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WANDERERS ON PARADE

With the very successful, combative pre-season wrapped up, it’s time to move on to what is sure to be an exciting eight months of rugby.

Although the Quins have played Glamorgan Wanderers previously, it is the inaugural visit for their first XV to South Parade.

In 1992 a great deal of excitement was aroused when the Wanderers ‘A’ visited the plateau. It was really special to add such a grand old club to the fixture list along with Wasps Vandals, Cross Keys United and Newbridge United. Even better was the prospects of having regular fixtures with the memorial Ground men… it was only a hop, skip and jump from Ely to the regular Quins stop off at Red Lion in Bonvilston for the return journey. Such were the considerations back then.

Consequently, it is even more unbelievable to welcome the actual Glamorgan Wanderers to our home as league equals for the first time.

Of course the first meeting between the two first teams in 2017-18 was as a dramatic an encounter you will ever see. It was the Wanderers who prevailed with the very last move of the match to lift the coveted Glamorgan Silver Ball.

Don’t forget the Wanderers dined at Welsh Rugby’s top ‘Merit Table’ as one of the nation’s elite fifteen clubs. In the 1980s the Wanderers really did begin to ripen and flourish. During this decade they were runners-up, plus Welsh Cup quarter-finalists in 1989. In 1987 the USA tourists, who beat Neath on that same tour, were defeated at the Memorial Ground. The Snelling Sevens was also lifted in 1986.

It was a good time to hit the best form in their near 100 years history as the inception of the National Leagues was on the horizon and in 1990 the Wanderers took their place in Division One, no Premier League then (whisper this softly in the Llynfi valley - it was at the expense of Maesteg!). Ironically, Wanderers were back in the top league (Premier) as runners-up to Maesteg in 2005-2006.

Here the Wanderers stayed for six consecutive seasons. Their best season came in 2006-2007, when they finished in a commendable sixth position. Since then the Memorial men have enjoyed two previous stints in the Championship, in 2012-13 and 2016-17.

Yet like so many clubs of the Merit Table era, at one point the Wanderers found life difficult and went down to Division 3. At such times, a certain type of character is needed and in Blair Evans, the Wanderers found a leader who guided the club back to their former pastures. It’s always sad to hear of the passing of good people and last Saturday, Mr. Evans sadly passed away, leaving the Wanderers bereft. Maesteg Harlequins offer their sincere condolences to Mr. Evans’ family and to his rugby club.

It’s hard to believe that on the cusp of the introduction of the National Leagues, when Glamorgan Wanderers were playing in the First Division, Maesteg Quins were also competing in the First Division… of the Central Glamorgan Wistech Leagues.

Not only that, after a 18-14 Monday night victory over Heol y Cyw, in the season opener; Quins travelled to Sudbury to play Wasps Vandals without a coach, who had decided it was all too much and relinquished his position. What would he have done if we lost that first game?

At the turn of the new millennium, when the Wanderers were in Division Three, Quins were in Division Six (Central). Even in 2010-11 when the Wanderers  had to compete in a two matches Premier League relegation play-off, the Quins had just started on their current path by winning Division Four (South-West). Yet that was eight years ago. It was not until last season when the Quins surpassed Saturday’s visitors in league standing.

But all that has been written so far is of our yesterdays. What about the Quins now? The pre-season fixtures have caused nothing other than great excitement for the season ahead. The new faces arrived to enjoy the Championship and take on the challenge have worked extremely hard, played very well and totally impressed. Selection will not be easy. It will be an unenviable task, but there are plenty of chances throughout the season for everyone. In the likelihood of Nathan Smith being selected on Saturday, he will play his 100^th match for the club.

It is said: success is where preparation and opportunity meet. To a man the Quins have been preparing, working hard and will be eager to pull on the coal black and blood red for the opening fixture in the second Championship season.

On Saturday Glamorgan Wanderers RFC, a club with a long history, great tradition and one of Welsh rugby’s grand old clubs will face Maesteg Quins as league equals at South Parade. That’s the opportunity for the Llynfi men. Enough said.