Quins grab narrow win (From Western Telegraph)

Quins grab narrow win

Neyland 10 Pembroke Dock Harlequins 15

Fixtures between Neyland and the Quins have traditionally been hard-fought and this local derby was no exception as both sides gave everything before the Quins fought back from an early ten-point deficit to snatch the verdict and complete a league double since they had already beaten the All Blacks by 31-15 at Bierspool.

It also gave further impetus to the quickly-growing viewpoint that there should be a return to a locally-based league for Pembrokeshire clubs not in the top echelons, with a good crowd and plenty of bar takings afterwards!

Both sides were short of a couple of key players but there was action-aplenty as Neyland played up the slope and with a slight cross-wind against them, but starting to take control after an opening quarter where the teams sized each other up.

They took the lead with a Mark Riley penalty after good work by skipper Chris Busby, Adrian Riley, Simon Phillips and debut-making hooker Andrew Ramage had set the platform.

They added the game's first try from a fairly innocuous start when Delme Bateman found himself closed down and seemingly no-where to go. But the pocket-battleship winger kicked ahead into the Quins' 22 and an unkind bounce put the visitors under pressure. Their defence made the cardinal error of watching it bounce for a second time and Neyland winger Andrew Hansen pounced for an opportunist try which Riley converted.

At this stage, the All Blacks had player/coach Mark Hamer calling the shots alongside Riley, and with experienced centres Steve Hamer and Steve Evans looking for space - but the Quins grabbed a morale-boosting try right on half time that stemmed from a superb defensive catch by Neyland full back Greg Miller but the move he initiated broke down and the Quins countered so well that a neat thrust by teenage centre Tom Lewis put veteran Quins' winger Mike Cole away for a 25 metre run to the line and a try which Lewis goaled.

Whatever Quins' coach Lenny Scourfield said to his team it certainly worked because they started the second period in determined mood, Mike Scourfield winning key lineout possession and younger brother Gareth linking well with dynamic flankers Neil Harris and Kevin Bratcher, who marginally shaded the Scourfield brothers for the man of the match tag.

This dynamic quartet were fully involved as the Quins grabbed the lead, with Lee Rogers setting the platform from which a quick pick-up at the base of a scrum by Gareth Scourfield allowed scrum half Adrian Heath to snipe away on the blind-side and defy a cover tackle as he just twisted to make the line.

Lewis missed the conversion but made amends with a penalty that finished the scoring, although both teams had chances.

Mike Scourfield looked to have scored but the referee was unsighted in the ensuing pile-up - and Simon Phillips twice went close for the All Blacks but was denied by a determined Quins defence.

The match was sponsored by W.P.Lewis (Nissan) Ltd, with the match ball sponsored by Neyland stalwarts Jennifer and John Laugharne.