2014 Maesteg Quins 6 – 8 Builth Wells
SWALEC Division 1
BULLS HIT QUINS TACTICS
So it wasn’t the fairytale start for the Quins in their very first outing as a Division One club. Yet it was not all doom and gloom.
Dan Tabor caused his opposite number all sorts of problems in a powerful scrum performance. The back-row were a formidable unit. The all-round tackling was great. Meanwhile Craig Ronan and Carl Roberts were imperious at the line-out, stealing and pressurising enough to induce wayward Builth throws. The kicking and chasing was also very good.
Therefore, it is all the more galling and incomprehensible that the Quins didn’t seek the safety of the touchline or punt up-field in moments of need.
In a stop start affair, in which the referee did a passable impression of James Galway given the number of errors. The Quins did punctuate the game with some excellent handling movements which, although fruitless, were wonderful to watch.
Having squeezed themselves into a three points lead with two Gareth Lewis penalties midway through the second half following Builth’s early Cerith Rees’ goal, the Quins refused several opportunities to clear their lines and make life harder for the Builth.
With passive scrums called, the Quins fed in a defensive position deep in their twenty-five. Instead of a simple pass back and a long thump up-field, they chose a back-row move, leading to a visiting penalty. This straight forward goal went wayward, as did a number of simple kicks for both sides, but Builth knew as long as the Quins tried to play in their own half, they were in with a chance.
Long kicks would have been easier for the Quins to defend, but they continued to run, take contact and enter into the lottery of rucks against a stoic, resilient and determined Builth defence.
Eventually the Quins faithful fears worse fears turned to reality when the Bulls hit the Quins with a late sucker punch. Pounding the Quins line, they patiently recycled before the Quins run out of numbers and could only watch as wing Jay Price cantered over for the only try of the match.
There was time for the Quins to counter and they did, but at the end of a tiring encounter in energy sapping heat, composure and accuracy was lacking.
It was good to see Quins youth captain Aled Evans making his first team bow and another, hooker Jordan Short on the bench.
15. Geraint Evans 14. Kieron Watkins 13. Alex Griffiths 12. Owen Richards 11. Leon Crow
10. Gareth Lewis (c) (2PG) 9. Lee Ronan
1. Dan Tabor 2. Dean Ronan 3. Mark Watson 4. Craig Ronan 5. Carl Roberts 6. Steve Williams
8. Rhodri Bwye 7. Andrew Healy
16. Owen Watkins for C. Ronan 17. Aled Evans for S. Williams 18. Rhodri Milsom 19. Jordan Short 20. Richard Teesdale
1988 (Tues) South Gower 8 – 12 Quins II
It was a long, laborious journey to an isolated and well hidden ground in Wales’ natural beauty spot. To make things worse, it was also a rushed mid-week journey.
The Quins triumphed through adversity. Wayne ‘Tonka’ Thomas saw red quite early in the match for innocuous rucking, indeed it is doubtful if the ‘Naked Chef’ made contact with his opponent.
Quins defended manfully with fourteen and came away with the spoils as a result of the mercurial performance of Andrew Lewis who kicked all his team’s points, including a neat dropped goal.
His kicking out of hand was of the highest order and he also ran elusively, as the hosts struggled to lay a hand on him. Carrying the ball two handed, the swivel of the upper body one way and a sudden swift jerking movement to the other mesmerised South Gower.
Given his all round performance, his command of Welsh, his appearance and possibly... perhaps... well OK more importantly, a few post-match fabrications meant the diminutive outside-half ended the evening signing many an autograph for the assembled crowd in the clubhouse… as Jonathon Davies!
15.Robert Butler 14. Robert Evans 13. Mike Kehoe (c) 12. Wayne Whelan 11. James Parker
10. Andrew Lewis (3PG DG) 9. Ryan John
1. Wayne Thomas 2. John Davies 3. Steve Cody 4. Terry Adams 5. Lester Jones 6. Kevin Griffiths
8. Adrian David 7. Paul Phillips
16. Dai Berry for T.Adams
GAZETTE EDITION 12-09-1986
VANDALS VISIT QUINS AT SOUTH PARADE
1986 Maesteg Quins 3 – 25 Wasps Vandals
CONDITIONS were excellent for the London club’s third visit to the Quins South Parade Ground and their strong side included English international Richard Cardus once again playing in the centre where his experience proved a deciding factor in the visitors convincing win. Their side also included several players from last season’s John Player Cup Final.
Wasps opened their account when they moved the ball smartly across their threes enabling wing S. Freethy to cross wide out coverted by full-back D. Richardson.
Despite being outweighed in the set scrum the Quins pack led by skipper Dai Preece and backed up by Gary Dawkins and new Scottish acquisition Dave Pszencyncj gave a good account of themselves.
The home side edged up to the Wasps 22 and from a line-out Quins scrum half Russell Thomas fed outside half Andrew James who dropped a neat goal. Maintaining pressure in the Wasps half Quins were unlucky not to equalise when Andrew James penalty from the Wasps 10 yard line was just wide.
Whilst the Quins gave a good account of themselves in the set pieces Wasps were adept at the quick attack which despite desperate Quins tackling saw the visitors gaining valuable ground enabling their sure footed full-back D. Richardson gaining a commanding lead with two further penalties.
Maintaining pressure from a scrum five yards from the home line, Wasps gained a controversial pushover try by their young No. 8 H. Lamb, converted once more from the touchline by Richardson.
From the kick-off Quins’ Andrew James held play well inside the Wasps half with some lengthy kicks to touch. The home side were unlucky when Gary Dawkins forced his way over the Wasps line but the referee being unsighted could not award the try.
Andrew James was obliged to leave the field being replaced by full-back Illtyd ap Dafydd who acquitted himself well. Chris Mahoney was brought on as sub.
Whilst being held in their own half for most of the second period, Wasps again proved strong with some lighting three-quarter incursions into the Quins half and from a scrum on the home 22 fly-half P. Harrison put his side further ahead with a drop goal.
Two attempts at penalties by Illtyd ap Dafydd were slightly off centre and the game ended with a cracking try from Richard Cardus who showed his class with a strong midfield run for an excellent try which was not converted.
Tonmawr 2nds 10pts Quins 2nds 10
Quins gave a good account of themselves at Tonmawr when they recorded a fully deserved draw against strong opposition. Quins scorers were Geraint Jones who scored two tries and Ian Philip who converted one.
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