CROSS Keys' topsy-turvy start to the Principality Premiership season continued as they allowed an early lead to disappear at Carmarthen Park despite playing some of the game against 13 players.

The Gwent side actually led 17-6 at the break but also fell foul of the referee in the second half having a player sent to the bin, slipping to their third defeat of the season.

Keys opened their account in the 11th minute, a period of concerted forward pressure paying off as second row stalwart Danny Hodge crossed for a try converted by outside half Geraint Rhys Jones.

Just two minutes later the home side were down to 14 players when prop Nathan Williams paid the price for a succession of Quins infringements with a yellow card. Another successful kick for Jones moved the Keys into double figures.

Three minutes later opposing number 10 Daniel Jones claimed the Quins first points of the game with a successful penalty of their own but in the 23rd minute his side found themselves down to 13 when hooker Torin Myhill was dispatched to the bin following a flare up close to his own line.

The visitors immediately exploited their numerical advantage, number 8 Ieuan Jones scoring his side’s second try. The visitors found themselves falling foul of the referee seven minutes before the break, centre Leon Andrews heading to the bin while a second penalty for Daniel Jones made the half time score 17-6 to the visitors.

Eight minutes from the restart and card number two for the visitors saw captain Scott Matthews in the bin, the Quins immediately capitalising with a try for wing Tom Williams converted at the second attempt by Dan Jones.

A revitalised Quins side continued to pile on the pressure even after the Keys were back to 15 men and another Dan Jones penalty narrowed the gap to a single point with quarter of an hour remaining.

Not surprisingly, both sides looked nervy in the closing minutes and both sides squandered scoring opportunities through basic errors. Tom Williams look set for a second try in the 78th minute as he broke from his own 22 before kicking ahead, the Keys just managing to bundle the ball into touch close to their own line. From the resulting lineout, the Quins forwards did their work to set up replacement outside half Steffan Marshall to take a winning drop goal.

Scorers: Carmarthen Quins – Try: T Williams Con: D Jones Pens: D Jones (3)); DG: S Marshall

Cross Keys – Tries: D Hodge , I Jones ; Cons: G Jones (2); Pen: G Jones

Carmarthen Quins: G Thomas; T Williams, I Wyn Evans, J Batcup, D Wyn Morgans (M Griffiths 66), D Jones(S Marshall 75), C Lloyd (G George 75), N Williams (G Robinson 66), T Myhill, S Llyr Thomas, J Helps, H Pugh (capt), E Huw Lloyd, W Boyde (L Taylor 72), S Jones.

Cross Keys: J Prosser; M Powell, L Andrews, N Williams (P Uhi 70), N Trowbridge, G Rhys Jones, J Leadbeater, R Cornock (L Smout 74), D Hughes, L Brown (G Carpenter 42), D Hodge, T Lampard (S Williams 59), J Skinner, S Matthews (capt), I Jones (A Powell 59).

Referee: Dewi Phillips (WRU)