Quins grab advantage as league leaders beaten

THE top of the table clash in Principality Premiership West went the way of the powerful Quins who took their revenge for the 26-13 loss in Colwyn Bay back in September.

It was their seventh consecutive win, inflicting on the league leaders their first defeat since the opening day but RGC head coach Mark Jones was well pleased with a losing bonus point.

“It keeps us three points clear at the top of the table with just one game to play – at Bridgend,” he said.

“We were under the cosh up front but our backs scored three fine tries in a high quality game.”

A brace of penalties from full-back Aled Thomas and a sniping try from sharp scrum-half Ifan Beynon-Thomas put the Quins 11-0 ahead.

The visitors were dangerous with the ball but their first points came from a penalty by Dion Jones.

The introduction of Jacob Botica gave them fresh impetus but BeynonThomas made a try for half back partner Steff Marshall, Thomas converting.

The RGC backs then scored two brilliant counter attacking tries in two minutes through Jones and replacement Tom Hughes, both converted by Botica.

The Quins forwards then forced a penalty try only for full-back Afon Bagshaw to salvage a point at the death.