By: Paul Hopkins
The All Whites scored two late tries to claim a sensational victory over Carmarthen against all the odds.
The visitors led 19-9 three minutes into injury time but an sensational finale saw prop Alex Jeffries touch down with the last play of the game.
Lock Haydn Pugh stole an early lineout against the head to hand the Quins an early attacking opportunity and offside at the breakdown by the visitors saw fly half Jac Wilson find touch on the twenty-two. The move broke down though thanks to a forward pass.
A powerful scrum by the home pack pushed their Swansea counterparts off the ball, earning a penalty, but Wilson missed his effort at goal.
A great pick up at the base of a ruck by flanker Elis Lloyd helped his side back on the front foot, but centre Callum Carson intercepted a loose pass, although he was adjudged to have strayed offside.
The Quins pack won another penalty at a scrum and this time Wilson found touch just five metres from the line. Lock Jac Price caught the lineout, but Swansea repelled the maul to secure a turnover.
Swansea were penalised at the set piece and, sensing a huge advantage up front, the Quins opted for a scrum five. When the Whites gave away a fifth consecutive scrummaging penalty, referee Jason Bessant’s patience finally gave in and he issued prop Tom Sloane a yellow card.
Fly half Phil Jones misjudged a kick, which sailed over the dead ball line, gifting the Carmarthen a scrum inside the Whites’ half. Centre Nick Reynolds made a break up to the twenty-two, but the visitors committed a knock on in the tackle.
The first half theme of scrummaging penalties continued, but this time full back Aled Thomas successfully kicked a three pointer.
It took Swansea 30 minutes to mount their first attack with full back Gareth Rees making a break through the middle, before his side were penalised for handling at the ruck.
Flanker Ed Siggery charged down an attempt clearance by scrum half Tom Ham, but winger Dale Ford stepped into touch at the vital moment. However, Quins stole the lineout and prop Javan Sebastian crashed over for a try. Thomas converted.
Rees tried to make a break and found flanker Will Jones in support, but play was brought back for offside by the home side. Phil Jones found touch on the twenty-two and the visitors mounted an attack, but after another offside offence, Jones opted to kick the three points.
A superb inside pass sent flanker Morgan Morris through a tackle and the Quins gave away another penalty. Phil Jones sliced his effort at goal wide though.
Half-time:- Carmarthen 10 Swansea 3
Ham caught opposite number Aron Hemmings asleep at the base of a scrum as he nipped in to race up to half way. Morris charged forward, but play was stopped due to a nasty looking injury to Lloyd, although the flanker was cleared to continue.
A quick tap penalty by Ham saw the visitors run at pace up to the twenty-two, but lock Matt Dodd spilled a pass forward.
The Swansea back row worked play upfield and a clever chip and chase by Phil Jones forced Hemmings to hold on after the tackle. Phil Jones kicked the penalty goal.
Normal service resumed soon after when the Quins’ pack drove Swansea off the ball, earning a penalty. Thomas restored his side’s seven point lead.
Phil Jones replied immediately with a three pointer when the Quins’ defence were caught out at the restart and gave away a penalty.
A powerful maul by the home pack marched forward ten minutes into the twenty-two and the Swansea defence stepped offside in midfield. Thomas converted his simple effort at goal.
The Quins backs counterattacked from inside their own half and Ford almost burst through a tackle, but his offload to number eight Lewys Millin went forward.
Phil Jones raced through a gap in the Quins’ defence, but his chip ahead beat the chasing winger Joe Jenkins into touch.
It was the home pack’s turn to collapse a scrum and Phil Jones opted to kick to the corner. A poor throw at the lineout was picked up by the Quins who cleared through Wilson.
A scrummaging infringement by the visitors’ pack gave Carmarthen a penalty and Thomas kicked his side ten points clear.
Replacement prop Alex Jeffries managed to secure possession for the visitors from the restart and the Quins were penalised for a dangerous tackle.
With time running out Phil Jones kicked to the corner and the home side gave away successive penalties with replacement flanker Lee Taylor yellow carded. The Whites spread quick ball out wide for Carson to score. Phil Jones quickly drop kicked the conversion.
Swansea were afforded one final attack and Dodd took the lineout as his side mauled forward and replacement winger Andrew Claypole was held up a metre short of the line. Play was brought back for a penalty, which Phil Jones kicked to touch.
From the lineout the Whites inched forward and Jeffries touched down in the corner to seal victory against all odds. Phil Jones missed the conversion.
Next up for Carmarthen is a home match against Ebbw Vale, while Swansea travel to Bargoed.
Full-time:- Carmarthen 19 Swansea 21
Carmarthen:
Tries:- Javan Sebastian (33)
Cons:- Aled Thomas (34)
Pens:- Aled Thomas (28, 54, 59, 77)
Yellow cards:- Lee Taylor (80+3)
Swansea:
Tries:- Callum Carson (80+3), Alex Jeffries (80+7)
Cons:- Phil Jones (80+4)
Pens:- Phil Jones (40+1, 49, 56)
Yellow cards:- Tom Sloane (17-28)
Match facts:
Venue:- Carmarthen Park
Referee:- Jason Bessant
Weather:- Sunny, 11C
Man of the match:- Phil Jones
Attendance:- 400
Carmarthen team:
15 Aled Thomas
14 Dylan Morgans
13 Nick Reynolds
12 Josh Batcup
11 Dale Ford
10 Jac Wilson
9 Aron Hemmings (rep: Ifan Beynon-Thomas 74)
1 Dylan Evans (rep: Steff Phillips 68)
2 Torin Myhill
3 Javan Sebastian (rep: Kemsley Mathias 71)
4 Jac Price (rep: Shaun Jones 56)
5 Haydn Pugh ©
6 Ed Siggery (rep: Lee Taylor 72)
7 Elis Lloyd (rep: Richard Bloomfield 48)
8 Lewys Millin
Replacements:
16 Steff Phillips
17 Tom Ball
18 Kemsley Mathias
19 Shaun Jones
20 Lee Taylor
21 Richard Bloomfield
22 Ifan Beynon-Thomas
23 Steff Marshall
Swansea team:
15 Gareth Rees
14 Ryan Griffiths (rep: Rhys Davies 17-28 & rep: Andrew Claypole 54)
13 Callum Carson
12 J Rhys Williams
11 Joe Jenkins
10 Phil Jones
9 Tom Ham (rep: Chris Morgans 62)
1 Tom Sloane (rep: Rhys Davies 54)
2 Ifan Phillips (rep: Dewi Lake 54)
3 Alex Jeffries
4 James Ratti (rep: Jay Williams 54)
5 Matt Dodd
6 Callum Bowden (rep: Charlie Davies 59)
7 Will Jones
8 Morgan Morris
Replacements:
16 Dewi Lake
17 Rhys Davies
18 Richard Murphy
19 Jay Williams
20 Charlie Davies
21 Chris Morgans
22 Andrew Claypole
23 R Rhys Williams