With the rain pouring down all morning, the conditions were always going to favour a forward orientated game. The first 15 minutes saw both sides locked in battle, making line breaks but leading to nothing.
The first score of the game came from Quins winger Jolee Gregory with fly half Laurie Harries adding the extras. A Rachel Taylor break led to a try for Cerys Ballett try but the conversion was missed.
Both sides were conceding penalties around the contact area, with scrum half Laura Prosser looking particularly dangerous with quick tap penalties looking to gain an advantage for the Falcons.
The Quins scored their third try of the half with winger Ballett touching down for a second time. The first half ended three minutes early after Falcon winger Natasha Peters was badly injured making a tackle and suffering a knee to her back. A delay in waiting for an ambulance to arrive, only to get stuck in the mud meant that half time lasted a little longer than usual.
For the second half the Falcons kicked off with the wind in their backs and the sun in their eyes. A rejigged pack and back line started off the half strongly, putting the Quins defence under scrutiny.
A series of forward drives was rewarded with a try by prop Nat Stone near the posts, with Prosser converting. A calf strain to Jaimee-Lee Bennet , who was making her debut in the number 10 shirt meant the back line having to be reorganised once again with prop Ursula Mc Crossan making her Falcon debut.
A yellow card to Quins’ Philippa Tuttiett for not rolling away was capitalised by Prosser with another one of her trademark quick taps, feeding a pass to a supporting Lisa Newton who scored. Prosser once again added the conversion.
With only five points in it the Falcons could almost smell a victory, but a yellow card for Prosser and a last minute try by Philippa Tuttiett sealed the win for the Cardiff Quins.
From a Falcons point of view there were a lot of positives to be taken from the game, with the scrum dominating and the backs running through their moves there is plenty to work on.
A lot of character and tem spirit was shown by the girls, with many ending up playing out of position and for the last 10 minutes the back line comprised three back row players. Newly appointed captain, Catryn Grundy best exemplified this by playing in five different positions throughout the course of the game.
Pontyclun Falcons: Rhianydd Morgan, Natasha Peters, Sophie Francis, PJ Kinsella, Melissa Clay, Jaimee-Lee Bennett, Laura Prosser (Vice Captain), Nat Stone, Emelie Taylor, Michelle Fitzpatrick, Zoe Buckeridge, Demi Hallett, Zoe Wells, Catryn Grundy (Captain), Vikki Gaylard
Replacements: Lisa Newton, Ursula Mc Crossan, Hannah Thomas
Cardiff Quins: Caryl James, Cerys Ballett, Eleri Davies, Ceri Redman, Jolee Gregory, Laurie Harries, Jade Phillips, Nia Jones, Beth Kenure, Becky Newton (Captain), Nikki Bamber, Anna Brown, Jen Hawkins, Anna Fardell, Rachel Taylor (Vice Captain)
Replacements: Carri Owen, Anne Wagner, Becky Blakeway, Angharad Jones, Philippa Tuttiett, FFion Elen, Sarah Barrett
