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Saturday August 28^th 2021

Tata Steel 17 – 27 Maesteg Quins

WRU Championship Cup

Despite tenacious Tata’s wholehearted efforts, it appeared to be going well for the Quins, as they built a twenty-four points lead by the forty-fifth minute.

Quins’ lead came courtesy of their own creative dynamo Lewis Evans. Operating at outside half, Evans scored two fantastic opening half tries. For the first he was put into a midfield gap and ran in from fifteen yards. Brandon Huntley converted and added a penalty before Tata kicked a three pointer of their own.

Securing turnover ball in their own twenty-five, Quins streaked up-field after. It was a wonderful sweeping move and just needed a simple inside pass to Alex Griffiths on approaching the opposing twenty-five to round off the move. Unfortunately, this proved too difficult. Contact was taken and the move broke down.

Shortly after, a Quins kick ahead seemed to be effectively dealt with by the hosts. From the second he joined the Quins, hooker Cameron Thomas has proven to be a revelation and a firm favourite through his fantastic feats of fitness. How he did it defied logic, seeing as a few seconds earlier he was competing at a scrum forty yards away, but up popped Thomas. He felled full-back to prevent any forward momentum and made it easier for his team-mates to turn over possession.

Going through the phases the Maesteg men varied their play, probing through the backs and the forwards. A fired-up Mike Owen was making some of his best carries since connecting with the Quins. Lee Ronan joined-in, as did Brandon Huntley who played his best game in a Quins shirt so far. All combined to tenderise the home defence and when Lewis Evans spotted an opening, he slipped through to dot down near the posts. Huntley majorized and added another penalty on the stroke of half-time.

Kieran Watkins was running with strength and purpose, making a high number of yards or kicking to pin Tata back deep in their own territory.

The wingers must have ducked out of buying their rounds or committed a crime equally heinous to be shunned the way they were. This time Owen Richards had a clear run but was ignored. Still the phase play was very good and having broken down the home defence as the Quins moved from one side of the field to the other, Lewis Evans arced and darted to the line to secure a fine hat-trick showing a great eye for a gaps, strong running and determination. Huntley put another two points onto the Quins tally.

As predicted and so it proved, Tata Steel always have performers who can change the complexion of a match.

What happened after this point is mystifying. Of course, Tata were going to have periods of superiority, but try as they did the coal black and blood reds couldn’t maintain their continuity. Unforced errors became more prevalent in the last thirty minutes of this match than all four prior games added together. It happens.

A comedy of errors and excellent follow up play brought Tata into double figures with a try by their left wing, who fly hacked and re-gathered when pouring through on a Quins passing error.

Rugby Union has many problems, one of them - the scrum. Below the professional tier the issues are far fewer, yet the law enforcers are making a rod for their own backs. Even the better officials like Saturday’s referee are making poor calls when no decisions actually need to be made. This match was one of those. The penalty count against the Quins scrum was a work of pure fiction and the powers that be can blow smoke as much as they want, penalising a team or individual player for being stronger than their opponents is no reason to make a penalty call and stifling quality play at the scrum.

On a number of occasions, Ethan Longley was penalised for nothing more than overpowering his opponent. Clear evidence of his dominance came when the opposing tight-head was ‘shepherd’s crooked’ before the first quarter ended.

Quins again lost possession deep in the opposing half. Breaking away, a huge forward pass went unnoticed on half-way but taking their fortuitous stroke of luck, Tata got within ten points with a converted try with eleven minutes remaining.

Even though alarm bells were not ringing, Quins were concerned enough to kick for goal instead of chase a bonus point try when awarded a penalty. Huntley’s effort struck the right-hand upright and while Tata’s defenders paused, Alex Griffiths reacted quickly. If Griffiths was able to re-gather without having to jump, he would have been over the line. The jump meant the Quins winger lost enough momentum for two defenders to hold him up.

Those Quins who were feeling somewhat disappointed shouldn’t be. Few teams can play at consistently high levels, especially against a defiant team like Tata. Additionally, many a team has ventured to Margam and return empty handed. This was a fine away victory.

After securing two wins from two, Quins now head WRU Championship Cup Group 3. Next Saturday, they venture to the Gnoll to take on Neath. Win and the Quins will top the group. It’s all to play for.