Fixture

Wednesday April 17^th 2019

Tata Steel 15 – 30 Maesteg Quins

WRU Championship

After Saturday’s loss, relegation concerns deepened. A grey mood descended upon the Quins faithful. So grey and miserable, officials of the old Soviet Union planning committees would have rejected the collective disposition as too depressing and miserable. That though was the supporters. The players were less affected and as the song goes, what a difference four days makes, ninety-six little hours.

For the final away game, a large travelling contingent cheered their team who saved the best for last, to record victory over Tata for the first time since 1996.

Reclaiming the kick-off, Quins pressurised their hosts’ try-line. A clearance found Rhys Costain who got behind the home defence. Beating several follow-up tacklers, he spilled possession in his attempt to maintain the flow.

Scott Williams’ return certainly made a difference in the pack dynamic. Besides an excellent personal performance, the lock pairing with Nathan Smith added extra scrummaging impetus. Couple this with freeing skipper Steve Williams to rampage with a savagely defensive back-row and his presence was the catalyst in bringing out the optimum best in a productive pack performance.

The all action beginning continued. Francis, Ronan and Bwye commanded the scrum with explosive timing. In the first all-powerful drive that de-assembled and shook the Tata front-five in equal measure, they lifted the mood of the Quins hordes.

Tadgh McGuckin made a searing, looping break. Chipping ahead, Ben Davies hared after the ball and gathered close to the line. Unable to unclamp himself from the very good last-ditch tackle, the Quins were awarded an attacking scrum five yards out.

The first deviated from square when lurching forward. Although a home boot kicked the ball away from the advancing eight, a penalty had already been awarded. At the second time of asking, further home trickery was enough to sanction a penalty try.

Spurred into action, Tata put together some good passages of play. Catching the Quins midfield offside, out-half Dan Gurenani’s penalty reduced the deficit.

Then the Steelmen produced a scintillating move. Full-back Geraint Lewellyn ran hard into space and released Amir Waji. It seemed in every probability the left-wing would score only to be snared short of the line.

Conceding a penalty, the line-out drive that followed was halted. Over enthusiasm led to another penalty and a yellow. The next line-out was sacked, but a well-executed second drive proved too much as skipper Scott Malone ground his way over for his team to take the lead.

There seemed an expectation that Tata would roll on from this and the Quins falter. The opposite occurred.

Breaking through with a mixture of deviation and direct running, a Quins try was prevented by tackling a support runner without the ball. The penalty was missed.

Immediately there came another opportunity for the Quins to take the lead when home hands fondled ruck ball. McGuckin converted to give the Quins an 8-10 lead going into half-time.

Forcing Tata to knock-on at the base of a scrum, the Quins pounced and played through a penalty advantage. Spreading the ball, Ryan George cut inside and gave a ‘no look’ pass to James Dixon. Recycling rapidly the home defence was suitably tenderised for McGuckin to skip through and slip an inside pass to Aled Evans who again ran intelligent support lines. Denuded of defenders, Evans ran over and McGuckin converted.

Although not a decisive nine points lead, it was a handy one. It was imperative the defence remained tight, right choices were made and accuracy improved.

As for accurate execution, James Dixon was precision itself whether running or kicking.

Quins’ running was certainly decisive and their territorial game-plan consistently accomplished. Aled Edwards, Lee Ronan and Ryan George played it intelligently. Running hard in congested areas and creating through patience not ‘miracle’ passes or directionless kicks.

There was an undoubted focus among the coal black and blood reds. While both teams made handling errors in the face of defiant defending and poor light, the Quins made less. Additionally, line-out errors were now all Tata’s.

Lewis Francis gave his opposite prop a torrid time and another scrum penalty was slotted by McGuckin for a twelve points lead.

Driving a long-distance maul put Tata on the back-foot. A high tackle in midfield allowed McGuckin to goal from forty yards.

Time and again Tata attacked, but a red and black wall forced errors, turned over possession or ripped the ball from home grasp.

From one turnover, Rhys Costain chased a McGuckin clearance. An oblique bounce gave the Quins that little bit of luck all sides need. However, Costain’s re-gather at pace and unseaming of the Steel defence with a zig-zag dance to the line, was quality. McGuckin converted from the touch-line.

In the closing stages Lewis Tutt saw a second yellow. A series of short, sharp, shoulder passes beat the Quins defence and Morgan Williams sped under the posts. Gurenani converted.

This was a magnificent victory. Calculated, controlled and well-deserved. It was a job well done, but the hint of gloom will remain until calculators can be put away and the final two relegation spots filled by anyone… except the Quins.

There is only one way this can happen – by winning. With three home matches to play, the Maesteg men hope to gain the points they need to claim the prize of remaining in the WRU Championship at the soonest possible opportunity.