Saturday saw the Quins put up a spirited display befor going dwon 22-30 to Newport.
They are creating chances, but their inexperience is preventing them from scoring and the odd loss of concentration is letting in tries. The opening set piece was solid and indeed it remained sound throughout the match, and having the better of the line out, they should have produced a more positive result. Overall they are beginning to get the pace of this Division, and with a more clinical approach they will hopefully move up the table.
Newport were awarded a 4th minute penalty in front of the posts but as seems to be the trend they went for the touch line. The Quins cleared the threat.
Both sides were intent on keeping the ball alive and in the 25th minute the visitors found a gap near half way and worked the ball to Rhys Jenkins who crossed wide out. Arwel Robinson converted. More Newport pressure resulted in wing Wes Cunliffe powering over to take the visitors into a 14 point lead.
Near the interval, the Quins drove play up to the Newport line and Kieran Hardy used all his skill to outwit the defence with a clever dummy to cross under the posts. Dale Ford added the conversion to make the half time score 14-8 to the visitors.
The half time talk certainly had its effect. In the second minute Chris Banfield gathered from his full back position and his impressive run took him past several defenders and having drawn his opposite number slipped a perfect pass to the supporting Iolo Evans who returned the effort for Banfield to race over under the posts for an excellent try. Ford put the Quins ahead with the kick.
The ever reliable Ellis Lloyd suffered an arm injury and was replaced, but this did not deter the Quins revised urgency and Gavin Thomas increased the home lead with a well taken try, which went unconverted.
A yellow card for the Quins gave the Newport side the advantage they needed to gain a penalty try from a scrum near the home line and the sides were level at 22 points each. Both sides attacked and counter attacked but it was the Quins who let Ed Howley in for a soft try and the bonus point.
With the last kick of the game Robinson slotted over a penalty but this did not deprive the Quins of the losing bonus point. This was the thrid losing bonus point for the Quins so far this season which demonstrates that there is a fine line between winning and losing in the Premiership. They have scored three tries in each of their last two games and shown plenty of enterprise however they have also conceded four tries in the process. It seems clear that the Quins have to improve defensively.
On a positive note, Haydn Pugh and Josh Helps are developing into a confident line out pair and with the return of Lee Williams, Shaun Jones and captain Ian Jones, the coaching staff are confident that results will change.
