It was the battle of sixth vs fifth at Carmarthen Park with the Quins welcoming Swansea in front of the S4C cameras under the Thursday night lights.
Both teams remain in the hunt for a top four finish with every game, and every point, to the end of the season important to the final standings. The top six head through automatically to the play-offs and all teams are keen to avoid the wild card rounds!
It’s a special evening for number 8 Lewys Millin who makes his 200th appearance for the Quins.
Carmarthen Quins get the first bite of the cherry after four minutes of play with Swansea penalised for a slap down on the ball, on other occasions an offence that could have been a card.
It’s a kick to the corner with Quins looking to get early points on the board. Despite a strong driving maul into the 22, Swansea’s defence holds strong keeping Quins to a left and right attack rather than forward to the tryline.
Despite Swansea’s efforts, a second penalty comes Quins’ way. On this occasion, with the penalty awarded in the shadow of the posts, Quins opt for the points. Steff Jac Jones gets the Quins scoreboard ticking over on his debut for the Carmarthen side.
3-0
With ten minutes on the clock Swansea make their way into Quins territory. In a mirror move to that of Quins, they turn their nose up to three points and opt for the corner. They make a move deeper into Quins territory however Quins win an all-important turnover, with Swansea possibly ruing their choice.
Steff Jac Jones has a second kick at posts just after the 15-minute mark. He lines it up from just inside the halfway line. He has the distance but on this occasion the attempt slips wide of the upright.
Swansea hit back immediately winning a penalty inside their own half and clear the ball downfield.
They waste no time with an attacking run into Quins territory, Hospkins hits the midfield, and gets the ball away. Quick ball and a change of direction and it’s out on the wing in the hands of Brandon Wood who crosses the whitewash. Josh Phillips adds the conversion.
3-7
Quins get back in the fight with a solid phase of play from a scrum on the far side. The defensive line is drawn across field leaving space out wide. The ball is played through the hands swiftly with Thomas Williams fighting his way through the opposition and darting to the line. Jones adds the conversion.
10-7
Swansea gets a break in Quins territory. Hooker Rhodri King spots a gap and makes a run for it behind enemy lines. They’re penalised, handing Quins a kick downfield but it’s not long before they’re back in the home territory.
Ethan Fackrell finds the space and a little chip over the top from Iwan Glynn goes into touch. They come back with a great up and under from Glynn. The ball bounces neatly into touch in Quins’ 22.
As we edge towards the half time whistle, Quins’ scrum leaves no questions unanswered as they demolish Swansea’ pack. A solid eight-man scrum to win a penalty kick downfield.
The home side secure a great try to bring the first half to an end. Jones with a lovely chip over the top, he catches the ball in one hand, a dummy pass and it’s out to Millin before finding scrum half Aron Hemmings who crosses the line. A great finish to the opening half.
Half time: Quins 15 Swansea 7
It’s the home side that start the second half with territory advantage but Swansea hit back with a kick to the corner. The throw in at the line out isn’t straight, a scrum penalty for Quins in the shadow of Swansea’s try line.
Lewys Millin gets away from the base of the scrum but the ball falls from his grasp. We come back for a second scrum; this time it’s Swansea’s ball.
With options left and right of the scrum it looked inevitable that Swansea would score a second try. Iwan Shenton ships the ball left from the scrum. Winger Brandon Wood races down the touchline, dives for the line, keeps his feet in the air and touches down by the corner flag. Try awarded. Phillips adds the conversion. A second camera angle shows the ball is lost forward in the act of scoring, but the try stands with TMO on duty in the competition.
15-14
Swansea came back on the attack in Quins territory. The winger loses his hold of the ball. Quins’ Thomas Williams gathers, kicks the ball ahead and gets on the chase. Unfortunately, the ball heads straight into touch bringing us back to the original location of the kick.
The visitors push on. They work the ball through the hands quickly. Centre Hoskins is tackled on the tryline, the visitors believe the ball was grounded but referee believes the ball was held up.
With the clock edging towards the hour mark, momentum and the rub of the green was with Swansea
Millin is shown a yellow card and Swansea now have a 5-metre line out and Quins are down to 14 men.
Fullback Lewis Edwards, more akin to a second row than a back, launches himself over the top of the ruck to touch down for Swansea’s third try. Phillips adds the conversion and Swansea are back in the lead with twenty minutes left on the clock.
15-21
Minutes later Swansea looks like they’re going to score their fourth try. Phillips with a kick downfield and it’s a footrace to the bitter end. Jac Howells gets there first, touching down and putting the ball safe.
Edwards kicks downfield but it goes out on the full. Quins come back for a scrum just inside Swansea’s half. A rare opportunity in the second half to get a footing in the game.
Quins make their way up field but lose possession. Their clearance kick is charged down, and Howells is ready to pounce. Phillips manages to regather the ball and get it away to his teammates.
The final ten minutes is a tense affair. Swansea wants to ensure that they not only hold on to their lead but also secure another score to take the bonus point away from Quins. Quins on the other hand need to try and win some territory advantage to get back into the red zone.
Just five minutes left on the clock and Swansea win a penalty in Quins’ 22. They opt for a penalty knowing that the three points will put them nine ahead. Phillips is on target.
15-24
The closing minutes see Quins fight for every inch of territorial advantage in Swansea’s territory however they once again keep the pressure on the home side and win a penalty.
It’s a scrum inside their own half. Replacement scrum half Iwan Temblett puts a chip in over the top. Quins gather but opt to kick the ball, and possession, away.
Both sides look determined to keep fighting to the final second. Thomas Williams gets an opportunity to kick downfield. The chase is on but Swansea get to it first.
Late drama at Carmarthen Park. A penalty for Quins. The decision is made to go for the three points to try and secure the losing bonus point.
The last word goes to Aled Thomas.
Final score: Quins 18 Swansea 24
Scorers
3-0 Penalty Steff Jac Jones
3-5 Try Brandon Wood
3-7 Conversion Josh Phillips
8-7 Try Thomas Williams
10-7 Conversion Steff Jac Jones
15-7 Try Aron Hemmings
15-12 Try Brandon Wood
15-14 Conversion Josh Phillips
15-19 Try Lewis Edwards
15-21 Conversion Josh Phillipsn
15-24 Penalty Josh Phillips
18-24 Penalty Aled Thomas
Carmarthen Quins
15 Eilir George, 14 Ilan Phillips, 13 Jac Howells, 12 Gabe McDonald (Scarlets), 11 Thomas Williams (Scarlets), 10 Steffan Jac Jones (Scarlets), 9 Aron Hemmings, 1 Rhys Fawcett, 2 Lewis Morgan, 3 Connor Allen, 4 Tom Phillips, 5 Lee Taylor, 6 Osian Williams (Scarlets), 7 Shaun Evans (c), 8 Lewys Millin
Replacements: 16 Keanu Evans (Scarlets), 17 Ifan James, 18 Chris Davies, 19 Ryan Bean, 20 Iestyn Richards, 21 Ben Williams (Scarlets), 22 Bowyn Clarke, 23 Aled Thomas
Swansea
15 Lewis Edwards, 14 Iwan Glynn, 13 Callum Carson, 12 Jack Hoskins, 11 Brandon Wood, 10 Josh Phillips (CC), 9 Matthew Aubrey, 1 Daf Davies, 2 Rhodri King, 3 Ed Thompson, 4 Chris Thompson, 5 Ben Roberts, 6 Callum Bowden (CC), 7 Ethan Fackrell, 8 Iwan Shenton
Replacements: 16 Jamie Cox, 17 Tom Crocket, 18 Mat Pryce, 19 Theo Currie, 20 Jake Roberts, 21 Iwan Temblett, 22 Joe Thomas, 23 Liam Lloyd
