By: Paul Hopkins
It was the tale of two super subs for Swansea as a try apiece for Sam Matthews and Llien Morgan earned their side victory over Carmarthen Quins in the pouring rain at St Helen’s.
It was a bright start for the visitors when lock Ryan Bean charged over halfway, but his side were penalised for diving over the top of a ruck.
Fly half Rhys Jones found touch inside the Quins half, but the Whites were unable to capitalise on the move thanks to a poor pass out wide that forced winger Brandon Wood to knock on.
A superb break by Gareth O Rees on the wing set up a Whites attack, and he was well supported by centre Joe Thomas and scrum half Aron Hemmings, but the move broke down thanks to a handling error.
Quins kicked the ball straight back to their opponents to allow the home side another attack. Swansea were awarded another penalty, but Jones’ touch finder horribly sailed over the dead ball line.
After a tentative scrum by the visitors, flanker Callum Bowden nipped in to steal possession on the ground, but hooker Llew Phillips-Taylor dropped a pass to end the move.
The visitors were awarded a penalty on half way after the Whites’ pack were penalised for offside, but fly half Harri Williams dragged his effort wide of the posts.
A poor pass by Harri Williams was intercepted by Osian Knott, but the centre tried one too many a pass and the move broke down.
Winger Dale Ford, centre Ryan Davies and winger Rhodri Wall all tried to counterattack from inside their own half, but struggled to get far in the poor weather. Instead, flanker Tom Phillips found a gap in the middle and raced over the 22, but a knock on ended the move.
After a long stoppage while Knott was treated for a serious looking leg injury, it was the Quins who looked to attack by going through phases, but the ball was lost forward.
Wood almost collected a high kick by the bounce evaded him and Quins were able to clear through scrum half Iwan Temblett, though Jones kept the ball in play to set up an attack for the home.
Carmarthen were penalised for a high tackle with Jones kicking to touch, but the ball was lost forward in the lineout, although lock Sam Pailor hacked the ball forward into touch.
Harri Williams found touch on the Swansea 22 with a penalty and hooker Lewis Morgan tried to take a quick tap free kick following an infringement at the lineout, but he dropped the ball in a heavy tackle.
Hemmings darted around the blindside of a scrum and found full back Harri Houston in support, who in turn passed to Wood on the wing. The ball was recycled out wide to Thomas, but the visitors were penalised for offside.
Jones chipped to the corner and prop Daf Davies bounced off a tackle as the Swansea pack rumbled forward, but replacement centre Matthews was penalised for holding on after the tackle.
With the heavens opening, the Quins pack mauled 10 metres over the half way line, but centre Josh Batcup was penalised for holding on after the tackle.
Jones kicked to the corner and the home side formed a maul from the lineout before a long and looping pass out wide was taken by Gareth O Rees, but he was unable to make anything of it as referee Steffan Edwards blew for a rare scoreless half.
Half-time:- Swansea 0-0 Carmarthen
A high kick by Jones was tapped back by Wood, but replacement number eight Lewys Millin gained a turnover, with full back Ellin George charging forward up to the 22.
But it was actually the home side that profited as Pailor ripped the ball out of the tackle and fed Matthews, who used his pace and power to sprint from the half way to score a superb try in the corner. Jones missed the conversion.
The Quins backs stretched their legs as they looked to respond and Temblett tried to go alone but was well tackled out wide by Houston. A poor pass out wide was too low for centre Iestyn Gwilliam but he hacked forward, though luckily for the home side the ball bounced into touch.
The visitors finally got their first score when a well weighted scrum saw Millin crash over for a try from close range following a powerful drive by the pack. Harri Williams converted.
Houston took a high ball but support was slow to arrive so he held on after the tackle. Harri Williams turned down the kickable penalty to chip to the corner and lock Josh Helps took the lineout, the Quins pack mauling forward, but an excellent Whites defence held the ball up over the line.
The visitors were awarded a penalty after the Whites killed the ball and Harri Williams found touch deep inside the Swansea 22. The resulting rolling maul was stopped short of the line and a knock on gave the Whites a much needed reprieve.
Harri Williams aimed high with a free kick, but his effort went straight into touch, and the home side were awarded a penalty shortly after, which Jones kicked to touch.
A second penalty was awarded to the Whites moments later, but Jones’ effort at goal fell agonisingly short of the posts.
Then a superb run by replacement winger Morgan took the Whites deep inside the Carmarthen 22, with substitute prop Tom Sloane charging forward. The ball was quickly recycled by the home side, who fed play out wide for Morgan to score in the corner. Jones converted.
A huge scrum by the All Whites earned a penalty and Jones chose to kick at goal, but his effort hit the post. The home side were full of celebrations moments later though as they closed out a hard fought victory.
Full-time:- Swansea 12-7 Carmarthen
Swansea:
Tries:- Sam Matthews (47), Llien Morgan (75)
Cons:- Rhys Jones (76)
Carmarthen:
Tries:- Lewys Millin (55)
Cons:- Harri Williams (56)
Match facts:
Venue:- St Helen’s, Swansea
Weather:- Light rain, 12C
Referee:- Steffan Edwards
Man of the match:- Callum Bowden
Attendance:- 350
Swansea team:
15 Harri Houston
14 Gareth O Rees
13 Joe Thomas
12 Osian Knott (rep: Sam Matthews 29)
11 Brandon Wood (rep: Llien Morgan 73)
10 Rhys Jones
9 Aron Hemmings (rep: Gareth J Rees 64)
1 Daf Davies (rep: Tom Sloane 54)
2 Llew Phillips-Taylor
3 Ed Thompson
4 Sam Pailor (rep: Lewis Marsh 61)
5 Lloyd Ashley
6 Joe Greaves (rep: Lloyd Evans 61)
7 Callum Bowden ©
8 Cai Davies
Replacements:
16 Archie Ivens
17 Tom Crocker
18 Scott Jenkins
19 Lewis Marsh
20 Lloyd Evans
21 Gareth J Rees
22 Sam Matthews
23 Llien Morgan
Carmarthen team:
15 Ellir George
14 Rhodri Wall
13 Iestyn Gwilliam
12 Ryan Davies (rep: Josh Batcup 40+2)
11 Dale Ford
10 Harri Williams
9 Iwan Temblett (rep: Lucca Setaro 53)
1 James Newnia (rep: Will Caron Lewis 69)
2 Lewis Morgan
3 Ben Leung (rep: Ifan James 53)
4 Ryan Bean (rep: Gethin Davies 69)
5 Josh Helps
6 Tom Phillips ©
7 Ben Williams (rep: Will Icke 69)
8 Carwyn Tuipulotu (rep: Lewys Millin 40+4)
Replacements:
16 Will Caron Lewis
17 Sion Jones
18 Ifan James
19 Gethin Davies
20 Lewys Millin
21 Will Icke
22 Lucca Setaro
23 Josh Batcup