1996 – 1997 Newport HSOB 11 – 20 Quins
SWALEC Cup 1^st Round

For this August commencement to the competitive season, the Quins started the 1996-1997 campaign with a new set of coaches: Dai Berry, Lyndsey Davies and Martin Wilkshire, a number of new faces and a first round cup game.

Mark Petty, who had arrived at the club as a three-quarter, was selected on the bench to cover the back five forwards and made his 1st XV debut in this match.

The match at Caerleon, against a club two leagues higher and in hot conditions, ended in quite a comfortable victory for the Quins who were playing in the lowest league in Wales.

The pre-conceived tactic of hitting in the midfield hard, recycling quickly and moving the ball back from whence it came, outwitted the defence from the off. It worked especially well particularly as skipper Lee Sparrow was lying in wait to receive the ball and trundle towards any hapless winger or forlorn forward unable to keep up with what were, in effect; high tempo, heavy going, shuttle runs.

Sparrow flew in for two tries and deservedly picked up the SWALEC Man-of-the-Match award not just for his scoring exploits but his all-round explosive display at the scrum.

This four tries to one victory impressed a number of people and despite the late sending of Andrew Evans for a high tackle, Quins survived a late ‘Old Boys’ onslaught with a fine defensive performance.

Many of the nodding, appreciative Quins followers were suitably impressed with the new style. One bar room conversation with a coach went as follows…

Fan:               

Great tactics today. It was really good and worked really well.

Coach:          

Thanks.

Fan:               

What made you think of it?

Coach:          

It was obvious really.

Fan:               

How? You’re saying you knew a team we have never played before wouldn’t cope with hitting the midfield, quick recycling and running the ball back at them from the original spot?

Coach:          

Oh that. I thought you meant our decision to scare the shit out of them by letting our women off the bus first!

15. Mark Page (T) 14. Darren Jones 13. Jonathon Vincent 12. Andrew Evans 11. Andrew Winston

10. Martin Wilkshire (T 2C) 9. Darren Phelps

1. Andrew Kidger 2. Shane Williams 3. Lee Sparrow (c) (2T) 4. Ryan David 5. Terry Adams

6. Simon Lyons 8. Peter Jenkins 7. Neil Davies

16. Derek Adams 17. Larry Davies 18. Dai Berry for A. Kidger 19. Mark Petty for P. Jenkins 20. Peter G. Evans 21. Gavin Thomas