Hooker Ceri Davies, playing today at No 8 was red carded for foul play early in the final quarter when Dunvant were in sight of at least a losing bonus point or even victory.

Before the game, Dunvant and visiting supporters were treated to a tag rugby display by Dunvant Devils, our team of little 4 and 5 year olds taking their first steps towards a learning the game of rugby. The Devils were sporting their all new Dunvant 1st XV replica kit which is available through the club shop and supplied through Dunvant’s Main kit sponsor, Bergoni Sportswear. New members aged 4 & 5 are welcome and training is every Tuesday at 5.15p.m.There’s no charge, contact Andy Warren 07876222514 or Lee Tucker 07588289425 for more information.

Dunvant, with 4 consecutive league wins behind them were looking to avenge the 33-14 defeat by Quins in our first away game of the season. Unfortunately injuries and non availability led to selection of a patched up squad with 5 front row players starting in the pack, tighthead Gareth “Skills” Williams playing at lock forward and hooker Ceri Davies playing at number 8.
Quins kicked off towards the Dunvant end with a fierce gale behind their backs, and dominated from the start, almost getting over the try line but foiled by good Dunvant defence. Eventually, Dunvant were pinged for offside in front of goal and Quin’s Captain, No 10 Gareth Lewis struck the first 3 points. On 6 minutes he scored again with a 42 metre kick, and on 11 minutes a great kick and chase from the halfway line saw full back Kyle Blackmore win the race to the try line, converted by Gareth Lewis for 13-0. On 20 minutes yet another r penalty kick from 25 metres out saw Quins secure a 16 point lead. As the half hour clocked up and Dunvant made a rare foray into Quins half, Quins inside centre Rhys Roberts was yellow carded and from the penalty Dunvant winger Tom Davies chased a great chip kick to ground the ball in the right hand corner. Richard Lewis’s conversion attempt was swallowed up by the strong wind. Back to 15 men with half time due, it looked as if Quins had scored another try in the left hand corner but were deemed to have put a foot in touch, and yet another penalty kick at goal from the 10 metre line was pushed just wide. Half –time Dunvant 5 Carmarthen Quins 16.
With Dunvant hoping for a change of fortune with the wind behind them for the second half ,their hopes were dashed when Quins replacement Daniel Hughes scored in the right hand corner, converted by Gareth Lewis for 5-23. It was 50 minutes played before Dunvant got a second try, some great work by the pack from a lineout saw prop Gareth Williams playing at 4 helped across the try line but Richard Lewis could not convert the 10-23 score. Almost immediately Dunvant got another chance with full back Mitchell Ford chasing the ball but just beaten to the touchdown by some good Quins defence. With 53 minutes played, Quins scrum half Nick Flay was yellow carded and from the resultant penalty, wing Adam Williams increased Dunvant’s score to 13-23.On 58 minutes, play was held up whilst referee Huw David gave Quins prop Daniel Table a stern talking to. Dunvant kicked the penalty to touch and from the line out the pack did a great job in helping prop and Captain Ryan Shoemark over the try line for 18-23 as the conversion was again missed, but at least a losing bonus point looked likely. Then disaster struck. Dunvant hooker Ceri Davies, playing at No 8 was red carded for foul play from which Dunvant never regained their form of the previous 20 minutes. Quins got the better of the last 10 minutes and destroyed Dunvant’s losing bonus point with a third try by wing Owen Richards which Lewis could not convert and the score remained at 18-28 until the final whistle. Gareth “Skills “ Williams was named as the Rugby Club Singers Dunvant Man of the Match.
Dunvant drop from 4th to 5th with a re-arranged trip to Aberystwyth next weekend, who will be seeking to avenge the 53-0 trouncing they suffered at Broadacre in our first game of the season.

Scores:
Dunvant 18:
Tries: 14 Tom Davies, 4 Gareth Williams, 3 Ryan Shoemark
Penalty: 11 Adam Williams
Maesteg Harlequins 28:
Tries: 15 Kyle Blackmore, 18 Daniel Hughes, 14 Owen Richards
Conversion: 10 Gareth Lewis (2)
Penalties: 10 Gareth Lewis (3)

Half time: Dunvant 5 Maesteg Harlequins 16

Dunvant Team:
Backs: 15 Mitchell Ford, 14 Tom Davies, 13 Sam Crowley, 12 Danny Davies, 11 Adam Williams, 10 Richard Lewis, 9 Sam Evans
Forwards: 1 Carwyn Williams, 2 Alex Griffiths, 3 Ryan Shoemark (Capt.), 4 Gareth Williams, 5 Nathan Vaughan, 6 Jonathan Arnold, 7 Lewis Buckley, 8 Ceri Davies
Replacements: 16 Darren Goddard, 17 Jonnie Jones, 18 Michael Arnold, 19 James Richards

Match Official: Huw David

Main Match Sponsor: O’Brien Security Systems (01792 299992)

Match Hosts: St.Hilary’s Church & the Parish of Killay

Rugby Club Singers Dunvant Man of the Match: 4 Gareth Williams

Ball Boys & Scoreboard Operators: Dunvant Under 16’s

Results for Saturday 12th January
Swalec League Division 2 West
Crymych 6 Builth Wells 3
Dunvant 18 Maesteg Quins 28
Felinfoel 15 Aberystwyth 20
Haverfordwest 17 Seven Sisters 10
Taibach 19 Maesteg 6
Penclawdd-no game

Carmarthen Tyres League
Bonymaen 26 Waunarlwydd 5
Carmarthen Druids 34 Dunvant 3
Carmarthen Quins 15 Narberth 6

Ospreys OE Youth league
No games

Match photos: click here
http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/dunvant/photos/1stxv-v-maesteg-quins-12th-jan-353370.html
Match video: click here
http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/dunvant/videos/undone-by-quins--35922.html