Ebbw slipped to a third successive league defeat at Eugene Cross Park on Saturday afternoon, as Carmarthen Quins added to the Steelmen’s troubles with a 26-20 win.

The visitors started well and were 8-0 up after 10 minutes when number 8 Lee Taylor profited from a line out drive to score the game’s first try, converted by Craig Evans. Iain Smerdon put his side back in the game with a superb individual finish, jinking through from 35m to make it 8-6. Smerdon saw his conversion attempt rattle one of the uprights. Ebbw took the lead when scrum half Chris Thomas sniped in from close range after some good forward drives off a line out, and Smerdon’s goal made it 14-8 to the Steelmen. Quins wrestled the lead back before half time when hooker Rhodri Clancy profited from a patient build-up to score their second try, which Evans converted to make the score 16-14 to Carmarthen at half time.

The second half was a see-saw affair, with both sides having their chances, but no score until deep into the final quarter when Ebbw, having driven Quins back yards with powerful mauling, opted to spread the ball right and David Williams finished well to give Ebbw the lead.

With time running out, Ebbw mounted an attack inside the visitors’ 22, and looked to be working an overlap on the left. Quins’ left winger, Gavin Thomas, pounced on a pass and intercepted, running in from fully 70m to score under the posts. Evans added the conversion and, when Ebbw transgressed deep in injury time, his penalty kick was the last action of the game. It finished 26-20 to the jubilant Quins.