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Saturday, November, 28^th, 2015.

Maesteg Quins 17 – 17 Bonymaen

SWALEC Division One

As Bonymaen centre Mark Simons teed up the eminently kickable final conversion of an absorbing match, it seemed the Quins had handed victory to the Swansea suburbanites. The match was absorbing in more ways than one. The teeming rain penetrated even the most intimate items of clothing and the few hardy spectators who came to watch would not need to use a bidet, as the nether regions were already thoroughly cleansed.

In atrociously wet and windy conditions, both teams played superbly as they tried to keep the ball alive. The game was also magnificently refereed by Kelvin Shorte, whose calm demeanour and focussed decision-making added to the spirited nature of the match.

More often than not the ball slipped and slid out of players’ grasp, but six tries were scored in highly entertaining exchanges. Even better, nobody drown!

Against the elements, on the half hour Bonymaen maintained possession and kept their composure superbly for centre Keiron Salter to score under the posts. Eager converted.

This initiated a sustained Quins response. Bonymaen repelled wave after wave of Quins attacks. The Quins were guilty of letting the visitors off the hook on a number of occasions with some unforced inaccuracies, but they made Bonymaen fight for the remainder of the first half.

Lee Ronan was busting a gut and led the attacking onslaught by example. On one occasion he slipped and wriggled his way through a host of defenders, only to have the ball knocked out of his hand when in the act of scoring.

Half-time saw a couple of changes. The fresh legs, although whether or not 48 year-old Peter Jenkins’ legs can be considered ‘fresh’ is a matter of conjecture, brought some invaluable experience into play. Also, two of the replacements scored.

The Quins instantly went on the attack and ten minutes into the second half their efforts were rewarded as Lee Ronan starting the second half as he finished the first, darted and wrestled his way over for a well deserved try. Lloyd Bradley converted.

The level score-line was short lived. The Quins were asleep at the first line-out after the try. Bonymaen won the ball and with a fair tail-wind went wide. Going through a couple of phases, Bonymaen did well to work an overlap and send winger Carl Smith in at the corner.

Yet the Quins were increasing in confidence. Skipper Steve Williams, seems to have fully recovered from his washing line injury, tackled and jackalled tirelessly. It wasn’t a day for the outer backs, but they played their part in running hard and tackling effectively.

Bonymaen were guilty of a couple of indiscretions and when the Quins kept picking up and driving after their line-out drives were halted, Teifion Jones bulldozed through to level the scores again.

Back came Bonymaen. An armada of close-range attacking drives were repulsed in an all-round superb Quins defensive effort that forced an error.

Seeing their close quarter thrusts continually beaten back, Bonymaen chose to shift the ball wide and were foisted by their own petard, as Geraint Evans intercepted the long, floated pass. Sculling his way downfield, Evans then kicked ahead. Debutant Jack Picton sailed past the defenders, hacked ahead and won the chase to touch down in the surf, putting the Quins ahead for the first time.

The Quins seemed to be dealing with Bonymaen’s attacks well and should have recorded a victory. With the final minutes ticking away into the final seconds, instead of hammering the ball downfield or into touch, an effete side-footed effort just five yards from the touchline stuck in the mud and was gratefully gathered by Bonymaen. The visitors expertly played the ball through phase after phase as the Quins were all adrift. It ended with influential John Hyndman crashing through to score.

In the gathering gloom, it seemed for all their superb efforts the Quins would take a single losing bonus point instead of four for victory. However, the Quins spirits were buoyed as the conversion floated wide of the starboard upright.

Although disappointing for the Quins given the way they played, the indubitable spirit they showed and the manner in which they lost the opportunity to record a victory – overall, a draw was a fair result.

15. Geraint Evans 14. Alex Griffiths 13. Owain Roberts 12. Lee Ronan (T) 11. Ieuan Evans 10. Lloyd Bradley (C) 9. Joe Symmons 1. Tom Matthews 2. Jay Ronan 3. Mark Watson 4. Steven Davies 5. Scott Williams 6. Lewis Tutt 8. Rhodri Bwye 7. Steve Williams (c) 16. Teifion Jones (T) for T. Matthews 17. Leon Crow for J. Symmons 18. Peter Jenkins for R. Bwye 19. Aled Evans for L. Tutt 20. Jack Picton (T) for I. Evans

1992 – 1993  Chepstow 25 – 10 Maesteg Quins

Another long trek east to the English border, but this time the castle-town club were ready to take revenge for the defeat inflicted upon them by the Quins a season earlier.

15. Andrew Lewis 14. John Tidball 13. Jonathon Vincent 12. Illtyd ap Dafydd 11. Mark Powys 10. PG Evans (C DG) 9. Geraint Jones 1. Andrew Kidger 2. Shane Williams 3. Steve Cody 4. Simon Thomas 5. Terry Adams 6. Leighton Walters 8. Larry Davies (T) 7. Peter Jenkins

1987–1988 

Maesteg Quins 36 – 0 Ogmore Vale

Central Glam 3

This was a convincing seven try Wistech Central Glamorgan Division 3 victory over Ogmore Vale at South Parade. With Gary Dawkins injured, vice captain Geraint Jones insisted on spreading the ball at every opportunity and David ‘Spar’ Phillips kept up his impressive try scoring record for the club with a well deserved hat-trick.

The mixture of youth and experience worked well, but a more mobile pack may have helped expand the score, although the forward dominance meant the Vale couldn’t really get their hands on the ball. Lester Jones grabbed a brace of pushover tries. Dai Berry made his first XV debut.

15. Derek Richards 14. David Phillips (3T) 13. Ian Hopkins 12. Ian Philip (T) 11. Mark Page 10. Andrew James (C 2PG) 9. Geraint Jones (c) (T) 1. Dai Berry 2. John Thomas 3. Steve Cody 4. Darren Phillips 5. Phillip Evans 6. Steve Gentle 8. Lester Jones (2T) 7. Steve Phillips

Bridgend Ath II 10 – 3 Maesteg Quins II

15. Mike Kehoe (c) 14. John Tidball 13. Terry Halfyard 12. Lindon Philip 11. Robert Evans 10. Peter G. Evans(c) (PG) 9. Wayne Francis 1. Andrew Kidger 2. David Jenkins 3. Wayne Thomas 4. Mark Rees 5. Dennis Brennan 6. Peter Jenkins 8. Clive Thomas 7. Keith Hood

Porthcawl III 17-18 Maesteg Quins III

15. Illtyd ap Dafydd (T) 14. Andrew Rossiter 13. Carl Edwards (2T) 12. Sheridan Jeffries 11. Jason Thomas (T) 10. Ieuan Richards 9. Alun Richards (C) 1. Mark Handley 2. John Davies 3. Gareth Davies 4. David Pszenycznyj 5. Terry Whelan 6. Robert Williams (c) 8. Brian Williams 7. Norman Cartlidge

1981-1982                

Wick 7 – 7 Maesteg Quins

To mark his 150^th appearance, John Tidball touched down to secure a draw in the Vale of Glamorgan.

15. Peter G. Evans (PG) 14. John Tidball (T) 13. P. Morgan 12. S. Pryce 11. Ian Philip 10. Ieuan Richards 9. Peter Evans 1. Phillip Evans 2. John Thomas 3. Wayne Thomas 4. Jimmy Thomas 5. K. Harris 6. Keith Hood 8. Adrian David 7. Ralph Turner

Maesteg Quins II 35 - 4 Old Cantonians

Three tries from S. Rees and eleven points from Robert Butler were the backbone of this fine win.

15. Robert Butler (T 2C PG) 14. S. Rees (3T) 13. David Preece 12. Wayne Whelan (T) 11. Keith Brownhill 10. Phil Jones (c) (T) 9. Russell Thomas 1. Hayden Searle 2. John Davies (T) 3. Phillip Butler 4. Peter Sweeny 5. Gary Dawkins 6. Norman Cartlidge 8. Lester Jones 7. Les Owens

Maesteg Quins III 20 – 7 St. Albans III

Robert Butler passed two milestones in this game. With his first score he passed one hundred points for the season. With his ninth point he became the first Quins player to amass 1,000 points for the club.

After several weeks absence, Illtyd ap Dafydd appears to make his century of appearances.

Unfortunately, original second-row selection Peter ‘Two Dogs’ Clement missed the three personal milestones. Many is the occasion when a player is lost in transit to matches and Clements was one casualty for this match against the ‘Buns’. The confusion surrounding the second row’s non-appearance revolves around the fact the game was played in Coytrahen! Getting lost was possibly a greater feat than the three that were celebrated.

15. S. Grey 14. Robert Williams 13. Lawson Lovett 12. Sheridan Jeffries (T) 11. Illtyd ap Dafydd 10. R. Jones 9. Alun Evans (T C 2PG) 1. David Ronan 2. Sean White 3. K. Williams (c) 4. Dennis Brennan (T) 5. Brian Smith 6. John Authers 8. Brian Williams 7. Robert Murray 16. Terry Whelan replaced D. Ronan