Carmarthen Quins 35-20 Bedwas

Haydn Pugh was fantastic in the loose all day provides clean line -out ball
Photo courtesy of AlfiePics

Carmarthen Quins completed their home Welsh Premiership schedule in style as they picked up maximum points in a classy 35-20 win over battling Bedwas.

Boasting a phenomenal record at Carmarthen Park where only Llandovery and Cross Keys have managed victories this season, the visitors were always going to struggle.

Having said that, Bedwas made life difficult for the Quins, competing with ferocity at the breakdown in forcing several turnovers. However, when the hosts did ensure quick ball, their back line exploited the Bedwas defence time after time.

As early as the first minute, Quins were on top as a Dan Evans counter-attack released Alex Pickersgill who evaded two tacklers to touchdown out-wide for an unconverted score.

The hosts had the edge at the scrum and lineout, but it was Bedwas who bagged the next points when Richard Powell was on target with a penalty, before this was negated by Aled Thomas’ effort on 22 minutes.

In an entertaining end to the half that saw three tries in quick succession, Jason Harries showed good strength to fend off several defenders to touchdown for the Quins, while quick thinking from a penalty saw Jon Evans send Darren Humphries clear for Bedwas, Powell with the conversion.

The Bedwas pack were destructive at the breakdown with Deri Mattravers always in the thick of the action.

Photo courtesy of AlfiePics

It was to be the hosts though that had the final say of the half when Bedwas coughed up possession for Thomas to capitalise, beating two defenders in the process to take an 18-10 lead.

The second half started rather sedately with Thomas and Powell trading penalties, until the action once again burst into life when fulcrum Dan Evans' lovely inside ball saw Thomas cross to seal the bonus point.

Quins, in the ascendancy, went in for the kill and a well-worked back line from off a close range line out saw Pickersgill power his way over for his second of the afternoon, Thomas once again with the extras.

Quins flanker Andrew 'Tommo' Thomas breaks through the line out.

Photo courtesy of AlfiePics

However, it was Bedwas who were to have the final say. When Richard Wilkes was sin binned for the hosts, they had to resort to passive scrums and with the numerical advantage, Rory Wood sent Bedwas captain Phil Sargent over in the corner from a close range scum for a consolation score, which Powell also converted.

Quins' final two Premiership matches are on the road at fellow play off hopefuls Llanelli and Llandovery, but whatever happens, no one will dispute that Carmarthen Quins have had a fantastic season.