CROSS Keys had to make do with a losing bonus point from their trip to Carmarthen Quins, writes Jonathan Twigg.

The hosts shot out of the blocks and were ahead inside the first minute.

Winger Dylan Reynolds caught the kick off from Jac Wilson, making ground into the visitors 22 and, after several driving plays, flanker Ed Siggery burrowed over, with full-back Aled Thomas converting.

A second converted try came on five minutes from openside flanker Ellis Lloyd.

Caught cold, Keys then conceded a third converted try to winger Dale Ford after 13 minutes, Keys finally got on the scoreboard on 31 minutes when they kicked to the corner and took advantage of ball off the top of the line out from skipper Damien Welch to set up second phase play from which prop Gerald Ellis to touchdown under the posts for fly-half Jason Tovey to convert.

Quins then scored their bonus-point winning try five minutes before half time when scrum-half Liam Davies was on the shoulder of a strong run from winger Dylan Morgans to score under the posts, Thomas’ fourth conversion made it 28-7.

Thomas then landed a 40-metre penalty straight after the re-start and, with Keys unable to gain a foothold in the game, Morgans was soon over for the Quins’ fifth try which this time went unconverted.

Damian Welch and his second row partner Harvey Reader were prominent when carrying the ball for Cross Keys but they were unable to prevent a sixth home try which went to Thomas Ball.

Keys hit back when a strong run from replacement Izaak Duffy from a scrum several metres led to a penalty try awarded on 64 minutes to reduce the deficit, flanker Tom Lampard also able to stride strongly in midfield.

With 10 minutes remaining full-back Leon Andrews found space to run in unopposed for Jason Tovey to convert, reward for a sustained period of open play, through the middle.

For the remainder of the half Tovey was able to keep his sides momentum going forward with astute hands and arrowing line kicks in search of the bonus point try.

Powerful drives at the heart of a disjointed Quins defence from Reader and replacement scrum-half Morgan Evans set up a scrum and after a two resets replacement back row player Taylor Hansen controlled the ball and plundered over from three meters for a converted bonus point try.

Scorers:
Quins – Tries: E Siggery, E Lloyd, D Ford, L Davies; D Morgans; T Ball; Cons: A Thomas (4); Pen: A Thomas 
Keys – Tries: G Ellis, Pen try, L Andrews, T Hansen; Cons: J Tovey (3)

Carmarthen Quins: A Thomas (M John, 65), D Morgan, N Reynolds, J Batcup, D Ford, J Wilson (S Marshall 56), L Davies (G Rees, 65), G Robinson (S Phillips 56), T Myhill (T Ball, 53), C Allen (C Francis, 65), L Taylor, H Pugh (c) (S Jones, 65), E Siggery, E Lloyd (S Collela 59), L Millen.

Cross Keys: L Andrews, W Cunliffe, S Majkic, J Sage, L Newbury, J Tovey, O Leonard (D Williams, 66) G Ellis (C Vaughan, 57), R Jenkins (S Hoskins, 57): R Cornock (T Hansen, 57): D Welch (c): H Reader: T Lampard: J Carlin: L Evans (T James, 13; I Duffy 51)

Argus star man: Harvey Reader