Quins battle past Swansea in scrappy encounter

CARMARTHEN Quins made it back-to-back wins in the West Conference of the Principality Premiership as they edged Swansea in a lacklustre fixture.

The Quins, who shocked last season’s Premiership runners-up Aberavon last weekend at the Talbot Athletic Ground, had six Scarlets in their matchday squad against the Whites, including Welsh international scrum half Aled Davies.

In tricky conditions, kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes, but it was Swansea who made the sharper opening. Owen Howe’s penalty midway through the half put the Whites ahead, and that was to be the only real action of the opening 40 minutes.

It was a similar trend after the interval with fullback Howe negotiating the conditions to split the posts with another three points to give the visitors hope of picking up only a second win of the season. It was not the day for expansive, flowing rugby as the rain belted down at The Park.

The experienced Quins pack dominated on their first home outing and the pressure was soon rewarded. Something had to give and midway through the second-half the Quins went ahead through a penalty try to make it 7-6.

Prop Richard Murphy’s yellow card merely added to Swansea’s woes and when Aled Thomas kicked a penalty with 10 minutes to go it took the game away from the visitors and allowed the Quins to hold out for victory.