PEMBROKE DOCK QUINS 19 pts.

PEMBROKE 6

The Quins took ample revenge on their near neighbours on Saturday in an extremely physical contest played in excellent conditions before a large crowd.

The early stages were very much equal, with the Quins just about shading territorial advantage, but it was Pembroke who struck first when fullback Neil Powling fired over a superbly struck penalty from fully 40 yards in the seventh minute to put the visitors in front, and then soon followed it up with another from 30 yards to stretch the lead to 6-0.

At this stage, however, the Quins were starting to get a bit more possession, with Mark Van Rhyan and Barry Parsons doing well at the lineout, but with some determined tackling and some poor handling from the Quins, the Scarlets kept their clean sheet intact.

The visitors were indeed lucky when Quins hooker Neil Brace struck the upright with a penalty in the 26th minute.

It seemed important at this stage that the visitors could get to the half-time whistle without conceding any points, as they were coming under increasing pressure.

But when outside-half Dean Lawrence put a penalty to within 10 yards of the visitors' line, the pressure told.

With a driving lineout, the Quins charged towards the line in unstoppable fashion, which ended with a try for number eight Gareth Scourfield.

Brace failed with the conversion from wide out, but the Quins were soon back in the visitors half and with virtually the last kick before the break, Brace put over a penalty to put his side 8-6 up.

The second half started with the home side very much on top and, with the scrum and lineout going well, it seemed difficult to see how the Scarlets were going to get back into the game.

The Quins soon extended their lead with another penalty from Brace and Pembroke at this stage were finding it difficult to get out of their own half.

The hosts on the other hand were making crucial mistakes at vital times, which kept the visitors in the game.

Another Brace penalty stretched the lead to 14-6 to put Pembroke out of bonus point range, which in some repects reflected the stern defensive effort the visitors were putting in, forcing the Quins to go for goal instead of a try.

The Quins soon put the match out of reach when a powerful run down the lefthand touchline in the 65th minute by left wing Lee Scourfield saw him push off at least three tacklers to score out wide.

Brace missed the conversion, but the game ended at 19-6, with the Quins still very much on top.

The game as a whole was played to quite a high standard, seeming more like Division Three at times than Division Five.

It may be a bit late now for a promotion push this season for the Quins, but next year could be a different kettle of fish and also not forgetting both sides are still involved in the Pembrokeshire KO Cup, so there could be another twist yet for these great rivals.