Aberavon got their first win of the season, Carmarthen Quins could have snatched victory at the end, but both coaches agreed that Super Rygbi Cymru is already certainly not the ‘same old, same old.’
As Carmarthen Quins captain/coach Tom Phillips put it, Over the last 10-years I’ve played in this competition you have seen the same faces. This year we are seeing a lot of fresh faces, a lot of young talent and the game is definitely moving a little bit faster, so good learning for everyone.”
Aberavon’s Jason Hyatt agreed: “We are on a journey, we have a lot of young players here, but they are learning, and they are learning quickly.
“It is younger, Carmarthen Quins were young today, the coaches are not afraid to make changes, and you have got to have confidence in the squad.”
The decisive moments were also provided by one of the young Ospreys players assigned to this competition as left-wing Cori Lewis-Jenkins raced away for the two tries which turned this contest. The 19-year-old Cwmavon-born three-quarter is part of the Ospreys academy.
“Cori played for Aberavon when he was a lot younger, he is a model pro now with the Ospreys and training in a full-time environment,” said Hyatt.
“I’m delighted with the win, but the players cannot help but feel a little bit deflated because they could have won with two bonus points, but we just did not score that fourth try. That comes with maturity and understanding the game.
“As it happens Carmarthen Quins came back, so we are just delighted we got our first win in the SRC, and we can build on that.”
The new bonus point on offer for winning by 15 points or more made a difference in a strange way. Aberavon went for the fourth try which would also have given them that margin, but Carmarthen held them out, got back within losing bonus point territory and could have snatched victory at the end.
“We will take some positives but overall, we’re disappointed. We will hit the analysis hard on Tuesday and think how that game could have been flipped. Credit to Aberavon, they were fighting hard with 14 men at the end, but we knocked the ball on,” said Phillips.
Carmarthen Quins had the forward pressure which brought two close range tries for hooker Lewis Morgan and gave them the chance to snatch victory in injury time.
Aberavon had the platform behind laid by Ed Dunford, Bradley Roderick and Scott Delnevo, to go with the cutting edge of Lewis-Jenkins. In the end it was just enough.
Scorers: Aberavon: Tries: C Lewis-Jenkins 2, G Evans; Pen: E Dunford; Cons: E Dunford 3. Carmarthen Quins: Tries: L Morgan 2; Con: O Jones; Pens: O Jones,
E George.
