Cardiff RFC fall to a third successive defeat in Super Rygbi Cymru Cup action as Carmarthen Quins narrowly claimed the spoils 15-7 at Carmarthen Park.
A first-half try from Thomas Williams was accompanied by a second-half score by Rhodri Lewis and Gabe McDonald kicking a penalty which secured the Quins a hard-fought victory.
However, on his 30th appearance as a Blue and Black, Evan Rees brilliantly scored his third try of the season, but it wasn’t enough for Cardiff on a freezing cold afternoon in West Wales.
Speaking following the encounter, head coach Dan Fish said: “A lot of effort and intent.
“Boys would have learned a lot from today’s game, onto Pontypool Thursday now.”
Story of the Game
With the grass long and heavy due to the recent rainfall under foot, it was outside-half Ifan Davies who got proceedings underway on a cold but dry afternoon in Carmarthenshire.
To begin with, the Quins found themselves closing in on the visitors line with just minutes on the clock. Following a catch and drive, captain Nathan Hudd expertly turned the ball over at the breakdown.
Elijah Evans who was playing his 20th game for the Blue and Blacks, had to then touch the ball down over his own whitewash due to a pressurising chase by winger Williams.
Then prior to the 10-minute mark, the deadlock was eventually broken. After a kick in behind Williams gathered and scored the hosts’ opening points of the afternoon. Outside-half Davies slotted the extras as the Quins went into an early 7-0 lead.
The Blue and Blacks then responded accordingly at the start of the second quarter. Rees brilliantly charged down an attempted clearance kick and gathered to score his side’s first try of the afternoon.
Harri Wilde added the extras to bring proceedings level. Outside-centre Evans was next to regather possession from the breakdown, and Matty Young got hold of the ball and put his side on the front foot.
However, after some handling just outside of the hosts’ 22 the Blue and Blacks fumbled possession.
Joe Goodchild then breezed through the Quins’ defence, but his attempted offload to Joseff Jones on his outside was intercepted by Dylan Richards.
Full-back Young again broke upfield, but frustratingly for Fish’s side the Quins regathered possession.
Prior to the interval, winger Jones then looked to had crossed the hosts’ whitewash but referee, Jack Davies deemed the attempt held up as he blew for half-time.
HT: Carmarthen Quins 7-7 Cardiff RFC
After making no changes at the interval, Cardiff started the second-half the stronger. Following back-to-back penalties, from a catch and drive metres from the hosts’ line, the visitors again lost possession.
From the scrum, Lewys Millin picked up at the set-piece, and moments later the Quins had a penalty and kicked to relieve pressure.
The hosts then regained the lead after 50 minutes, and this came from an offload from McDonald which allowed scrum-half Lewis to score.
Heading into the final quarter, outside-half Wilde took a penalty quickly but as the theme of the afternoon for Cardiff, nothing was working for the visitors.
Replacement Callum Donoghue-Proud who was playing just his third game of the season for Cardiff ran a superb line to get his side over the gain-line.
Then after a number of phases, the hosts were penalised around the breakdown. After taking the penalty quickly, the ball was eventually lost forward.
Inside-centre McDonald was on kicking duties in the closing exchanges for the hosts, and calmly slotted the three points from the tee to secure his side a 15-7 victory.
Up next for Fish’s side is a quick five-day turnaround as they welcome Pontypool RFC to the Cardiff Arms Park next Thursday (KO: 19:30) to conclude their SRC Cup action.
FT: Carmarthen Quins 15-7 Cardiff RFC