By: Paul Hopkins
A late Gabe McDonald try sealed victory for Carmarthen Quins at Broadacre as Swansea’s three match winning streak came to an end.
In the early exchanges full back Harri Houston tried to make a break from half way, but slipped and the ball was swept out through the hands of centre Jack Hoskins to winger Iwan Glynn, who chipped ahead and found touch deep inside the Carmarthen 22.
The Quins’ pack mauled forward and were awarded a penalty, which fly half Elis Price chipped to the corner. The visitors’ mauled towards the line but were held up a couple of metres short, but managed to recycle play out to the backs. Scrum half Rhodri Davies tried to charge towards the line, but was stopped and his side ran out of ideas and gave away a penalty.
Lock Tom Phillips spilled the ball forward at the lineout and the home side got the ball out wide to Glynn. Scrum half Iwan Temblett box kicked forward but Glynn lost the ball forward.
Winger Ifan Davies made a break and was stopped just short of the line, but the Quins recycled play and full back Steff Evans stretched out to score the visitors’ opening try. Price missed the conversion.
Tom Phillips took a lineout on half way and a box kick by Rhodri Davies caused trouble inside the Swansea 22, but a Swansea player was taken out off the ball to gift the Whites a relieving penalty.
The home side were driven off their own scrum, so Price chipped into the 22. The Quins tried to spread play, but flanker Shaun Evans dropped a pass. Houston tried to counterattack and chipped ahead, but the Quins were able to clear.
Phillips chipped to the corner with a penalty, but hooker Jamie Cox threw too long and the visitors were able to clear.
The home pack were again driven off the ball at the scrum and gave away a penalty, and the referee gave a stern warning to co-captain Callum Bowden. The same followed again and this time prop Ed Thompson was sent to the sin-bin.
Price chipped to touch and Tom Phillips took the lineout. The ball was then sent out to Price, who chipped across the field for Ifan Davies, but he was unable to touch the ball down before it went dead.
Phillips chipped to the corner with a penalty, but the throw was poor and hooker Isaac Young stole in and his side cleared.
Winger Lewis Edwards made a break out wide but was stopped a few metres short and the Swansea pack made some yards, before the ball was swept out wide for Edwards to score. Phillips converted.
Half-time:- Swansea 7-5 Carmarthen Quins
A superb run by flanker Ethan Fackrell from the restart got the Whites into the Quins’ half, but Hoskins’ grubber kick was comfortably collected by the visitors.
Steff Evans replied to a Phillips chip ahead by kicking out on the full to gift the Whites a lineout inside his own half. Houston then threw a long pass to Edwards, who raced down the wing, but Steff Evans robbed possession in the tackle and the visitors cleared.
A sloppy piece of play by the home backs put their side in trouble and Price chipped to the corner with a penalty. A routine lineout saw Young crash over for a try to retake the lead. Price’s conversion hit the post and went over.
Edwards superbly caught the restart and raced forward, feeding prop Daf Davies who powered over the 22. Houston then danced past a tackler, before he was caught with a high arm, earning a penalty. Phillips chipped to the corner and the Whites controlled a rolling maul, before the visitors gave away a penalty.
Phillips kicked to the corner again and lock Cai Arnold collected the lineout, before a well controlled maul saw Cox crash over for the Whites’ second try. Phillips converted.
Fackrell took a lineout on half way and Glynn spotted a gap in the middle, but he was well tackled, and the home side gave away a penalty.
Price threw an inexplicable forward pass from a quick lineout to gift Swansea a scrum just short of the 22. Number eight Jacob Hopkins powered forward from the lineout and the home pack remained patient, before they were awarded a penalty, which Phillips chipped to the corner.
Lock Chris Thompson took the lineout and the pack mauled towards the line, but were stopped just short. Swansea got the ball out to Hoskins, but he lost possession forward.
Price kicked long with a penalty, funding touch just shy of the Swansea 22. While the home side initially claimed possession, Steff Evans collected a kick and got his side going again, before they gave away a penalty.
Replacement flanker Luca Giannini tidied up play and found Edwards, who eased his way forward to start another Whites attack. The Quins regained possession though and replacement fly half Ilan Phillips then chipped ahead on the wing, but the ball was kicked straight into touch.
Centre Callum Carson was penalised for construction following a chip ahead and Ilan Phillips found touch on the 22, but Young’s throw wasn’t straight.
The home side gave away a penalty at the scrum inside their own half and Ilan Phillips found touch just over half way. The ball was swept out wide to winger Thomas Willians and he chipped ahead for centre Gabe McDonald to score. Ilan Phillips missed the conversion.
A dummy throw by Young gifted the Whites a free kick on half way, and Phillips looked to burst through, but was well tackled. On the final play, the visitors gave away a penalty and Phillips chose to kick at goal from a difficult position, but he pulled his effort wide of the posts and Carmarthen were left to celebrate the win.
Next up for Swansea is a trip to high flyers Ebbw Vale, while Carmarthen host RGC 1404.
Full-time:- Swansea 14-17 Carmarthen Quins
Swansea:
Tries:- Lewis Edwards (40), Jamie Cox (53)
Cons:- Josh Phillips (40+1, 54)
Yellow cards:- Ed Thompson (29)
Carmarthen Quins:
Tries:- Steff Evans (13), Isaac Young (49), Gabe McDonald (80)
Cons:- Elis Price (50)
Match facts:
Venue:- Broadacre, Dunvant
Weather:- Sunny, 10C
Man of the match:- Rhys Fawcett
Attendance:- 300
Swansea team:
15 Harri Houston
14 Iwan Glynn (rep: Liam Lloyd 60)
13 Callum Carson
12 Jack Hoskins
11 Lewis Edwards
10 Josh Phillips (cc)
9 Iwan Temblett (rep: Ellis Lewis 64)
1 Daf Davies (rep: George Rossiter 79)
2 Jamie Cox (rep: Rhodri King 64)
3 Ed Thompson (rep: Tom Crockett 42)
4 Cai Arnold (rep: Matt Dodd 64)
5 Chris Thompson
6 Callum Bowden (cc)
7 Ethan Fackrell (rep: Luca Giannini 64)
8 Jacob Hopkins (rep: Tom Crockett 34-40+1)
Replacements:
16 Rhodri King
17 George Rossiter
18 Tom Crockett
19 Matt Dodd
20 Luca Giannini
21 Ellis Lewis
22 Tal Rees
23 Liam Lloyd
Carmarthen Quins:
15 Steff Evans
14 Ifan Davies
13 Jac Howells (rep: Carwyn Leggatt Jones 54)
12 Gabe McDonald
11 Thomas Williams
10 Elis Price (rep: Ilan Phillips 70)
9 Rhodri Davies
1 Rhys Fawcett
2 Isaac Young
3 Ifan James
4 Tom Phillips
5 Ryan Bean
6 Iestyn Wood (rep: Lee Taylor 64)
7 Shaun Evans ©
8 Iestyn Richards
Replacements:
16 Gruff Williams
17 Lewys Jones
18 Connor Allen
19 Lee Taylor
20 Sam Williams
21 Dylan Rowe
22 Ilan Phillips
23 Carwyn Leggatt Jones