Haverfordwest 34 - Pembroke Dock Quins 21: The Quins went down to their first away defeat of the season at the hands of the Blues, who simply had to win to keep within striking distance of the top.

After a bright opening the Quins were caught out when a kick through from outside half Mikey Jones took a cruel bounce and popped straight into the hands of centre Craig Barnett who went in unopposed to open the scoring.

He converted himself to give the Blues the start they craved for.

It was not long before they were back on the offensive, and increased their lead further when prop Matthew Clayton forced his way over.

Again Barnett converted to push his side into a 14 point lead.

The Quins simply had to score next and that’s exactly what they did, after the Blues fell foul of the ref.

Outside half Tyler Castle struck a well struck penalty to reduce the arrears to 14-3, and after a slow start, the visitors were starting to get back into things with their dangerous back division looking threatening.

They were soon rewarded when Jordan Asparassa playing on the right wing finished off a fine flowing move before touching down for his eighth try of the season.

Castle missed the conversion from wide out, and as the half drifted away both sides exchanged penalties through Barnett and Castle, and with the score 17-11 in the hosts’ favour, it looked all to play for after the break.

After the restart the Quins hit the Blues with a double whammy in the opening 10 minutes. First Castle put over his third penalty to reduce the Blues’ lead to 17-14, and then centre Jack Price won the race for a touchdown in the corner.

Castle put the conversion over from the touch line to put his side in front for the first time.

But the Blues hit back as the Quins’ scrum was starting to come under pressure. Quick ball near the Quins line produced an overlap which enabled replacement prop Tom Carrington to score in the corner.

Barnett missed the conversion but the Blues now led again 22-21.

The Quins went back on the attack and forced another penalty, and up stepped Castle whose well struck penalty from 30 yards faded at the last before bouncing back off the upright.

Sadly for the Quins the Blues dominated the last 15 minutes and forced further scores through a penalty try, and in the last minute a try for replacement hooker Matthew Clayton. With Barnett missing the conversion, the match finished 34-21 to the hosts.

Quins team: Luca Tremarco, Jordan Asparassa, Keiron Machin Jack Price (Capt), Gethin Bradney, Tyler Castle, Jake Griffiths, Jack Davies, Nick Drewett, Dai Moseley, Dan McCloud, Mark Van Rhyn, Harold Owen, Jordan Palmer and Ollie Parsons.