Fixture

Newly promoted Aberavon Quins marked their entry into Division One (West Central) with a well deserved victory over visiting Builth Wells.

In deplorable conditions and played throughout in driving rain it was ordained that the packs would play a bigger part in the game than usual.

Due to a shortage of scrum halves No.8 Conor O'Callaghan wore the number 9 jersey and played a vital part in his team's victory.

Both sides tried early on to play some open play and defied the conditions with good handling. The visitors took the lead through a penalty goal from fly half Luke Hoffa.

The Quins pack were well on top in the set scrums and the front row trio of Mike Burgess, Luke Davies and Tom James were in total command and the Quins opened their account by demolishing the Bulls scrum and gained a penalty try converted by Marc Sheppard.

The Quins defence was rock steady and all attempts to break them down failed and the home line was seldom threatened.

Sheppard kicked with length and accuracy and full back Ryan Pugh also gained ground with well placed touch finders. Pugh also contributed some exciting runs from defence. Wingers Steve Colarusso and David Morley had little work in attack but defended strongly. A rare incursion into Quins territory allowed Hoffa to close the gap with his second penalty goal.

The start of the second half saw the Quins eight in command and locks Dale Bowen and Callum Beynon played a huge part in their teams win. Adam Dawe seemed to be in several places at once to make tackles or take the ball forward. Davies and Burgess made several punishing carries  as did O'Callaghan.

Captain Craig Cox was always in the thick of things and went close to grabbing a try several times.

Sheppard stretched the lead with a penalty goal and as the visitors effort waned centres Gareth Pugh and Jack Dacey made some probing runs to match their defensive duties. Glen Williams worked hard as a blind side flanker and was never far from the action. Great kicking from Pugh gained an attacking line out deep in Bulls territory and O'Callaghan crashed over to stretch the lead and Sheppard made the game safer with a conversion. Builth had little respite when Tom Morley and James Davies joined the front row and new signing Matthew Saker and Liam Oates also joined the pack.

The closing quarter was played out at a lesser tempo up front as injuries to the visitors

introduced passive scrums and so blunting the Quins best weapon on the day.

In their first game in the Division One of the Mid-Glamorgan the Quins development Squad accounted for their counterparts from Bridgend Athletic by 17 pts to 10

Tylor Hopkins crossed for two tries and Colten Jones gabbed a debut try with a conversion from Karl Davies.

Photo by Vance Broad.