Catch up rugby rarely works out but it certainly was the case on Saturday as the Wizards cast their spell on Quins.
Playing conditions were near perfect and the good crowd expected exciting rugby. This came from the Quins in the opening half and from the home side after the interval. Amazing is the only word to describe it.
Early Quins pressure gave Darren Daniel the chance to challenge the home line, Ellis Lloyd was stopped inches short but the visitors secured the ball and moved it right for Ian Jones to power over. Chris Banfield added the points.
The home side were unable to match the Quins’ physicality and after 10 minutes, Banfield took the visitors score into double figures with a penalty. The Wizards were denied any clean ball and could not establish any kind of foothold in the Quins half.
The line-out control of Richard Kelly and Gavin Evans and the powerful charges of Ian Jones and Rob Evans gave very little away, creating many chances for the Quins to add to their advantage. Connor Lloyd made a scintillating break only to see James Dixon lose the ball when over the line while Luke Joseph saw another chance go begging.
This pressure and power play was bound to produce something and just before the interval, Lloyd brought his backs into play and a clever reverse pass gave Dylan Morgan the chance to burst through to cross near the posts. Banfield converted and the first half ended with the amazing statistic that Aberavon managed less than five minutes in the opposition half.
The Quins supporters were counting on a bonus point victory but the Wizards had other ideas. The interval team talk certainly had the desired effect and the whole game changed. From the restart, Quins took play up into the Wizards 22 and when they gained possession, they played with increasing freedom. Paul Bamsey gathered his kick ahead to score in the corner and Jamie Davies converted to start the revival.
The Aberavon fly half added a further penalty and with Quins strangely lethargic in all phases of play, hooker Ieuan Davies powered over for Davies to bring the scores level.
The Quins were unable to pick themselves up and two more late penalties sealed their fate.
