Despite wintery weather right across Wales overnight, with snowing falling in places, all is well at Newport with the game able to go ahead as planned.
Carmarthen Quins kick us off towards the low winter sun at a cold Newport Stadium for the 14th round Super Rygbi Cymru fixture.
Early handling errors sees both sides scrapping for possession, with Quins finally getting a foothold in Newport’s 22 after Ifan Davies danced around Lloyd Lewis to put in a grubber kick. The ball goes long at the line out, but hooker Lewis Morgan has looped around to gather. He makes a break, gets the ball out to his left, it’s passed cleanly through the hands with fullback Steff Evans claiming the game’s opening try. Elis Price adds the conversion.
0-7
Newport make their way into Quins territory from the restart. A Quins knock on hands Newport a scrum just inside the 22, the ball is secured by Quins. Evans puts in a huge kick downfield, winning territory back inside Newport’s 22. The ball is deemed carried back into the 22 so we come back for Newport penalty inside Quins’ 22.
Newport come on the attack. A composed passage of play, forwards putting in the hard yards, before shipping the ball across the backline to Fin Baker who’s unopposed out wide. Jac Lloyd adds the conversion.
7-7
Newport’s second try of the afternoon comes with 18 minutes on the clock. A chip kick heading into touch from Jac Lloyd hands Quins a line out inside their own 22. Quins fail to gather the ball, and Newport seize the opportunity.
The ball is quickly recycled, and second row Josh Skinner puts in a catflap pass to scrum half Dafydd Buckland who crosses the whitewash. Lloyd adds the conversion.
14-7
From the restart, Newport’s straight back at it. The ball is gathered, and a pass to fullback Carwyn Penny sees him charge over for the ‘Port’s third try of the afternoon. Conversion added by Lloyd.
21-7
With 30 minutes on the clock, Newport look like their heading for a fourth try. A period of attacking play by Quins in Newport’s half comes to an end as a loose ball from Quins is kicked ahead by winger Lloyd Lewis, he chases the bouncing ball, manages to gather and looks like he’s home and dry. Ifan Davies appears at speed to save the day, halting his run without question. Quins turnover and clear downfield.
Despite a Newport attack in the closing minutes, Quins’ defence holds strong in our own 22. Price puts in a clearing kick to touch, which takes us down into Newport’s 22.
Possession returns to the home side but they’re unable to capitalise and add further points in the closing minutes of the first half with Quins keeping the pressure on Newport.
Half time: Newport 21 Quins 7
Newport get the second half underway. It’s a rather lacklustre opening five minutes with both teams trying to gain the advantage. Newport’s Dafydd Buckland puts in a huge kick pinning Quins into their 22. Evans takes it quickly; he dances around Newport defenders and gets up to the 10m line. Penalty comes Quins’ way.
50 minutes on the clock, Newport’s Lloyd Lewis makes a break down the touchline from deep inside his own half. Quins scramble their defensive line and halt their attack, but Iestyn Richards is harshly yellow carded for an offside penalty whilst the ball is in open play.
Quins hold strong and keep Newport away from the whitewash with Ifan Davies getting boot to ball after the visitors won the turnover.
After twenty minutes of play, with Quins showing great resilience in defence with Newport camped in the away end, the home team cross for their fourth try. This time, Lewis’ work on the touchline comes to fruition and he claims the home try.
26-7
A fifth Newport try is halted and held up by Quins defence, but the restart kick heads straight into touch bringing us straight back to the shadow of the posts. It’s a scrum to Newport.
The try is reset three times. On the third time of asking, the ball is recycled, it’s sent right and finds its way to Lloyd Lewis on the wing. He dives over and scores his second, Newport’s fifth. Jac Lloyd adds the conversion.
33-7
Hooker Lewis Morgan claims a loose ball at the back of Newport’s line out; he makes a barnstorming run from his own 10m line into Newport’s 22. He could go all the way. He’s tackled, high, by Lloyd Lewis. Newport recycle. We eventually come back for the penalty but Quins’ line out falters handing possession back to Newport.
Quins continue to fight until the bitter end, but it has been Newport’s day.
Final score: Newport 33 Quins 7
Scorers:
0-5 Try Steff Evans
0-7 Conversion Elis Price
5-7 Try Fin Baker
7-7 Conversion Jac Lloyd
12-7 Try Carwyn Penny
14-7 Conversion Jac Lloyd
19-7 Try Dafydd Buckland
21-7 Conversion Jac Lloyd
Half time Newport 21-Quins 7
26-7 Try Lloyd Lewis
31-7 Try Lloyd Lewis
33-7 Conversion Jac Lloyd
Final score: Newport 33 Quins 7
Newport:
15 Carwyn Penny, 14 Lloyd Lewis, 13 Harri Ackerman, 12 Harrison James, 11 Fin Baker, 10 Jac Lloyd, 9 Dafydd Buckland, 1 Jordan Morris, 2 Henry Palmer, 3 Luke Yendle, 4 Josh Skinner, 5 Barney Langton Cryer, 6 Ioan Rhys Davies, 7 Josh Reid, 8 Ben Roach (c)
Replacements: 16 Aneurin Jenkins, 17 Harry Fry, 18 Garin Harris, 19 Callum Bradbury, 20 Kobi Rees, 21 Lucus Welch, 22 Morgan Williams, 23 Teigh Chatham.
Carmarthen Quins
15 Steff Evans, 14 Iori Badham (Scarlets), 13 Jac Howells, 12 Gabe McDonald (Scarlets), 11 Ifan Davies, 10 Elis Price (Scarlets), 9 Rhodri Lewis (Scarlets), 1 Rhys Fawcett (Scarlets), 2 Lewis Morgan, 3 Ifan James, 4 Ryan Bean, 5 Lee Taylor, 6 Iestyn Richards, 7 Shaun Evans (c), 8 Ben Williams (Scarlets)
Replacements: 16 Lewis Jones, 17 Gruff Williams, 18 Connor Allen, 19 Sam Williams (Scarlets), 20 Tom Phillips, 21 Iestyn Wood, 22 Thomas Williams (Scarlets), 23 Callum Woolley (Scarlets)
