Today’s the Day – 10^th October

Starved of rugby for another week, we turn back the clock again. Hope you enjoy the reminder and if you have any memories – feel free to comment.

2015-2016     Tondu 10 – 20 Maesteg Quins    SWALEC Division One

It wasn’t until the season was over that the importance of this away win was realised. Were it not for this victory the season, indeed what was achieved in the following half decade by the Quins may have been so very, very different.

Match Report

Tondu and the Quins are going through a transition period. A comparison of team sheets from a year ago would show mass changes in personnel.

Winless in five matches, relegated Championship side Tondu appear to have been more adversely affected. Meanwhile, from their quintet of games the Quins have a forty percent record. Consequently, this was a contest between two teams desperate to improve their league points tally.

Early territorial advantage went to Tondu. They ran with great effect from their constant foothold in the Quins half. The visitors struggled to judge a deceptive wind and failed to put any telling length on relieving kicks and eliminate handling errors. Yet the Quins defence was excellent. As a result of superb work by Steve Williams, Rhodri Bwye, Jay Ronan and Lewis Tutt, they had the better of the penalty count.

After twenty minutes the Quins eventually gained field position and took the lead with a Lloyd Bradley penalty.

Tondu came back with ferocity, levelling the scores with an Aled Jones penalty. Nathan Brown and Ross Megraw were particularly combative, but when the former was shown yellow after a minor fracas, for the Waterwheelers the tide took a terminal turn for the worse.

The Quins pack began to dominate particularly at the scrum. Rhodri Bwye quickly snapped up the ball when it popped out on Tondu’s side of a maul. Moving the ball across the line, wing Alex Griffiths had one man to beat. His hand-off was not incisive, but his slip pass inside to supporting Lee Ronan rounded off a fine sixty yards move. Against the wind Lloyd Bradley slotted the difficult angled conversion.

Quins made the better start to the second half. Lloyd Bradley kicked his second penalty and converted Dean Ronan’s try which came as the result of patient approach play and an excellently executed driving maul.

Having laid waste to the Tondu pack at consecutive scrums, when the Quins found themselves attacking under the shadow of the home posts, passive scrums were called. This nullified the Quins’ most potent attacking weapon.

Referee Justin Evans did his very best to keep his whistle silent. Officiating with a refreshing empathy and common sense.

Lloyd Bradley was kicking out of hand and passing superbly, while his running was reminiscent of Mark Ella. Scott Williams stole a good portion of line-out possession and did some good work at the breakdown in his best game yet for the Quins.

On several occasions the Quins showed flair, launching some spectacular long-range attacking moves. Although getting into promising attacking positions, they then lost them and were again on the back foot as Tondu, desperate to get something from the game, went on an all-out offensive.

Tondu introduced some gargantuan forwards to the fray. Their presence was somewhat annulled by the imposition of passive scrums. Line-outs generally went with the throw anyway, but it was their ball carrying that the Waterwheelers believed would be the game changer. Time and again the hosts were beaten back by a wonderfully disciplined Quins defence. They constantly stole possession at rucks, regularly held up ball carriers and forced knock-ons without once falling foul of the referee. Each and every tackle, steal and forced error was raucously cheered.

With two minutes remaining the Waterwheelers eventually broke through and centre Josh Tatchell was left with a simple run-in. Jones converted.

With no Quins forwards hitting a ruck, Tondu stole possession. Working their way upfield they gained a last gap penalty. Ten points adrift, Tondu chose a bonus point clinching shot at goal. But when lady luck is against you, nothing goes your way and Jones’ eminently kickable twenty-five yards attempt drifted harmlessly wide.

15. Geraint Evans 14. Ieuan Evans 13. Owain Roberts 12. Lee Ronan (T) 11. Alex Griffiths 10. Lloyd Bradley (2C 2PG) 9. Joe Symmons 1. Tom Matthews 2. Jay Ronan 3. Dean Ronan (T) 4. Owen Watkins 5. Scott Williams 6. Lewis Tutt 8. Rhodri Bwye (c) 7. Steve Williams

16. Mark Minchington 17. Lewis Nolan 18. Aled Evans 19.Richard Teesdale 20. Gavin Burridge

2009-2010     Seven Sisters 13 – 0 Maesteg Quins    SWALEC Division 3

Regardless of the difficulties a string of Quins sides have encountered at Maes Dafydd prior to and after this game, six straight league defeats in the opening half dozen matches of 2009-2010, was well and truly the signal of a tough, tough season ahead.

A quick glance at the team is testament to the quality of individual the Quins had in their ranks. It also highlights the character of the squad. None of them, to a man capable of taking a backwards step.

Some of those on show have written themselves into the annals as some of the finest players to pull on a Maesteg Quins rugby jersey. Their resilience and loyalty places them into an altogether higher category not just at South Parade, but rugby union in general. The successes they were to taste in later seasons were fully deserved on the back of experiencing seasons like this and still forging forwards.

15. Geraint Evans 14. Lee Williams 13. Matthew Hart 12. Wayne Stokes 11. Dale Roberts 10. Gareth Lewis 9. Michael Wyatt 1. Dan Tabor 2. Kevin Quigley 3. Ashley Hollingsworth 4. Carl Roberts 5. Anthony Dawkins 6. Christian Cody 8. Rhodri Roberts (c) 7. Chris Davies

16. Richard Teesdale 17. Ryan Tamlyn 18. Andrew Healy 19.Steven David

2009-2010     Maesteg Quins II 36 – 7 Pyle II

What a rarity! A strong scrum. A hat-trick scored. And Peter Jenkins didn’t claim the three touchdowns. That distinction went to Rhys Williams who actually scored one with a powerful burst in midfield and a twenty-five yards dash.

Jenkins did manage a try. Playing at scrum-half he picked up and drove over, the Pyle scrum-half having no chance.

Despite a couple of Scott Rastitis runs twisting and turning opponents and support runners in knots, plus speedster Chris Reffell operating at full back, it was unlikely the ball was ever going to go far from the pack. Gareth ‘Jeeves’ Jones stuck to the plan running straight and hard to twice dab down.

15. Chris Reffell 14. Steve Wills 13. Owen Richards 12. Gareth Jones (2T) 11. Scott Rastitis 10. Gareth Evans (3C) 9. Peter Jenkins (T) 1. Dai Berry 2. Richard Pearson 3. Richard Preston 4. Huw Beedle 5. James Washbourne 6. Gareth Pittard 8. Rhys Williams (3T) 7. Robert Jones

16. Tyrone Pritchard 17. Andrew Murray 18. Cei Davies

2001 – 2002 (Wed)  Kenfig Hill II 19 – 48 Quins II

A mixed side from both clubs played each other at Pisgah Street in an encounter that was both entertaining, free flowing and well contested.

15. Neil Morris 14. Andrew Leighton (2T) 13. Andrew Evans 12. Gareth Bevan 11. Leon Crow 10. Ryan John (3C) 9. Neville Roberts (T) 1. Lyndon Davies 2. Lee Sparrow 3. Dai Berry 4. A. Dawkins 5. Mark Petty  6. Justin Davies (T) 8. Colin Roberts (c) (2T) 7. Paul Treloar

Replacements

16. Nathan Williams 17. Gavin Ronan 18. Tyrone Pritchard 19. Chris Reffell 20. Jonathon Owen (T 2C DG)

1998-1999                 Maesteg Quins 14 – 17 Ogmore Vale   WRU Div 6

The previous season’s Division 7 Central Champions couldn’t get their act together in Division 6. Yet another defeat, albeit by just three points was at home. A fifth loss in six outings.

Yes Ogmore Vale had bought a team, but it was well within the Quins’ capabilities to strike it home especially at South Parade.

15. Richard Brace  14. Nathan Williams 13. Andrew Rossiter 12. Andrew Leighton 11. Mark Powys (T) 10. Martin Wilkshire (3PG) 9. Kane Williams 1. Darren Johnson 2. Shane Williams (c) 3. Gareth Bowen 4. Ryan David 5. Larry Davies 6. Chris Davies 8. Peter Jenkins 7. Simon Lyons

Maesteg Quins II 57 -12 Kenfig Hill II

There was only one star on show and it was twenty years old James Hacker. Not only did the Welsh Schools Under 16s international wing score twenty-two individual points from outside-half, he made three other tries. Hacker’s speed, side-stepping, passing and knowing when and where to put others into a gap were simply top drawer.

15. Mark Page (T) 14. Nathan Hughes 13. Jonathon Vincent (2T) 12. Jason Thomas 11. Gavin Thomas (2T) 10. James Hacker (2T 6C) 9. Geraint Jones (T) 1. Nigel Howe 2. Lindon Jenkins (c) 3. Dai Berry 4. Terry Adams (T) 5. Peter Simmonds  6. Peter Bowen 8. Anthony Dawkins 7. Justin Davies

1992 – 1993              Maesteg Quins 14 – 37 Taibach            Central Glam 2

A comprehensive home stuffing in which the Quins had little to answer the ball winning, ball carrying, point scoring capabilities of the visiting Tigers from Taibach, in their opening league match of the season.

15. Tim Williams 14. John Tidball 13. Jason Page 12. Jason Thomas 11. Mark Page 10. Ryan John (3PG) 9. Darren Williams 1. Andrew Kidger 2. Shane Williams 3. Dai Berry 4. Terry Adams (T) 5. Lester Jones 6. Charles Ruffell (c) 8. Lyn Davies 7. Simon Lyons

1987 – 1988             

Green Stars were no longer the all-conquering quality packed ‘Fighting Irish’ of the invincible early 1960s seasons. Yet for a number of decades, woe betides any team who ventured onto their Little Warren turf.

Not until ravaged by the aftermath of semi-professionalism, were matches on the Aberafan sea front less harshly contested. This match was during the fiercely competitive period and the score-line suggests a contest of attrition.

Toast of the day was try-scorer Lyndon Philip. While the forwards slugged it out it was one stroke of excellence when Philip sold one of his outrageous dummies to break the solid home that won the day and claimed two league points.

Aberafan Green Stars 6-7 Maesteg Quins                  Central Glam 3

15. Derek Richards 14. David Phillips 13. W. Whelan 12. Lyndon Philip (T) 11. Mark Page 10. Andrew James (PG) 9. Geraint Jones 1. M. Handley 2. D. Jenkins 3. S. Cody 4. Darren Phillips 5. D. Pszenycznyj 6. Steve Gentle 8. Gary Dawkins (c) 7. Peter Jenkins

Maesteg Quins II 46–6 Metal Box

The Seconds ran amok with a nine tries victory over Metal ‘Spring’ Box. Try doubles were recorded by Robert Evans and flanker Richard Walters.

15. Illtyd ap Dafydd (5C) 14. Robert Evans (2T)13. Ian Hopkins 12. Greg Hughes (T) 11. John Tidball (T) 10. Ian Philip 9. Alyn Richards (T) 1. Alan Jones 2. John Davies 3. Wayne Thomas 4. Dennis Brennan 5. Terry Adams 6. Richard Walters (2T) 8. Clive Thomas (T) 7. Rhys Jeffreys (T)

Maesteg Quins III 6 – 15 Aberafan Quins III

The Thirds went down at Coytrahen and were never really in the contest. Full-back Mike Kehoe packed down in the second-row. This was to be Dai Berry’s first game and when Norman Cartlidge replaced Robert Williams in the back-row, although he was unaware at the time, notched his 300^th appearance for the club.

15. PG Evans 14. David Thomas 13. Carl Edwards 12. Sheridan Jeffreys 11. Jason Thomas 10. Robert Butler (2PG) 9. Roger Maddocks 1. Phillip Evans 2. John Owen 3. Dai Berry 4. Mike Kehoe 5. Adrian David 6. Brian Williams 8. Robert Williams (c) 7. Steve Phillips

Replacements 16. Norman Cartlidge for R. Williams

1981-1982

Maesteg Quins 18 – 3 Tonmawr

This was a fine win against the Pelenna valley club who, three seasons later, would lift the Welsh Districts Cup.

The game proved to be good preparation for the Quins’ Brewers Cup First Round match against Bryn a week later.

Adrian David made his 100^th appearance at No. 8.

15. PG Evans (3C) 14. John Tidball 13. David Preece (T) 12. Sheridan Jeffreys (T) 11. Robert Williams 10. Ian Philip 9. Peter Evans 1. Phillip Butler 2. Terry Thomas (c) (T) 3. Alan Hill 4. R. Harris 5. Gary Dawkins 6. Ralph Turner 8. Adrian David 7. Steve Pryce

Metal Box 7-15 Maesteg Quins II

15. Robert Butler (2C PG) 14. S. Rees 13. G. Short 12. Wayne Whelan 11. S. Grey 10. Phillip Jones 9. Russell Thomas 1. Gareth Griffiths 2. John Davies 3. Wayne Thomas (T) 4. Ceri Morgan 5. Peter Sweeney 6. Norman Cartlidge 8. Lester Jones 7. Brian Williams

1959-1960                 Quins [Tir Iarll] 9-0 Abertillery II

Make no mistake, this was a plum fixture against a leading Gwent rugby club’s second string.

Resulting in another win, for the Quins, of the three fixtures against the ‘Green and Whites’ currently on record, Quins won all of them.