Fixture

Saturday April 13^th 2019

Newcastle Emlyn 28 – 12 Maesteg Quins

WRU Championship

Travelling to Ceredigion to take on one of the teams beneath them in Newcastle Emlyn, Quins’ away day blues returned to haunt them. Apart from the scrum there was little else that functioned at its best.

A home penalty was kicked to touch. The resulting drive was held, but with nobody defending the side of the maul tight-head Lewys Jonathon sauntered over. Dan Davies converted.

It took a few minutes but the Quins levelled the scores. Kieran Watkins gathered a clearance, charged forward and broke the defensive line with a side-step. Making further yards by showing determination and power, Watkins slipped the ball to Steve Williams. Eventually the ball found Matthew Tidball unmarked who cruised under the posts. Lee Ronan converted.

Soon after Watkins initiated another attack and was just thwarted in the race to the ball. From this point the Quins disintegrated like a clown’s car and it wasn’t amusing.

Unable to use the strong wind, plus take full advantage of Emlyn’s errors, Quins went into the second half trailing by fourteen points to seven.

Snatching a Quins throw, Emlyn kept possession and Emrys Davies forced his way under the posts. Dan Davies added the extras.

The second half was error ridden, but a sublime cross-kick by home out-half Steffan Evans was so accurate in its weight and height, wing Dan Davies didn’t have to break stride as he ran full tilt to gather and romp home. Adding the conversion for extra measure.

It got worse before it got better for the Quins. Gaining a penalty, instead of accepting the get out of jail card, puerile indiscipline led to a reversal. The pressure was heaped on the visitors and when running out of their own twenty-five, inside centre Teifion Davies intercepted for Emlyn’s bonus point try. Again Dan Davies converted.

Stirred into action Quins began to play to their potential. Lewis Francis burst through and a series of quick rucks allowed the tempo to rise. Jakob Williams spotted a space and hared through the gap before passing inside to supporting Aled Evans.

Although it’s not quite ‘last orders’, the Quins have found themselves in Last Chance Saloon with four games remaining. Three are at home and it is hoped this will hold the key to remaining in the Championship.