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Saturday,  August, 25^th, 2018

Mountain Ash XV 12 – 26 Maesteg Quins XV

Pre-Season Match

Reading, Cream Fields and Cardiff’s Pride festivals depleted both teams for this final round of pre-season fixtures

Quins monopolised possession in the earliest stages and stretched Mountain Ash. With every due credit to the hosts’ defence, despite the dominance in territory and possession, there remained no tangible reward for the first fifteen minutes.

The Old Firm were pushed off their own scrum ball and there was no stopping Adam Hillier-Rees as he stampeded over the line. Lee Ronan converted.

After the initial Quins dominance, Mountain Ash reorganised and became more cohesive. At the end of the first half hour they crossed for a try.

Into the second third, Mountain Ash gained a penalty advantage from a driving line-out on the Quins ten yards line. Their inventive back play took them to within the Quins twenty-five. Advantage was called over when a chip ahead was attempted. Charged down and re-gathered by Lee Ronan, the impromptu out-half dismissively evaded a home tackler with a powerful ‘mush dab’ that nullified the first attempted tackle. Ronan passed to Ieuan Evans who took his long-range opportunity exceptionally well as he raced in from half-way. Ronan converted.

Dean Ronan was at the bottom of a driving maul as it drove its way over the line and older brother Lee made it three conversions from three for a 5-21 lead.

Aled Evans seemed to recover from his ankle injury and offered supporting roles in the loose, as did Steve Williams.

Stand out performer Jack Robbins didn’t put a foot wrong during his stint on the field. His passing was accurate and he made some telling tackles. Rounding off his solid performance, with controlled footwork and speed, he raced pass the home defence, re-gathered and touched down to top off a fifty yards move.

Mountain Ash retorted with a converted try to make the final score 12-26.

Three wins from three in differing conditions, against opponents with different strengths will serve the Quins well as they venture into unknown territory – the WRU Championship.

Next week the league season commences with the Quins inaugural Championship appearance against Cardiff Metropolitan at Cyncoed.

Tries: Hillier-Rees; I. Evans; D. Ronan; Robbins.

Cons: L. Ronan (3)