Saturday, November, 4th, 2017.
Bridgend Athletic 18 –26 Maesteg Quins
WRU Division 1 West Central
A tangible sense of anticipation rippled around the salubrious surroundings of the Morganstone Brewery Field. Sixth placed Bridgend Athletic, a team supposedly having a crisis in confidence, welcomed back a number of influential performers when hosting top-shelf Quins.
What crisis? For the first thirty minutes Athletic raised the bar and were dominant with their simple, effective game plan. With a proficient set-piece, their constant pick-ups and short drives with Stoker, Fooks and flanker Ben Davies making regular collisions, Athletic kept possession for long periods. The hosts would then pass out wide to probe gaps but they couldn’t pour through.
Luke Bevan kicked extremely well. His steepling restarts made the receivers’ complexions turn a lighter shade of pale. it was Bevan’s early penalty that gave his team the lead.
Further trouble brewed when a home Garryowen sent to a solar height wasn’t gathered. Bevan then put in a cross-field punt for wing Tom James to rev up his engine, show his pace and snap up the ball to touchdown in the corner.
On the rocks and trailing 8-nil in quick time, the Quins lagered up to form a stout defence, forcing Athletic to expend excessive energy for minimum gain that later told. Several steals from skipper Steve Williams, Michael Owen and Tutt in defensive situations kept the hosts at bay.
It wasn’t a barrel of laughs for the Quins who were unable to get their hands on the ball. When they did, it was short lived. Unforced errors, inaccuracy and misfortune blunted their efforts. Nevertheless, as their game plan fermented, the result was beginning to rest in their own hands.
The visitors began to hop to it and steadily pulled themselves back into the game like horses hauling a dray.
Direct, explosive running nullified Athletic’s umbrella defence. The Athletic showed signs the stress being placed upon them was beginning to tell. Kieran Watkins’ impressive elusive running, exquisitely timed support runs and awareness were damaging. His run from his own twenty-five and pop pass to Nathan Edwards sent the Quins on their way. Edwards released Lewis Tutt. Unfortunately, his clever change of angle was hated by a high tackle.
With the bit between their teeth, the ball was drilled into touch. The Edwards centre partnership produced a champagne moment exhibiting both the brute and beauty contained in their displays. Sent in to mash a tackle weary midfield, Nathan’s well-timed transfer allowed Aled to make a perfect scoring pass to Kieran Watkins.
Defiantly, the Bridgend men retorted with a second Bevan penalty and at 11-5 half-time came.
Under the influence of having possession on tap, the Quins made more forward advances than Westminster’s MPs.
Rhodri Davies kicked a single penalty for not releasing. In quick succession he made it a double after a high tackle to level the scores. His treble for a collapsed scrum pushed the Quins into the lead for the first time.
Quins’ happy hour continued. Pint-size Ben Davies whooshed through a gap. Lewis Tutt latched onto Davies’ pop and Steve Williams took an off-load. This led to another home ruck offence. All bets were on another kick at goal. It took courage to call a scrum, a decision justified when an incessant chug towards the home try-line left the husk of Athletic’s pack behind, Michael Owen reaped the rewards with a try. Davies converted.
Ben Davies went on another superb run, intelligently he eased his run to await the support runners to cascade through. Lee Ronan gave a scoring switch pass to Alex Griffiths, who came on an angled run against the grain in a blue ribbon period for the Quins.
(Pictue courtsey of RA Evans)
The remaining twelve minutes see-sawed with no further addition to the scores. When the referee called time amid great cheers, the Quins could toast their first league victory over the Athletic in Bridgend, with every player performing exceptionally with several stellar performances..
Next week an absolutely massive game against Ystalyfera features at South Parade. Separated by a single point at the top of Division One the game promises to be a thriller. The match kicks-off at 1.30pm and is an ideal curtain raiser for the Wales – Australia international later that day.
The Quins would love to see you there.
15. Kieran Watkins (T) 14. Geraint Evans 13. Aled Edwards 12. Nathan Edwards 11. Alex Griffiths (T) 10. Rhodri Davies (C 3PG) 9.. Ben Davies
1. Lewis Francis 2. Dean Ronan 3. Mark Watson 4. Steven Williams (c) 5. Scott Williams
6. Josh Mines 8. Michael Owen (T) 7. Lewis Tutt
Replacements
16. Jack Picton for G. Evans 17. Andrew Healy for M. Owen 18. Lee Ronan for A. Edwards
19. Ioan Williams for L. Francis 20. Gavin Burridge for M. Watson
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