19 Nov 11 - Cardiff Quins

LOST 20 - 23

Abercarn travelled to Cardiff Quins and narrowly lost by 23 points to 20. With both teams pushing for places at the top of the league this was a closely fought encounter with neither side able to dominate the other.

The home side enjoyed territorial advantage for most of the first half and their threequarters ran the ball from all parts of the park only to be stopped by determined defending by the visitors. The Quins were first on the scoreboard with a well taken penalty before Rhys Carpenter levelled the score with his first penalty kick. Winger Joe Coughlin made a strong length of the field run before being hauled down short of the line. Both sides added another penalty and the score was level 6 points all at half-time.

Immediately from the start of the second half Abercarn pressurised the Quins on their own line and Ben Phillips drove over the line and Carpenter added the conversion. This spurred on the home side who hit straight back with a 50 metre kick and chase to score their own converted try.

Abercarn retook the lead when excellent interpassing between Gareth Peebles, Rhys Carpenter and Gareth Marsh enabled winger Chris Symonds to score. The Quins clawed back three points with another penalty and with only minutes were pressurising the visitors’ line. Unfortunately Abercarn could not secure the ball at a defensive lineout and the Quins powered over the line to leave Abercarn with only the losing bonus point.

Man of the match went to captain Gareth Peebles. This Saturday Abercarn welcome New Tredegar to the Welfare Ground.