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It’s the start of the second half of the season and Saturday sees the reverse match to when they started in September - a home match against their Aberafan namesakes.

On that first Saturday in September, the Maesteg version of the Harlequins won 12-31. The deficit between the teams certainly wasn’t expected, but it was the result of very good Maesteg play and the loss of several influential performers from the Aberafan ranks.

Overall, the season has continued in that vein for the teams. Maesteg currently top the table and Aberafan lie two positions above bottom place on fifteen points.

After playing Seven Sisters last week, who occupy the basement spot, teams have to be at their best for large sections of a game if they are to win. If there is any club who raise their game at all times it’s Aberafan Quins.

A couple of seasons ago, the Harlequin Road club were struggling to raise a squad. So much so, it was a concern whether they would raise a team for the first match of the season at South Parade. News came through Aberafan had mustered a squad and would be turning up. Turn up they did.

Name any club who can struggle to field a team and not concede an avalanche of points – Aberafan Quins. It was an experienced home side that faced the sea-siders and while it was a convincing 46-3 win, for a team of relative strangers cobbled together a couple of days or even hours before, it was the usual never-say-die Aberafan performance.

Ryan Lovett claimed a hat-trick of tries and Jay Ronan a brace in a tough, often over aggressive encounter.

Last season’s April Fool Day fixture saw Maesteg surge into a 19-0 lead playing some excellent rugby, only to to see their guests re-galvanise and get back into the game..

Skipper for the first time this weekend will be Rhodri Davies. Everyone wishes him well. Andrew Healy replaces Lewis Tutt on the flank, Gavin Burridge comes in at second-row, Geraint Evans moves over to the right wing and Keiron Watkins returns at full-back. Aled Edwards also returns to the centre berth.

The game will be tough. The game will be uncompromising. The game will see 100% effort from every player who takes the field but whatever the score; it will be a Quin – Quin situation.