Carmarthen Quins RFC v Newport RFC – 18th October 2025 by John Evans
After a week away from Super Rygbi Cymru duty, supporters will have hoped that the Black & Ambers would have regrouped and found the missing spark that fired the Championship engine of the 2024 – 2025 season. To go from heroes to zeroes in 4 games is a remarkable fall, but we have a talented, confident squad and management team who would be desperate to rectify the situation.
Ty Morris and his team went back to basics in their team selection; the return of Ben Roach from injury was welcomed, whilst the centre pairing of Chay Foster-Smith and Jonny Morris looked to steady the ship. It was also good to see the return of Iestyn Galton on the wing. The next 80 minutes would tell what the effect of these changes would be.
Jac Lloyd kicked the game off with Newport attacking the ‘town’ end of the ground. Quins were awarded the first scrum of their game and soon demonstrated what their new-look pack are about, a super drive earning them a penalty which they kicked to the corner. Rhod Davies, the Quins 9, made a laboured pass out, flanker Kobi Rees cutting down the runner in his tracks. The move continued, but the final pass to wing Ifan Davies was hopelessly high. However, the referee, Mr Lucas Yendle, had spotted an infringement by Newport. Quins went to the corner again. The rolling maul was sluggish and inelegant, to say the least, allowing Barney Langton-Cryer to get a powerful arm in and around the ball, disrupt the drive, and win the ball back for Newport.
The Black & Amber pack demonstrated that the host’s forwards weren’t going to have it all their own way by earning a scrum penalty of their own on 5 minutes. Sadly, this was negated when the ‘split-pod’ lineout seemed to get in each others way, yielding another penalty. Quins went to the corner again. They were more efficient this time; a funny to prop Rhys Fawcett at the front of the line changed the point of attack. Lots of phases ensued, big man after big man, driving at the shoulders of the Black & Amber defence. Unfortunately for Newport, Rhys Fawcett found room to pick up and flop over the line for the opening score. Outside Half, Carwyn Leggat–Jones added the conversion to make it Carmarthen Quins 7 Newport 0 with 10 minutes played.
Slick handling on 17 minutes saw Newport progress nicely into the Quins half, Ioan Rhys Davies at the epicentre with some neat passes and hard running. The visitors were forced into touch but won the ball back quickly. Quins knocked on in defence, but their scrum was their saviour as the earned themselves yet another penalty.
Quins gained ground quickly, a long kick rolling into the in-goal area and being touched down by Iestyn Galton. However, the restart kick went directly to full back Steff Evans, the former Wales international player, who ran back at the Newport defence. However, resolute defence saw the Quins huff and puff before being forced away from the line.
Newport were pinged again on 27 minutes for being off their feet at the tackle. The hosts went to the corner again, but the line out was overthrown. Quins centre Gabe McDonald was alert and seized the ball, drawing a high tackle from a Newport player as he did so. Quins knocked on with the line at their mercy, but Mr Yendle went back for the high tackle penalty. They opted for an attacking scrum, number 8 Lewys Millin breaking. Shaun Evans had a dip at the line, but Steff Evans released Gabe McDonald to sprint in at the corner. Leggat-Jones added the two-pointer to make it Quins 14 Newport 0 with 31 minutes played.
Leggat-Jones booted the ball dead, so Newport were awarded a scrum back in the Quins half. The ball moved wide, a smart break by Kobi Rees down the left flank out to Morgan Williams still left the young man with a lot to do, but he managed to power through and was awarded the try. Jac Lloyd added the conversion to make it Quins 14 Newport 7 on 38 minutes.
A powerful Newport scrum on 40+1 minutes earned them a penalty, but the kick failed to make touch. However, Quins hooker Lewis Morgan took a heavy contact and received attention for a few minutes, stopping the game. A few minutes later, the hooker was sticking his head back into a scrum as if nothing had happened. Forwards, eh?
As the whistle blew for halftime, Ben Roach was first down the tunnel, visibly bristling, wanting his players into the changing rooms to try and put this right.
Half Time: Carmarthen Quins RFC 14 Newport RFC 7
Hooker Isaac Young replaced the ailing Lewis Morgan in the Quins front row for the second half, Carwyn Leggat-Jones restarting the match. Ioan Rhys Davies secured the ball and Newport moved forward, Lucas Welch getting his backline moving, Chay Foster-Smith and Morgan Williams interpassing well, but a kick to touch was direct and the move paused. However, a crunching tackle dislodged the ball from the Quins arms, and Newport were away again. Garin Harris carried hard, Chay Foster-Smith broke tackles and popped the ball to Jonny Morris. He was haring upfield, but the potential try-scoring pass to Lucas Welch was disappointing and the move broke down.
Rhod Davies retreated from a ruck with ball in hand, Ioan Rhys Davies tackling him as he did so. This drew a penalty decision from Mr Yendle which many failed to understand. Quins kicked to the Newport 22, initially doing well in defence before pressing the self-destruct button. A kick away from danger saw Steff Evans spill the ball forward. Morgan Williams was onto him in a flash, securing possession for Newport. Newport went wide before the ball was kicked ahead. Ifan Davies gathered the ball and raced away, making ground. Newport got back to defend, but the clearing kick was poor and easily charged down. Quins worked the ball across the line for hooker Isaac Young to run in to score. Leggat-Jones added the conversion to make it Quins 21 Newport 7 with 50 minutes on the clock.
Hunter Ward made his Newport debut, replacing Ioan Rhys Davies, at this point, and was immediately in the thick if the action. Newport gained a penalty, kicking deep into Quins territory. The line out was nearly messed up, but it still worked. Hunter Ward made a powerful drive forward, sucking defenders in before Jac Lloyd released Carwyn Penny so sprint in to the corner to score. Jac Lloyd added the conversion to make it Quins 21 Newport 14 on 52 minutes.
After a phase of kick-tennis, Morgan Williams evaded three defenders from a standing start, allowing space for Jac Lloyd to kick a handy 50:22 and put Newport on the attack again. Garin Harris made way for Ollie Drake whilst Lucas Welch was replaced by Dafydd Buckland before Newport could launch their latest assault. Ben Roach popped the lineout ball to Hunter Ward’s pod and the rolling maul set. Josh Skinner added his weight to a mighty shove as Wade Langley looked in a promising position. He was hauled across the line to touch down, Jac Lloyd adding the extras to equalise the scores at 21-21 with 57 minutes played.
Josh Reid replaced Kobi Rees, while Joe Peard came on for Josh Skinner. However, shortly afterwards, it resembled a battlefield with Joe Peard, Ollie Drake, and Dafydd Buckland all down injured. Drake and Buckland were both blood injuries, so they were replaced themselves by Garin Harris and Lucas Welch again, with Henry Palmer replacing the big man in the second row. In a further change, Harry Fry replaced Tom Devine.
Newport kept possession well, but the Quins defence was firm enough but had yielded a selection of penalties. Newport went to the corner, but the rolling maul was loose and easily shut down.
In a final change, Noah Morgan replaced Morgan Williams on 71 minutes.
Carwyn Penny fielded a long kick on 74 minutes, setting Iestyn Galton off on a mazy run, but he was penalised for holding on to the ball in the tackle. Good work followed, though, as Henry Palmer and Josh Reid worked hard and battered Newport forward. Scrum half Rhod Davies for the Quins couldn’t resist trying to intercept a pass and knocking on with a real try-scoring opportunity begging. Mr Yendle dispatched Davies to the naughty step for ten minutes. Jac Lloyd gestured at the sticks, but his kick sailed disappointingly wide.
Newport sought to win the game, but a careless pass popped into the hands of Quins prop James Newnian. Unfortunately, he fell heavily and required urgent treatment from the medical staff. Everyone at Newport RFC wishes him well and hope he’s back on the field as soon as possible.
With a penalty coming, Quins kicked to 25-metres out, but the lineout was overthrown. Henry palmer gathered, Jac Lloyd kicked long, but Ifan Davies was well-marshalled into touch, Newport gaining the lineout. Newport bashed away, Hunter Ward looking good, Henry Palmer was always available before a cheeky Jac Lloyd grubber gave Iestyn Galton the space to chase and dot down to score on 80+10 minutes. The kick was missed, so the score was Quins 21 Newport 26.
There was time to restart, unfortunately.
Mr Yendle saw an infringement in Newport’s defence and awarded Quins a penalty which they kicked to the corner. Iestyn Wood gathered the lineout ball, Isaac Young peeled away as the laid siege to the Newport line. The wave of attacks were getting closer and closer, the desperation to defend etched in the Newport faces, but all that close defence leaves gaps further out and Eilir George picked his moment to spread the ball wide and wing Thomas Williams to gallop in. With the scores tied, it was down to Eilir George to snuff out Newport’s hopes of a win and turn their thoughts of five league points to a fifth straight loss and just the two points.
Full Time: Carmarthen Quins RFC 28 Newport RFC 26
Our next home game is on Saturday October 25th when Ebbw Vale visit us. Ebbw are flying, at the moment, putting sides to the sword seemingly at will. So that’s just the sort of game Newport will go on and win. Following that, Newport are away at Bridgend RFC on November 1st, at the Brewery Field. Come along. Support the boys and Keep The Faith!
Onwards and upwards Newport.
Your City. Your Colours. Your Club
#cotp
Final Score – Carmarthen Quins RFC 28 Newport RFC 26
Seren y Gem – Barney Langton-Cryer