Cardigan RFC 34 pts.

Pembroke Dock Quins 14

The Teifisiders kept their promotion hopes alive with a hard-earned win over a youthful Quins side on Saturday.

The home side went straight on the offensive from the kick-off, putting the Quins under pressure, and after just seven minutes they struck with a fine try by centre Ryddian Jenkins, which was converted by Iestyn Crompton.

This was just the start the Teifisiders wanted and with the Quins’ scrum struggling, they were soon putting more pressure on their opponents.

The Quins hit back with a fine break from outside-half Ben Hathaway which ended when he was hauled down on the home side’s 25, but on 25 minutes, Cardigan hooker Aled Phillips squeezed over in the corner after outflanking the Quins’ defence.

Iestyn Crompton missed the conversion, but five minutes later, the hosts were at it again, when this time right wing Dafydd Watkins touched down in the same corner as the previous try.

Crompton was well wide with his conversion attempt.

The last 10 minutes of the half, however, belonged to the Quins, who were desperately unlucky not to score as both inspirational prop Dean Wilcox and number eight Barry Parsons went close, but as the half drew to a close, the Tiefisiders broke out of defence and a fourth try looked on for all the money, but Quins’ second row Mike Davis had other ideas with an outstanding cover tackle which took out man and ball before he could release his winger.

With the score 17-0 at half-time in the home side’s favour, the Quins had it all to do after the break.

With the wind on their backs, they started the stronger and really needed some points to keep in contention, but despite exerting plenty of pressure, they couldn’t produce a score.

On 50 minutes they were dealt a blow when the home side broke out of defence and, after some fine handling in the conditions, scored through flanker Gethin Davies under the posts, and Crompton added the extras.

Centre Emyr Harries soon added an unconverted fifth try, before the Quins finally hit back with a fine try of their own.

Fullback Lewis Davies, who was having a fine game, put in a superb kick to the left-hand touchline, which saw left wing Josh Turner pick up the ball off his toes, before being hauled down close to the line.

The hosts then conceded two successive penalties as the Quins’ tap and go policy seemed to be causing disruption in Cardigan’s defence and it was no surprise when young outside-half Ben Hathaway forced his way over under the posts, and for good measure added the extras himself.

With five minutes to go, Cardigan scored their last try when number eight Colin Davies picked up from the base of a scrum to run in unopposed under the posts.

The conversion, however, was charged down by debutant Rhys Bradney, who showed the spirit and commitment from the Quins’ youngsters.

Then, with the very last move of the match, another youngster, in the shape of flanker Harry Owen, raced 40 yards, showing incredible pace to touch down under the home side’s posts, with Hathaway converting to bring the match to a close.

Quins team: Lewis Davies, Rhys Bradney, Thomas Doyle, Charlie Dearden, Josh Turner, Ben Hathaway, Jake Griffiths, Dai Moseley, Dean Wilcox, James Gardener, Mike Davis, Mark Van Rhyn, Alex Pierce, Barry Parsons (capt),Harry Owen. Replacements - Liam Scourfield, Martin Culley.