards the end of the third quarter. but fail to capitalise with points. Fullback Evan Lloyd makes a break from inside Quins territory, puts in a grubber kick with Gruff Tough in support. The scrum half gathers the ball, crosses the whitewash but is held up.
Handling errors in the midfield by Quins sees the visitors lose possession and hand an opportunity to Ebbw Vale. It’s a 50-22 from centre Ethan Phillips Ebbw are once again back in Quins territory.
65 minutes on the clock. Ebbw Vale kick to the corner after winning a penalty for a late Quins tackle. The forwards show their strength in the driving maul and lock Dylan Bartlett adds a third try for Ebbw Vale. Dorian Jones adds the conversion.
24-6
Minutes later an Ebbw Vale cross field kick catches Quins cold in the back-field with winger Ewan Bowden touching down for a try
31-6
Ebbw Vale finishes strongly. A penalty in Quins’ 22 sees them opt for a scrum and push Quins back over their own line. Ben Williams is shown a yellow card and Ebbw Vale are awarded a penalty try.
Final score: Ebbw Vale 38 Quins 6
Scorers
0-3 Penalty Elis Price
5-3 Try Dafydd Thomas
7-3 Conversion Dorian Jones
7-6 Penalty Elis Price
12-6 Try Ieuan Morris
14-6 Conversion Dorian Jones
17-6 Penalty Dorian Jones
22-6 Try Dylan Bartlett
24-6 Conversion Dorian Jones
29-6 Try Ewan Bowden
31-6 Conversion Evan Lloyd
38-6 Penalty try Ebbw Vale
Ebbw Vale
15 Evan Lloyd, 14 Dafydd Thomas, 13 Ethan Phillips, 12 Dom Franchi (c), 11 Ewan Bowden, 10 Dorian Jones, 9 Gruff Tough, 1 Luke Garrett, 2 Ieuan Morris, 3 Morgan Bosanko, 4 Dylan Bartlett, 5 Curtis Gregory, 6 Jack Pope, 7 Ben Main, 8 Ryan Jenkins
Replacements
16 Joe Franchi, 17 Morgan Williams, 18 Adam Williams, 19 Lewis Young, 20 Joe Rees-Weldon, 21 Rory Harries, 22 Cameron Davies, 23 Morgan Richards
Carmarthen Quins
15 Steff Evans, 14 Ifan Davies, 13 Ilan Phillips, 12 Jac Howells, 11 Thomas Williams (Scarlets), 10 Elis Price (Scarlets), 9 Rhodri Lewis (Scarlets), 1 Rhys Fawcett, 2 Lewis Morgan, 3 Connor Allen, 4 Tom Phillips, 5 Lee Taylor, 6 Osian Williams (Scarlets), 7 Shaun Evans (Capt), 8 Lewys Millin
Replacements
16 Gruff Williams, 17 Lewis Jones, 18 Ifan James, 19 Ryan Bean, 20 Iestyn Wood, 21 Ben Williams (Scarlets), 22 Bowyn Clark, 23 Eilir George
