Pembroke Dock Quins Youth 17 pts.

Fishguard Youth 10

Pembroke Dock Harlequins RFC Youth entertained a large and vocal crowd on Saturday, playing against the in form Pembrokeshire Youth League table topping side Fishguard Youth.

With the Quins Youth looking to get their seasons going and improve on their form this was going to be a tough match against a confident and buoyant Fishguard Youth side that had been on a run of successful wins.

The Quins Youth coaches of Gareth Lewis, Keith Boswell and Huw Baker were confident that their young and ever improving side would match up to Fishguard and the pre-match warm up and prep talks looked promising an energetic.

With the starting 15 selected the Quins took to the pitch full of enthusiasm and determination.

Fishguard kicked off with the slight slop to their advantage and both sets of forwards battled hard for possession at the breakdown, with some big hit tackles from both teams.

The Quins were guilty of holding on and Fishguard look to move the ball wide.

With some slick passing and support play the ever confident Fishguard scooted down the right hand touchline and despite some brave tackles crossed the white wash to open the score.

The conversion was wide. Both sides continued to battle hard with the Quins making a nice back line break up the midfield only to have the pass judged to be forward as power house speedster Geraint Powel crossed under the sticks.

From the scrum Fishguard looked lively and some loose tackling and forced errors put pressure on the Quins defence and once again Fishguard found some space and gaps down the right hand side as they crossed the white wash to increase the score 0 - 10. This conversion also went wide.

Fishguard had their tails up now and looked to increase their lead with some forceful runs and continued support play, this seemed to kick the Quins Youth into life and with some great tackling and jackling the Quins forwards started to get a foot hold on the game which allowed the Quins Backs to start to move the ball wide with confidence.

Jamie Lawrence was then free to cross over in the corner for a Quins try – the conversion went wide making the scores 10-5.

From the restart the Quins managed to secure possession, before the backs were free to move the ball wide for the speedster Lawrence to cross for try number two.

The conversion was also wide, leaving the score tied at the interval.

After the break the Quins looked to continue with their first half pressure and with the slope on their side looked to attack from all areas.

Both sides battled hard with the game see sawing back and forth from end to end, but it was the Quins who after some determined running and forward drives managed to get their burly tight head prop Tom Clarkson over to score under the posts.

Charlie Dearden slotted the conversion to make the score 17- 10 to the Quins.

With the clock well past the 70mins the referee called time and a jubilant Quins Youth celebrated in style over their tremendous victory and battle.

Both sides shook hands and clapped each other off and enjoyed a great ‘rugby crack’ in the Quins Club after with both teams enjoying the day.