CARMARTHEN Quins left wing Gavin Thomas stunned the Steelmen by grabbing a late interception try to clinch a shock victory for his side at Eugene Cross Park, writes Geoff Champion.

Ebbw Vale were pressing just inside the visitor’s 22 metres area when a pass went astray and Thomas was in like a flash to sprint threequarters of the length of the pitch to touch down at the posts. Steady outside half Craig Evans converted and put the icing on the cake by kicking an injury-time penalty goal.

The visitors’ other points came from tries by No. 8 Lee Taylor and outstanding hooker and captain Rhodri Clancy, both of which were converted by Evans.

Ebbw Vale will be kicking themseleves again that they conceded some soft tries rersulgting in this third consecutive defeat. Outside half Iain Smerdon , inside half Chris Thomas and right wing David Williams snapped up their tries while Smerdon also kicked a conversion.

The Steelmen were keen to return to winning ways after two narrow defeats against Cross Keys and Llanelli with the coaches calling for more consistency and better finishing when scoring opportunities came their way. The visitors were also desperate to pick up some league points after a desperately poor start to the campaign which has seen them win just one of their opening seven matches. That was against fellow strugglers Neath on September 12.

Carmarthen Quins started brightly and they took an 8-0 lead after 10 minutes when, from a lineout five metres from the home line, a rolling maul ended with Taylor being credited with a try, converted by Evans.

Ebbw Vale bounced back with a string of promising raids and they were rewarded in the 23rd minute when Smerdon wrong-footed the visitors’ defence with a 35 mtres solo run to score a try at the posts. Smerson’s conversion attempt saw the ball crash against an upright.

Vale nudged ahead on the half hour when Thomas darted over for a try from a close-range lineout ad this time Smerdon was on target with his wide-angled conversion kick. But the Quins’ enterprising threequarters were creating holes in the home defence and Clancy eventually cashed in upon a concerted attack to cross for his team’s second try which Evans converted to give them a slender 16-14 interval lead.

But the second half proved to be a scrappy affair with both sides failing to exploit scoring opportunities before Thomas’ interception try put Quins on the road to a much-needed victory.

Scorers: Ebbw Vale - Tries - I. Smerdon, C. Thomas and D. Williams; Con - I. Smerdon

Quins - Tries - L. Taylor, R. Clancy, G. Thomas; Pen - C. Evans; Cons - C. Evans (3)

Ebbw Vale: D. Haymond ( C. Levesley 51); D. Williams, J. Howells ( D. Langdon 51), A. Jones, R. Gardner; I. Smerdon, C. Thomas (T. Edwards 59); I. George ( R. Jones 53), M. Williams (J. Franchi 69), G. Robinson, D. Hudd, capt. (J. Bartlett 43), A. Sweet, L. Crocker ( B. Morgan 75), R. Kynes and E. Doyle

Quins: C. Banfield; K. Jones, D. Morgans, M. Griffiths, G. Thomas; C. Evans, C. Lloyd (K. Hardy 59); N. Williams ( G. Robinson 53) (N. Williams 62)., R. Clancy, W. Taylor (S. Thomas 62), B. Thompson (J. Gardiner 73), J. Helps (R . Elias 51), H. Pugh, S. Evans and L. Taylor

Referee: Rhys Thomas (WRU)