Quins hold out after nervous finale in topsy-turvy match

Carmart’n Q .... 36 Newport .......... 33

CARMARTHEN Quins will breathe a sigh of relief after they held on to beat Newport 36-33 in a ten-try thriller to keep their title hopes on track.

They took the lead in the seventh minute. After winning a line-out, following a penalty kicked to touch, Ellis Lloyd went over in the corner. Aled Thomas’ conversion attempt hit the post.

Newport levelled, Chay Smith intercepting a pass to run 40 metres and score. Matt O’Brien easily converted. Carmarthen quickly regained the lead via a Thomas penalty from midway inside Newport’s half but a strong run from Haydn Palmer gave Newport their second try.

The home side quickly hit back in this see-saw half, with Rhodri Clancy scoring in the corner and Thomas converting.

The real gamebreaker came on 34 minutes when Newport’s Josh Reid received a yellow card for a tip tackle. Carmarthen ran in three tries during the ten minutes that their opponents were a man down.

Nic Reynolds and Lee Taylor crossed before the break with Josh Batcup crossing two minutes into the second half. Thomas converted all three.

The Newport comeback started on 58 minutes. Alex Everett notched a good individual try. Haydn Simons got the next on 67 minutes then Bartlett their fifth and final try with two minutes to go. O’Brien converted all three but it was too little too late for Newport.

Star man

Lee Taylor - Carmarthen Quins