News

NO FAIRGROUND RIDE AT BARRY

It all starts tomorrow [11th] with the trip to Merthyr Dyfan Road; as the Quins journey to Barry to take on the ‘Bombers’ in the first pre-league season challenge.

Not many fixtures have been played between our two clubs, but there tends to be a tale to tell whether on or off the field.

Way back [December 2nd 1989/90] the 2nds fell to a P.G. Evans chip and chase at The Reservoir Field. The Quins' out-half expertly executed his signature move of deftly chipping over one opposing player, straight into the arms of another opponent's to devastating effect. This match was no exception as the move proved the turning point in Barry's 4-3 win.

It was a very popular move [well to PG it was] but by the early nineties it was outlawed, its use punishable by a severe round of drinks guzzling if the perpetrator ever tried to execute the ploy again.

OK, it was not an official IRB sanction, but a Quins ‘Kangaroo Court’ is just as powerful.

In that same 4-3 loss, flanker Rhys Jeffries saw the referee’s finger direct him off the field. No cards then.

Yes the challenge was late. Yes there was a slight fracas, but Jeffries was only given a stern talking to at first, only to be given the ‘Alan Sugar’ by a self important ref for turning his head for a split second while the match official was talking to him.

The mid-evening departure time for one half of the team at least, turned into a night-time exit.

Some sort of familial celebration was taking place in the Barry clubhouse. It must be said, the array of local beauties and hospitable feminine protuberances on display that day were truly breath-taking.

Someone caught the eye of every unattached Quins player. Unfortunately, only one of the visiting horde caught the eye of the local ladies.

Nevertheless, in the spirit of adventure, camaraderie for the chosen ‘one’ and forlorn hope, six others decided to reschedule the departure time, stay in Barry until much later and ensure their team-mate was taken safely in hand or in safe hands.

The potent Brains SA took and gave out a battering that evening and at 21:45hrs every remaining member of the Quins' rear guard recognised the futility of it all and were ‘poured’ into the awaiting mini-bus by kindly opponents and snoozed soundly as they retreated back to the Llynfi… including the 'handsome one!'

Make the most of every minute of your playing days as that eventful Saturday truthfully seems like yesterday, when it was 29 years ago. The tem that day..

15. Mark Smith 14. Robert Evans 13. Andrew Rossiter 12. Wayne Whelan

11. Mark Powys 10. PG Evans 9. Geraint Evans

1. Dai Berry 2. John Thomas 3. Phillip 'Moss' Evans 4. Dennis Brennan

5. Charles Ruffell 6. Rhys Jeffrey 8. Lester Jones 7. Paul Phillips [capt]

16. Phil Prat for John Thomas

In the memorable 2000-2001 season, one of the least talked about events was the 2^nd XV victory of Barry 2nds. In this match, Nathan Williams scored a ‘double hat-trick’ falling one short of the club record seven tries by an individual player in a single match.

Williams’ 30 points pushed him into second place in the most individual points in a single game table, falling just behind Robert ‘Frog’ Butler; whose exact tally is not known but he did score over thirty points.

Williams was pushed into third place by Ryan John who amassed 39 points in a match against Ogmore Vale later in the same season.

MATCH (20+ points)

And so to 2018-2019. The match will not be included in any records but may have a great bearing on what is to come by the September 1^st league kick-off.

Honed and toned pre-season bodies always require the most effective form of fitness test and that is a game of rugby. Nothing quite matches matches in finding testing every little sinew that has remained unused because the gym or training paddock, never quite replicates rugby’s rigours.

A number of new recruits will be running out for the Quins for the first time against a Barry side whose fifth place in Division 2 East Central belies the fact that when it came to playing the top sides, ‘Lady Luck’ didn’t look their way. Several formidable performances against clubs above them were only decided in injury time.

At the start of the week the chances of this match taking place were touch and go. It is ironic that The Reservoir Field lacked a good soaking, but this week’s precipitation as helped soften the surfaces a little.

So it’s tomorrow where the real preparation begins. Let’s hope both clubs gain a great insight into the areas they are excelling and on what they have to work on. For the individual players, hopefully they will all find their lungs open with ease and the limbs are free from the ache of competitive action, but it will be no fair ground ride at Barry tomorrow.