By: Paul Hopkins
A last gasp Harri Houston try earned Swansea a hard fought bonus point victory over Carmarthen Quins in a titanic battle at St Helen’s.
It was the home side who looked the sharper from the start with flanker Joe Greaves taking a lineout on the Quins’ 22, although the Whites gave away a penalty at the maul.
Moments later Swansea were awarded a penalty when the visitors’ defence crept offside at the breakdown, but fly half Josh Phillips missed his effort at goal.
Prop Ellis Fackrell superbly took the drop out and the home side fed the ball out wide to winger Tom Edwards, and a clever grubber kick by scrum half Matthew Aubrey found touch inside the Carmarthen 22.
Lock Ben Roberts stole a lineout on the Carmarthen 22 and Edwards made a break, but Roberts was then penalised for a croc roll tackle, gifting the visitors and easy clearance.
Full back Eilir George made a break down the wing for the Quins’ first attack, but he lost possession at the breakdown. Fly half Ellis Payne fielded a long kick and run back at the Swansea defence and the visitors were awarded a penalty, which Payne chipped just shy of the 22.
Hooker Jamie Cox stole in at the back of an overthrown lineout but George fielded the kick and regathered a chase, before a dangerous tackle by Edwards sparking a mass brawl, with the winger yellow carded.
Payne chipped deep into the corner with the penalty and lock Lee Taylor took the lineout, with a powerful rolling maul resulting in a try for hooker Lewis Morgan. Payne’s conversion attempt hit the post.
Winger Tomi Lewis made a superb break down the wing and threw an inside pass to centre Gabe McDonald, but he wasn’t able to make the most of the chance.
An infringement in the scrum by the Carmarthen pack gave Swansea a penalty, which Phillips chipped up to the 22. Roberts took the lineout and flanker Owen Thomas was on hand to power forward, but winger Ieuan Cornelius was unable to take Phillips’ chip through, although play was brought back for a Whites penalty.
The home side took a quick tap and a determined rumble towards the line saw Fackrell pick up to score a try. Phillips converted.
The visitors’ backs looked to let loose with Lewis sprinting down the wing, and although full back Harri Houston initially managed to disrupt play, winger Louis Rees popped up to race clear for a try. Payne missed the conversion.
The home side were back on the attack from the restart and were awarded a penalty in front of the posts when the Quins’ defence crept offside in midfield. Phillips opted to chip to the corner though and lock Chris Thompson took the lineout, with a well worked maul towards the line enabling the Whites to get quick ball out wide to Phillips, who dived over in the corner. He missed the conversion though.
Houston took a quick lineout to Roberts, and received the ball back, but the Whites’ failed to make any inroads and lost possession forward.
The Carmarthen pack earned a penalty with scrum half Archie Hughes taking a quick tap, and making 30 metres upfield, although the supporting Lewis was tackled and he lost possession forward. The visitors were awarded a free kick at the scrum but Hughes wasted a golden opportunity as he knocked the ball forward.
George collected a high Aubrey kick, but centre Iestyn Gwilliam and George were penalised for crossing in midfield.
Phillips found touch deep inside the 22 and flanker Owen Thomas powered forward from the lineout, with prop Ed Thompson held just short of the line, before Aubrey nipped over for a try. Phillips converted.
Half-time:- Swansea 19-10 Carmarthen Quins
The home side were handed a penalty just after the interval after a Quins player knocked the ball deliberately.
Phillips chipped up to the 22 and Owen Thomas powered through the middle from the lineout, but play was brought back for a home penalty, which Phillips converted from in front of the posts.
The home side attacked again through Edwards who danced past a couple of tackles, before a clever chip ahead by Aubrey put the visitors under pressure near their own line.
Cox and Fackrell powered forward and play was brought back for a Swansea penalty after the Carmarthen backs strayed offside.
Phillips chipped to the corner and Chris Thompson collected the lineout as the home pack drove towards the line, although Cox was held up inches short, before the ball was swept out wide to Edwards, but the supporting Phillips was bundled into touch.
A poor lineout throw by Morgan was taken by Cox who powered forward, before Houston was stopped on the line and then Edwards was held up over the line.
Joe Thomas made a break up to the 22 and Fackrell charged forward, but centre James Price spilled a simple pass to end the move.
The visitors were awarded a penalty at the scrum so Payne found touch inside the Swansea half for a rare spell of territorial advantage. Replacement flanker Ryan Bean powered through the middle, but Hughes’ pass out wide sailed over McDonald’s head into touch.
The Quins were awarded a scrum five and then a penalty, which Hughes took quickly and he squeezed over for a try. Replacement fly half Elis Price dragged the conversion wide.
Bean ripped the ball out of the tackle and raced forward but the supporting McDonald was well tackled. The visitors were awarded a penalty though, which Price chipped into the corner.
A powerful maul towards the line was repelled by the home defence, and it looked as though Rees had scored in the corner, but play was brought back for a Carmarthen penalty, with Roberts yellow carded for a professional foul.
The Quins tied the score when a clever piece of play from Hughes at the back of the scrum sent McDonald over for a try. Price converted.
Hughes made a break through the middle and it took a superb last gasp Houston tackle to prevent a certain try, and allowed his side to clear.
McDonald made a break but was held, but the Quins lost possession forward. Replacement number eight Dom Colman found Edwards on the wing as the home side attacked and Joe Thomas found substitute winger Stef Andrews out wide, but he was brought down just shy of the 22.
The Quins tried to run out of their own 22 but a poor pass sailed into touch, giving the home side one last chance, but the lineout was stolen by the visitors.
Roberts took the lineout and Rees spilled replacement scrum half Iwan Temblett’s high kick forward to gift the Whites with another chance at the death. The home side stayed patient and got the ball quickly out wide with Houston backing his pace to score the winning try. Phillips missed the conversion.
Full-time:- Swansea 27-22 Carmarthen Quins
Swansea:
Tries:- Ellis Fackrell (21), Josh Phillips (29), Matthew Aubrey (39), Harri Houston (80+7)
Cons:- Josh Phillips (22, 40)
Pens:- Josh Phillips (45)
Yellow cards:- Tom Edwards (14), Ben Roberts (69)
Carmarthen Quins:
Tries:- Lewis Morgan (15), Louis Rees (23), Archie Hughes (63), Gabe McDonald (71)
Cons:- Elis Price (72)
Match facts:
Venue:- St Helen’s, Swansea
Weather:- Light cloud, 3C
Man of the match:- Josh Phillips
Attendance:- 500
Swansea team:
15 Harri Houston
14 Ieuan Cornelius (rep: Stef Andrews 76)
13 Joe Thomas
12 James Price
11 Tom Edwards
10 Josh Phillips
9 Matthew Aubrey (rep: Iwan Temblett 64)
1 Ed Thompson (rep: Tom Crockett 76)
2 Jamie Cox (rep: Owen Thomas 77)
3 Ellis Fackrell (rep: Daf Davies 64)
4 Chris Thompson (rep: Matt Dodd 64)
5 Ben Roberts
6 Joe Greaves
7 Owen Thomas © (rep: Callum Bowden 64)
8 Cai Davies (rep: Dom Colman 74)
Replacements:
16 Daf Davies
17 Tom Crockett
18 Matt Dodd
19 Dom Colman
20 Callum Bowden
21 Iwan Temblett
22 Harri Williams
23 Stef Andrews
Carmarthen Quins team:
15 Eilir George (rep: Lucca Setaro 80+1)
14 Louis Rees
13 Iestyn Gwilliam
12 Gabe McDonald
11 Tomi Lewis
10 Ellis Payne (rep: Elis Price 41)
9 Archie Hughes
1 James Newnian
2 Lewis Morgan (rep: Gruff Williams 59)
3 Ifan James (rep: Isaac Young 76)
4 Josh Helps
5 Lee Taylor (rep: Iestyn Wood 72)
6 Iestyn Richards (rep: Ryan Bean 59)
7 Tom Curry
8 Lewys Millin
Replacements:
16 Gruff Williams
17 Rhys Fawcett
18 Isaac Young
19 Iestyn Wood
20 Ryan Bean
21 Ifan Davies
22 Lucca Setaro
23 Elis Price