QUINS STILL EYE A FIRST VICTORY
TABLETOPPING Aberavon heaped more misery on Carmarthen Quins in the Indigo Premiership with victory at the Talbot Athletic Ground.
The Wizards grabbed their bonuspoint try shortly after half-time and at no point looked troubled as the Quins fell to their third successive league defeat.
Aberavon built early pressure through the indiscipline of the visitors, who struggled with the Wizards’ forward power early on.
“The first half was a great advert for Premiership rugby,” said Aberavon head coach Jason Hyatt.
“It was end-to-end stuff. I could see from the players at half-time how physical and fast it was.
“I’m very pleased with how we are playing. We’ve looked comfortable with ball in hand, our defence has been strong and we’re delighted with the set-piece.
“The strength of the squad is phenomenal and it means we’ve got some brilliant players coming off the bench.
“It’s a close-knit group and the players are at the heart of driving their own standards.
“We’ve had an excellent start, but we can’t get too complacent. There are a lot of tough teams in this league and it doesn’t get any easier next week when we go to Pontypridd.”
The pressure paid off in the sixth minute when Rhodri Cole dived over. Aled Thomas’s conversion was successful.
However, Steffan Marshall reduced the deficit with a penalty for the away side.
Bradley Roderick then picked up a pass off his shoelaces and put an intelligent grubber behind the Quins defence to send Frankie Jones over unopposed in the corner.
The Quins began to frustrate the home side, but the few attacking opportunities they created were stifled through some exceptional line-out steals from Sam Williams.
The Quins continued to attack before the half-time whistle, and the pressure paid off as Geraint Llewellyn was allowed an easy run-in. Marshall added the extras.
But Aberavon were allowed to hit straight back just before the break. Andrew Waite was allowed to steam through, opening gaps around him, which allowed Rhodri Cole to finish off.
Aberavon struck first in the second half, earning themselves a try bonus point in the process. A cracking break from Jonathan Phillips set the home side on the attack and Ashton Evans was able to push over from close range.
The home side maintained the pressure, winning several scrum penalties under the Quins posts. James Newnian was sin-binned before Gabe Lacey dotted down out wide.
The visitors hit back when Rhodri Davies broke through. They remained patient and Josh Batcup found Kallum Evans on the overlap to score.
Marshall added the extras to make it 33-17.
And Aron Hemmings scored a deserved consolation try near the end.
ABERAVON Tries: R Cole (2), F Jones, A Evans, G Lacey. Cons: A Thomas (4).
CARMARTHEN QUINS Tries: G Llewellyn, Kallum Evans, A Hemmings. Con: S Marshall (3). Pen: S Marshall.