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The Start of Something Special

Saturday sees the start of the first 'real' campaign since 2019. The Quins are delighted to welcome Wales giants Pontypool to South Parade for the inaugral match.

2021-2022 was the longest season in Welsh rugby history. It was also the most pointless. Still, rugby was played which is all that matters as far s the Quins are concerned.

Pontypool relinquished their four season stint as Championship Champions and will be keen to get their campaign off to a scintillating start to reclaim top spot from Bargoed. Not least, because there will be promotion at the end of the season... so the league committee says at this point in time!

Saturday's match will be sponsored by the Maesteg Franciscan Society. We hope the brotherhood, long-standing supporters of Maesteg Harlequins rugby have a great day.

Pontypool first visited Maesteg in 1905. They came as Champions of Gwent and faced the Old Parish. They returned home victorious. Back then the current Maesteg Harlequins had changed it's name to Llynfi Harlequins before rapidly being referred to as Maesteg Seconds.

To illustrate where Maesteg Quins have travelled through the seasons to entertain one of Wales' historical and indeed current leading lights, lets take a look down memory lane to marvel at and always enjoy the Championship experience.

On This Day. September 3rd

1932   Llangynwyd 9-0 Maesteg Quins

After 30 years of playing under different guises, September 3^rd 1932 saw the return of Maesteg Harlequins. It was an inauspicious ‘Maesteg Quins’ return against Llangynwyd. Quins’ Joe Cody played extremely well at full-back. Today is the 90^th anniversary of the return of MAESTEG HARLEQUINS RFC..

1960 – 61      St. Alban’s 10pts.; Tir Iarll Quins 9pts.

Controversy reigned against ‘The Buns’. Malcolm Wilcox scored an early try. Gareth Hughes converted and both linesmen signaled the kick was good. The referee decided the attempt failed, thus the Quins lost two valuable points which would have eventually given them the game.

T: Mal Wilcox; John Bowen P: Gareth Hughes. Bill Bowser debuted at nine.

1966-67         Maesteg Harlequins 14 – Builth Wells 6

A number of new arrivals performed very well. Centre Peter Lewis was: “earmarked to command a regular place in the side.” Flanker Peter James; “showed dash,” whilst Alan Aubrey in his first game at full-back; “settled down nicely.” Right-wing Lyn Jenkins “showed tremendous pace.”

Hooker Clyde Williams returned after many years, travelling from Devizes, Wiltshire to play.

T: Berwyn Davies 2, Alun Morgan. C&P David Daniels.

1977   Maesteg Quins 6-13 Heol y Cyw

Quins were shorn of their first choice half-backs for this match against the 'Cockerals,' on the day of the match. David Fisher had the flu, whereas scrum-half Peter 'Egg' Evans appeared for Merit Table club Tredegar in their match at Bridgend. Evans also scored on his debut and often states he was top try-scorer for the Gwent club for September and October. Ashley Davies kicked two penalties.

Phil Jones - Mike Cosker - Graham Williams - Paul Fencott - Robert Williams - Robert Butler - Ian Philip - Alan Hill - Terry Thomas - Gerwyn Little - Jimmy Thomas - Gary Dawkins - John Authers - Ashley Davies [2PG] - Les Owen.

Fairwater II 19-16 Maesteg Quins II

Meanwhile in the Cardiff suburb of Fairwater, the seconds were defeated in an entertaining encounter. Debutants on this day were Howard Webb, John Tidball, Jeff Lloyd and Malcolm Mawdsley.

Wayne Francis - Brian Smith [T] - Howard Webb [T] - Tudor Thomas - John Tidball - Roger Hughes - Jeff Lloyd - Wayne Thomas [T] - John Davies {T} - Malcolm Mawdsley - Keith Hood - Des Davies - Norman Cartlidge - Phil White - Ian Isaac 

1983   Wasps Vandals 29-14 Maesteg Quins

This inaugural visit to Sudbury to tackle illustrious English rugby outfit Wasps’ second string, was undertaken with great excitement.

Robert Butler - John Tidball - Colin Davies - Ian Philip - Peter G. Evans  [C] - Wayne Howells - Russel Thomas [T] - David Ronan - John Davies - Wayne Thomas - Ceri Morgan - N. Davies - Lee Sparrow  [T] - Gary Dawkins  [T] - Keith Hood Replacements: Norman Cartlidge - Alan Hill

Maesteg Quins II 13 - 8 Llantrisant II

Illtyd ap Dafydd  [C] - Stuart Grey - David Preece  [T] - Wayne Whelan - K. Handley - Phil Jones  [DG] - Peter Evans - Gareth Griffiths - John Owen - Gareth Davies - Dennis Brennan - Les Owen - Phil MD Jones - K. Williams  [T] - Robert Murray Replacements: Ray Harris - Kevin Morgan 

1988   Maesteg Quins 16-16 Wasps Vandals

Of the ten fixtures between the teams, this was the best result the Quins mustered.

That night was a great one. The entire blazered Wasps 1^st XV with Rob Andrew, Chris Oti and the superb Paul Rendall enjoying the delights of ‘Dan the Whale.’

On the same day at Broadacre, the Quins 3rds went down 27-7. Several debutants included: David Thomas, James Parker, Leighton Walters, brothers Tony and Nigel Williams and Simon Thomas, who went on to play for Maesteg, Bridgend, Aberafan and Treorci. However, at blindside flanker was Peter Rogers, who furthered his career at Maesteg, Transvaal, London Irish, Newport, Cardiff and eighteen times at loose-head for Wales.

Illtyd ap Dafydd - David Phillips - Sheridan Jeffrey - Gary Jones - Mark Morris - Andrew James  [C 2PG] - Geraint Jones - Hayden Searle - David Jenkins - Dai Berry - David Pszenyczwyj - Tyrone Hughes - Steven Thomas - Gary Dawkins  [2T] - Kevin Morgan

1994   Llantwit Fardre 23-3 Maesteg Quins Div 8 Central

2011  Maesteg Quins 22 – 8 Bryncoch Div 3 South-West

Newly promoted Quins claimed victory on their instantaneous return to Division 3.

T: Andrew Healy; Gareth Lewis P: Gareth Lewis 4. Lloyd Jenkins debuted. 

2011   Heol-y-Cyw II 41 – 36 Quins II

Jonathon Owen went through the card to amass 21 points. The rest came from tries by Rhys Milsom, Dean Chapman and Cai Davies.

2016 Maesteg Quins 11-23 Kenfig Hill Div 1 West Central

Inexplicably the Quins threw the ball around in appallingly wet conditions. Kenfig Hill, couldn’t believe the Quins’ tactical heresy and totally commanded the game.