News

Saturday March 10^th

Nant Conwy 23 – 22 Maesteg Quins

WRU Plate Quarter Final

Nant Ceirw is to the Quins, what kryptonite is to Superman. It’s been sixteen months since the Quins last tasted defeat and that too was at the hands of the North Wales One leaders.

It started so well with Ben Davies crossing for a try after three minutes. Both teams missed a penalty shot, before a cross kick wasn’t properly gathered by the Quins and wing Carwyn ap Myrddin scored and Lennon converted for the hosts after eight minutes.

A Rhodri Davies penalty gave the Quins a slender single point lead and when he converted a Lewis Tutt try on the quarter hour mark, it looked bright for the Quins.

However, sides as well organised as Nant Conwy rarely panic. Maintaining possession for long periods in stinking conditions, ‘Y Teirw’ pressurised the Quins. Having got on the wrong side of the referee, the Maesteg men were made to suffer more.

Lennon converted the third of a penalty triumvirate early in the second half to move Nant Conwy into a 16-15 lead. This wasn’t the full story. His third penalty was converted when the Quins’ Russian centre, ‘Ronan the Red’, was expelled from the field of play.

Come back the Quins did and a penalty try for illegally halting an attacking scrum put them into the lead.

Still Nant Conwy didn’t panic or show frustration. Again they played the territory game and when Carwyn Roberts scored the hosts second try, imagine Lennon’s thoughts as he teed up the conversion. He kicked it and this concluded the scoring for the match.

Although outscoring the host three tries to two, discipline is a major factor of rugby and had the Quins exhibited more restraint, the result may have been different.

That said the team put on an excellent show in appalling conditions. It was a tooth and nail fight. Good luck to Nant Conwy in the semi-final, while the Quins followers hope their team replicates their winning sequence since their last journey north.

Wednesday 21^st March sees the Quins take on Ystalyfera in the High Motive Silver Ball quarter-finals at the Talbot Athletic Ground. This precedes the final ten matches of the league season, in which the Quins must play three of the top for teams four times in their promotion push.