Fixture

Saturday January 19^th 2019

Rhydyfelin 12 – 26 Maesteg Quins

WRU Championship

It ain’t half hot in the Championship relegation area. After the Trebanos loss, from a survival perspective the whispering grass roots rugby followers pinpointed the next two matches against fellow relegation candidates Newbridge and Rhydyfelin as must wins.

Having secured a good victory against the former, it was wise to maintain consistency. Firstly in selection, especially as this was a rare opportunity to do so. Just the one change was made with Lewis Tutt replacing injured Josh Mines.

In the reverse fixture Quins played, as Battery Sergeant-Major Williams would have said: "Like a:bunch of poofs!”. It is a hurt the Quins wanted to right.

This was not a match for la-di-da running rugby. In the face of a determined defensive wall, instead of making too many passes behind the gain line, Quins were more direct. This, along with good rucking and mauling technique, helped them  get on the right end of the penalty count. Yet there appeared no way through for the coal black and blood reds as one thing is certain, Rhydyfelin tackle and tackle well.

An Owen Howe penalty gave the visitors an early lead. Following this, the ‘Village’ put their ‘short-game’ together and getting close to the line, the home centre ran strongly onto a pass to break the Quins defence and score.

Regaining possession from the re-start, Quins bustled forward and gained a penalty that Howe converted to regain the lead. Rhydyfelin’s re-start didn’t go the obligatory ten. A scrum penalty was awarded but the kick proved slightly too difficult.

With the penalty count piling up against the Hawthorn hosts, Quins had plenty of chances to extend the deficit. Several times kickable penalties were booted to touch or scrums called. Poor line-out play and passing fouled up any prospects of scoring. Yet why does a scrum have to be stopped when moving forwards because of a wheel or an opponent is standing up? Referees and spectators – never the twain will meet.

Down to thirteen at this point of Quins domination, Rhydyfelin would have been very pleased with the 5-6 half-time score-line.

Mike Owen made thunderous trundles, but the ball was slowly recycled allowing the hosts time to reorganise. However, control was the key to this victory and courtesy of the penalties they were gleaning from their controlled play, was all that mattered to the Quins.

It was more of the same in the second-half. Finally, the insistence on putting kickable penalties into touch worked. A fine driving line-out resulted in Lewis Francis dropping over the line. Howe converted.

At this point a lack of thought forced the Quins to move themselves, move themselves. A lack of communication meant the visitors ignored the easier kicking exits in favour of running out of defence. At one point ‘Felin’ siezed upon a chance gained a penalty but kicked the ball dead.

Shaken by this faux pas, the hosts conceded a number of penalties and when within driving distance, lovely boy Lewis Francis was over for his touchdown brace. Howe converted.

The re-start didn’t go ten. A scrum penalty was awarded to the Quins and within a minute, Howe’s fifty yards penalty moved the Quins score on to 23, mon cheri.

In the final quarter the Quins were able to produce quicker ball and were unlucky not to create more space. Tadgh McGuckin unpicked some defensive formations, but every credit must be given the Rhydyfelin’s commitment to recovering situations.

A forty yards scrum penalty was converted by Owen Howe, yet the hosts still sought to get something out of the game, eyeing a losing bonus point. Stoic Quins defence kept Rhydyfelin at bay. Alex Griffiths complimented some strong runs with some equally strong defence. Having had to contend with Lewis Tutt and Andrew Healy's flying column defensive work, returning epic player Matthew Tidball shut the door on the hosts until the final minute, when the second row crashed over and replacement outside-half converted to conclude the scoring.

This battling, vital win, may help some Quins’ detractors to shut up, but the lack of a bonus point will give them cause to critcise. Oh dear, how sad, never mind.