PEMBROKE 39 pts.

PEMBROKE DOCK QUINS nil

Pembroke pulled off a deserved bonus point win over their closest rivals on Saturday in front of a crowd in excess of 500, with a break in the recent poor weather providing a helping hand.

The Quins got off to a reasonable start, with Mike Davis and Joe Powell once again proving their great potential in the lineout, stealing the homeside's ball twice in the early exchanges.

A fine run by outside-half Charlie Berry after 10 minutes put the Quins on the front foot, but the Scarlets soon replied when left wing Luc Tremarco, with a fine run, got within 10 yards of the Quins' line, and from the resultant pressure powerful number eight Sam Smith forced his way over halfway out.

Luc Tremarco missed the conversion, but things soon got even worse for the Quins as straight from the kick-off a high up-and-under had them all over the place, as the ball with a fortunate bounce popped into the hands of outside-half James Davies, who raced over for a unconverted try to put his side 10 up.

The Scarlets' scrum at this stage were giving the Quins all sorts of problems, putting number eight Barry Parsons under enormous pressure, which he dealt with extremely well.

On the half-hour, the hosts struck again when centre Simon Cole scored a fine try, which this time was converted by Tremarco to extend his side's lead to 17-0.

It was now the Quins' turn to up the ante as their driving maul started to cause the Scarlets major problems as the half drew to a close.

The Quins were now desperate to force a score, but for once their lineout let them down in their moment of need as the half ended with the score 17-0 in the home side's favour.

As the second half started, it was imperative that if the Quins were to stay in the match they had to score first, but unfortunately for the visitors, it was the Scarlets who struck when right wing and captain Geraint Jackson finished off a fine move, scoring wide out to grab the all-important bonus point try, which again went unconverted.

For the Quins, it was now backs to wall and once again, as they have done throughout the season,, they tackled as if their lives depended on it, repelling wave after wave of Scarlets attacks.

With the pressure becoming relentless, something had to give and prop Richard Mason, who had an outstanding match, forced his way over for a try, converted by Tremarco; it was the least Pembroke deserved.

As the game drew to a close, the Scarlets added two more unconverted tries, first when Geraint Jackson rounded off a superb threequarter move to cross in the corner for his second try and then with the last move of the match number eight Sam Smith broke through from 40 yards out on a powerful run to score underneath the Quins' posts. Amazingly, Luc Tremarco hit the crossbar with the conversion.

With leagues reverting to some sort of local structure next season, this match was a fine advert for what can be achieved with more local derbies in the offing.

Tomorrow (Saturday), the Quins entertain Cefneithin, while Pembroke find themselves on the road to Bynea.