Maesteg Quins 32 - 8 Treorchy
WRU Plate Round 4
This match ‘gainst Treorchy, we'll remember it well. A last sixteen Plate match, so they will tell. Atop of One Central, a proud team heart and soul, built in the Llynfi - powered by its coal
It’s just the second meeting between these teams. On the previous occasion, again in the Plate competition and at South Parade, it ended in a fifty points stampede in favour of the Oval men. The Quins dearly wanted to redress the balance.
Buoyed by the return of Nathan Smith who brought his two months stint with Tata RFC to an end, this was a ‘must-win’ game for the Quins for two reasons. Obviously to progress into the Plate quarter-finals and secondly, this was the Quins’ final Glamorgan County Silver Ball qualifying match.
Without a full quota of front-row forwards among their dazzle, saw the Zebras crossing the Bwlch with a bare fifteen. Nevertheless, unlike many other clubs Treorchy thankfully honoured the fixture, allowing the Quins followers to enjoy a great display and benefit from the gate receipts..
An early Rhodri Davies penalty for a midfield encroachment preceded a long pass to Ryan George, who rocketed up the five yards line, cemented the full-back and put Geraint Evans in at the corner.
A kick ahead handed possession to the Oval men. With the Quins pressing in attack, Treorchy’s return kick caused a host of problems. Left-wing Peter Hutchins raced after it, Lewis Tutt was the only Quins defender available to deal with the matter. His considerable cross-field run and dive to kill the ball ended with him taking out the visiting winger. Tutt was shown yellow and Lloyd kicked the penalty.
One-man blockade Josh Mines, again commenced with his customary single-handed halt of many visiting attacks. The dull crack in the tackle; followed by a moment of motionlessness, were tell tale signs the relentless flanker was going to leave the field.
Sleepy Treorchy were left in a plight, when a towering kick came down from great height. First a hack on, amid a great roar, then over the try-line Jay Ronan did go. His pace it was blistering,, like furnace hot coal and again the crowd cheered, when the extras were goaled.
An unexpected result of this most potent of hoisted kicks served up by Davies, was the visiting reluctance to get beneath further Garryowens.
On half-time Ryan George was unfortunate to have his touch down adjudged a knock-on after a skilful hack on and dive.
ZEBRA CROSSING
Treorchy got back into the mix when a comedy of Quins errors ended with a visiting try. Initially a kick on half-way was charged down. The re-gather was extravagantly knocked-on and the Zebras kicked ahead. A clearance was attempted but the punt was charged down and with the ball nestled nicely in-goal. Hutchins merely had to put his hand on the ball to score.
Rhodri Davies varied his play extremely well. Running, passing and kicking with aplomb. Scott Williams stole yet another line-out in the opposition twenty-five and Davies weaved a path to the try-line, sucking in the Zebra’s back-row. From the ruck Treorchy’s midfield were mesmerised by a perfectly executed Lee Ronan dummy switch that allowed him to breach the defence and get over the whitewash.
Soon a series of phases found Steve Williams in midfield. Like raindrops slipping down a window pane, tiring tacklers slid off the all-action Quins skipper, who didn’t need a second invitation to touchdown.
Rounding off a fantastic afternoon Lee Ronan, now playing nine, went blind from a scrum and put Geraint Evans in for his second try.
An exciting time lies ahead for Quins enthusiasts from now until March at least. Starting next week with a trip to Bonymaen’s Parc Mawr citadel, three more vital league matches will take place as the Quins attempt to maintain their grip on the top spot in Division One. Punctuated by Six Nations matches, in March a Plate quarter-final game awaits and with a ten from ten record, so do the knock-out stages of the Silver Ball.
If the last twelve months hasn’t proven to be already, it’ll be an incredible time from now.
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