The Black & Ambers led 12-3 at the turnaround thanks to a try from Garin Harris – on his 150th appearance for the club – converted by outside half Carwyn Penny and then a score before the break from fellow prop Tom Workman.
Elis Price and Aled Thomas landed a penalty either side of the pause for Quins but, with the match well poised at 12-6 heading into the 61st minute, three tries in quick succession from lock Josh Skinner, left wing Liam Lloyd and skipper Ben Roach saw Newport open up a 31-6 lead with Penny adding the extras to two of them.
However, the home side would be denied the maximum six points by late Quins tries from Eilir George and captain Rhodri Davies, both improved by Thomas.
“I was a bit nervous about how rusty we would be given how long we’ve been off as, although training has gone well, there’s nothing like playing games,” said Newport head coach Ty Morris.
“But in all fairness, we put some beautiful stuff together in attack. Credit to Carmarthen they defended well, but I always felt it was just a matter of when we were going to finish off our opportunities and we scored some cracking tries in the second half.”
Newport, in third, are 10 points behind leaders Cardiff but with a game in hand on both them and Ebbw Vale.
Cardiff recovered from going behind early on to defeat Pontypool 27-10 at the Arms Park and make it five wins in a row.
Left wing Dewi Cross’ first half try double was followed up by second scores from right wing Tom Bowen and hooker Alun Rees. Cross is now the leading try scorer in SRC this season with nine and his latest brace also took his tally to 49 tries in 52 games.
Harri Wilde added seven points from the tee to secure a maximum six points for the Blue and Blacks. Scott Matthews’ try had earlier put Pooler ahead, converted by Kieran Meek, who also kicked a penalty.
The visitors were forced to play the last quarter with 14 men after second row Dan Hill was shown a red card for a high tackle on Cross. Cardiff and Pontypool were the hors d’oeuvre to the URC Welsh derby at the Arms Park between Cardiff Rugby and the Dragons.
For home supporters it may have also been a welcome glimpse into the future, with the likes of Cross and Bowen, along with Elijah Evans and Steffan Emanuel, who also featured in Cardiff’s backline against Pontypool, hoping to be part of the main event between the regions in seasons to come.
Still hot on Cardiff’s heels just two points behind though are Ebbw Vale – who also bagged maximum points from a 40-20 win at bottom side Swansea.
Once again, the Steelmen’s driving maul proved unstoppable, with hooker Ieuan Morris’ opening try their 10th rolling maul try in a row following a lineout. Morris was also the scorer of the visitors’ second try in yet again exactly the same fashion, with Lloyd adding the extras to the second one.
Scrum-half Rory Harries and No 8 Ryan Jenkins both also crashed over for tries before the break – from respective scrums – both converted by Lloyd for a 26-10 half time lead and with try bonus point in the bag.
Lock Jack Pope and centre Cameron Davies dotted down in the second half, both also converted by Lloyd, as Ebbw made it six consecutive wins.
Swansea’s tries were scored by hooker Jamie Cox, converted by Josh Phillips, along with Tom Edwards and Ieuan Cornelius. Phillips also kicked a penalty. But ultimately those efforts were unable to prevent the Whites from slipping to a ninth defeat from as many games.
At Church Bank, Llandovery saw off Bridgend 28-12 to secure a fourth straight victory while inflicting a fifth straight loss on the Ravens. The visitors had earlier led twice in the first half thanks to an unconverted score from Edd Howley and then a penalty try.
But it would be the Drovers ahead 14-12 at the interval after tries from prop Jamie Hughes and left-wing Aaron Warren – on his milestone 250th appearance. Jack Maynard converted both.
Hooker Taylor Davies and second row Ed Scragg were on the scoresheet in the second half for Llandovery with Maynard again adding the extras.
