Saturday, September, 16th, 2017.
Maesteg Quins 34 – 7 Kenfig Hill
Division One West Central
MATCH SPONSORS: LAING O'ROURKE
TWO WITH TWO FROM TWO
After two weeks of league action four teams in the Division One West Central remained unbeaten. Of the four, two went into round three with 100% records. They met when Maesteg Quins entertained Kenfig Hill.
Leading the table courtesy of gaining two bonus points to the Mules’ one in the opening fortnight, the Quins were acutely aware of Kenfig Hill’s traditional good early seasonal form and creative potency. Especially after losing to the Mules in the first game of the 2016-2017 season.
Being pluviophiles, the wet weather conditions suited the Quins, who played classical controlled rugby in a first half performance that would awehape the most momist of supporters. Placing a stranglehold on the match, they instantly and constantly troubled the Mules pack with a commanding scrum. Sponsors and former Quins favourites Adam Matthews of Lang O’Rourke, who included Colin Roberts would have enjoyed the expert forward play.
Penalised time and again, Kenfig Hill were perpetually on the back foot. When not penalised, they were shoved off their own ball. So superior was the Quins display in claiming possession and holding territory, the match resembled a hostage situation more than a sporting contest.
Lee Ronan found a gap with an angled interjection. He could only be stopped with a high tackle and did well to suppress his fumish tendencies. Rhodri Davies’ penalty hit the target.
A grubber-kick allowed Kieran Watkins to race through and fly-hack the ball, but his try-attempting dive was foiled by the dead-ball line.
It wasn’t long before the Quins’ score went into double figures. Dragging down a potent driving maul, referee Steve Nash had no alternative other than to run under the posts and show a yellow for the transgression.
Pouncing on a Mules overthrow, play went through the phases before Rhodri Davies spotted space ahoy and placed a pinpoint cross-kick for Jack Picton to catch and score.
Realising the referee was not a sillytonian, Kenfig chose not to illegally halt another driving maul. This allowed the Quins to hugger-mugger the ball over the line for a Dean Ronan score.
When the coal black and blood reds conceded consecutive penalties, a grubber kick beat the defence and Lewis Morgan dived on the isolated ball to score for the Crofft Coch team. Lloyd Giles converted.
Taking another line-out, the Quins went through two phases. Kieran Watkins burst onto the ball, showing explosive strength to cross the line. After twice previously hitting an upright, Davies converted.
Scrum after scrum was played out on the visitor’s line and just when you thought a drive would take the Quins over, the hosts betrumped the opposition by whipping the ball out. Stopped short of the line, a couple of ruck skirmishes ended with Geraint Watkins storming through at the posts. Davies added the extras
At 34 – 7 the match was all but won. Additionally the referee, who otherwise had a tremendous game, was a wasteheart at the Quins’ scrum dominance. His quacksalver solution merely served to manufacture the introduction of passive scrums, which managed to teen the spectators and pacify the game. Consequently, the second half was like returning to work after a long dinner break. So much so, there were no further scores from either side.
Quins also took the opportunity to try out different combinations and styles, as this was a great time to experiment, even in the swerk conditions.
A merry-go-sorry atmosphere prevailed in the second half, but the result didn’t prevent a rouzy-bouzy celebration. This was an excellent bonus point victory in testing conditions, against a dangerous team in second spot.
The overall aggressive defence was another key feature. Geraint Watkins and Rhodri Davies again controlled affairs. The latter’s touch-finders turning the screw on the visitors. Kieran Watkins showed strength in both attack and defence, while Jack Picton took his chances. Of course, it was the pack’s high order performance that set the stall for this big win.
Kenfig Hill will return to storm the South Parade citadel in three weeks for a WRU Plate match. Meanwhile, next week sees a journey to newly promoted Resolven.
15. Geraint Evans 14. Alex Griffiths 13. Kieran Watkins (T) 12. Lee Ronan 11. Jack Picton (T)
10. Rhodri Davies (3C PG) 9. Geraint Watkins (T)
1. Lewis Francis 2. Dean Ronan (T) 3. Mark Watson 4. Nathan Smith 5. Scott Williams
6. Gavin Burridge 8. Rhodri Bwye 7. Steven Williams (c)
Penalty Try
Replacements
16. Siôn King for J. Picton 17. Ioan Williams for L. Francis 18. Leon Evans for G. Watkins
19. Dylan Phillips for G. Burridge 20. Aled Evans for Sc. Williams
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