It was a day to forget for Dan Fish’s Cardiff side in Carmarthen as the Blue and Blacks suffered their first defeat of the season, after a disappointing first-half performance that proved to be the difference.

Tries from Lewis Morgan, James Newnian, Rhodri Davies and a brace from winger, Iori Badham saw Carmarthen Quins record their second win of the new Super Rygbi Cymru season at Carmarthen Park.

It was a fast start to proceedings for the Blue and Blacks. After a knock-on just outside the Quins 22 from the kick-off. Cardiff then had a penalty at the scrum which Osian Darwin-Lewis kicked into the corner. From the line-out the ball was spread wide and Luke Pollock kicked in behind the defence. Quins misplaced their recovery to add even more pressure on their line. Cardiff had a scrum five metres from the home line but after a few phases the hosts won a penalty and relieved pressure.

After six minutes Ethan Lloyd went blind which gave the opportunity for Dewi Cross to get upfield however, after the ball was kicked into the Quins 22 winger Louis Rees was able to claim the mark and yet again clear, to relieve pressure.

There was an early replacement for the Blue and Blacks as Dewi Cross took a knock. He tried to run off the injury to his leg but was soon replaced by Joe Goodchild.

The deadlock was broken on 14 minutes. A brilliant pass from Aled Thomas to Iori Badham gave the hosts their first attacking threat inside the Blue and Blacks 22. After a number of phases hooker Lewis Morgan crossed over to score his fifth of the season.

In the 25-minute Cardiff were penalised for not rolling away at the breakdown and after a successful take at the line-out, followed by a catch and drive, James Newnian crossed for the hosts second of the afternoon.

Open-side Ben Williams put the hosts on the front foot yet again and after breaking through the Cardiff defence, a number of phases followed before scrum-half Rhodri Jones crossed with half an hour gone. Aled Thomas added the extras to extend the hosts lead to 24-0.

After being under the cosh for some time it was the visitors that ended the half the better as Quins were penalised inside their own 22. Osian Darwin-Lewis kicked to the corner. Cardiff won the line-out with backs Luke Pollock and Steffan Emanuel joining in on the catch and drive. The ball was quickly spread out-wide for Matty Young to cross in the corner for his first try for Cardiff. An excellent touch-line conversion from Osian Darwin-Lewis completed proceedings as the referee blew for half-time.

HT: Carmarthen Quins 24-7 Cardiff

Great vision from Steffan Emanuel led the first real attack of the second-half for the Blue and Blacks. A quick penalty was offloaded to Tom Bowen who put the visitors metres out from the Quins’s line. After a series of pick and goes Alun Rees powered over, but with several Quins players determined to get hands under the ball the referee decided that the ball had not been grounded and awarded a goal-line drop-out. Photographic evidence seemed to show that the ball had touched the ground, but with no TMO in operation the referee’s decision was final.

Quins were unable to get out of their 22 and were penalised moments with Tom Phillips being shown a yellow card by referee Mathew Leon. The ball was put into the corner and from the resulting line-out a driving maul followed. Yet again the ball was held up over the line after some heroic defending from the hosts. Quins finally cleared their lines and broke deep into Cardiff territory. This time Cardiff were reduced to 14-men when Rhys Barratt was sent to the bin for ten minutes for coming in at the side of the ruck.

The bonus point was secured for the Quins after a brilliant run from winger, Iori Badham who crossed over for his second of the encounter. Thomas added the extras to extend the hosts lead to 24 points going into the final quarter.

Aled Ward was next to sit on the naughty step for a jersey pull, and was soon joined by try scorer, Iori Badham who was also yellow carded. There was more ill-discipline from the hosts and they were reduced to 13-men after replacement Will C Lewis was yellow carded for an infringement on the Quins’ line. Momentum swung back to the Blue and Blacks as the ball was moved quickly out wide for Matty Young to cross over for his second try of the afternoon.

With time running out Joe Williams crossed the whitewash to score his first try of the season and quickly added the extras. As the clock hit the red Cardiff looked to try and get at least a point out of the game. Joe Goodchild was put clear on halfway, and as he burst into the 22 a desperate dive by Iestyn Gwilliam brought the flying winger down. Quins managed to recover the ball as the referee blew for time giving Quins their first win over the Blue and Blacks since January 2022.

FT: Carmarthen Quins 31-19 Cardiff