Lampeter Town 8 Pembroke Dock Quins 22

The Quins got the season off to a flying start against one of the League favourites on Saturday, with a hard fought win, based on a strong defence and a dangerous attack.

Pembroke Dock had the first use of the wind and the slope as the hosts kicked off but it was Lampeter who straight away put the Quins under pressure, conceding two early penalties of which outside half Sam Whittingham kicked the latter to give the hosts an early lead.

The home side were then dealt a blow when they lost skipper and No 8 Kevin Bratcher with a nasty leg injury.

Lampeter were still in the ascendancy and forced another penalty which fortunately for the Quins, which Whittingham pushed just wide.

Pembroke Dock then in their first real attack scored close to the posts when flanker Hywel Baker broke away from the side of the ruck and ran over unopposed from 5 yards out.

Rhys Bradney converted and suddenly from nowhere, the Quins were in the lead.

Five minutes later the Quins scored a try straight off the training field when an inside ball went to outside half Kieron Machin who turned on the afterburners to race in from 40 yards out.

Bradney hit the upright with the conversion, but the Quins were now on top as the half drifted away and were desperately unlucky not to score a third try when prop Liam Smith looked like he had scored but the referee ruled he had knocked on.

As the second half started, and with the wind and slope as their friend it looked like it was going to be a tough task for the Quins.

Indeed Lampeter were not long in pressurizing the Quins’ line soon forcing a penalty in which they refused to take a shot at goal.

They were soon to regret it as the Quins to a man stood steadfast and with a strong midfield it was getting difficult to see where a try was coming from for the hosts.

Then in the 55th minute came the moment of the match in which the Quins scored a truly magnificent try.

The ball went through umpteen pairs of hands as the Quins attacked from deep before fullback Ben Hathaway finished off in the corner.

Bradney missed the difficult conversion but the Quins were 3-17 in front, with eyes now firmly set on a Bonus Point try.

Their attack was looking very dangerous as first centre Jordan Asparassa broke clear, followed by a mesmerizing run from left wing Matthew Lawrence, but unfortunately for the Quins both plays came to nothing.

The feeling was that whatever Lampeter had in them, a fourth try was going to come from somewhere for the Quins and 15 minutes from time that’s exactly what happened when Hathaway was put into space and chipped ahead causing mayhem in hosts’ defence before touching down in the same corner as his previous try.

Bradney missed the conversion, but it was now a mountain to climb for the home side and it was not until deep into injury time that they crossed the Quins’ line for a try for centre Ray Doughty.

However, Whittingham missed the conversion.

So the Quins with this fantastic away win can look forward to the rest of the Season with confidence.

Quins team: Ben Hathaway, Rhys Bradney, Jack Price,Jordan Asparassa, Matthew Lawrence,Kieron Machin, Jake Griffiths, Liam Smith Nick Drewett, Jack Davies, Sam James, Paul Busby, Hywel Baker, Danny Manning Kevin Bratcher (Capt)

Replacements: Carl Williams, Aaron Boswell, Marcus Phillips, Dan Goodridge, Martin Cully.