Fixture

Saturday May 4^th 2019

Maesteg Quins 26 – 29 Tata

WRU Championship

Just like the Empire, it was Tata who struck back to win on in dramatic fashion with the last move of the game.

Located deep in their own twenty-five with a throw-in, Tata had to score a try with the last move of the game.

In the seventy-nine previous minutes Quins had amassed twenty-six points through tries from a speedy, deviating line intervention by Callum Powell. Plus Jay Ronan who, gratefully accepted Nathan Smith’s line-out tap-down to dive over from short range.

Tadgh McGuckin kicked sixteen points. This wasn’t his only contribution to the team effort. While the forwards wound up the Quins timepiece, the mercurial out-half kept it ticking.

With back-row resources diminished, centre Ryan George gave a very good account of himself against a potent visiting rear row combination.

Concussion prevented Lewis Francis from taking part in this match. Replacing him on permit was Tom Evans of Maesteg Celtic. Quins were extremely grateful to their generous neighbours. Even more so to the young prop himself who remarkably travelled from London to play his part. Evans has only managed a handful of games this season but acquitted himself wonderfully well and is a real talent.

Nathan Smith again produced a towering performance, particularly in the line-out. Meanwhile the teams glue, skipper Steve Williams was at his brilliant best.

Throwing in Tata ran straight at the midfield. Quins were penalised at the ruck. Tata had been potent around the sides of the breakdown all game and broke away. The visiting loose-head took a pass and showed a clean pair of heels. It seemed as though the left wing was over, only for a desperate tackle to bring him down,

From this breakdown the ball was sent wide to the right wing who got over in the corner for the excellent, winning score. If you can score from eighty yards without making an error in the last move of the game, while scoring four other tries – you deserve a win. The touchline conversion added the icing on the cake for Tata.

The season is now over for the Quins who recorded a brilliant fifty percent win ratio to remain in the Championship.

It has been incredible to see how hard work and talent, has allowed the Quins to break through in an era where nothing is thought of spending £50,000 to muster a team. Nothing has given the supporters so much pleasure as watching this Quins squad perform.

If anyone wishes to enjoy the South Parade experience on a purely amateur basis - contact the club for what promises to be an exciting 2019-2020 season.