MGDRU DIVISION ONE

PORTHCAWL II ............. 5

MAESTEG QUINS II .... 14

WHILE South Parade marinated in the substantial Saturday rain, South Road was relatively sunkissed.

For an hour multiple handling errors, missed touch finders and countless other mistakes from both teams made for an error-strewn match, played out between the opposite 22s. It was these unforced errors that prevented any form of fluidity.

Not that there weren’t any positives. Both defences were extremely competitive, especially at the breakdown and the two sides tried manfully to run the ball.

The most telling element that helped the Quins eventually claim victory was the scrum. Pushing a sizeable Porthcawl pack off the ball was a regular occurrence.

Entering the final quarter, the Quins got within striking distance of the line and the dominant scrum shoved Porthcawl back.

Andrew Healy had the job of dropping over the line. Joe Symons converted.

Five minutes later, from another scrum on the outskirts of the 22, Healy picked up and popped a pass to with Alex Griffiths, who ran strongly at a gap.

The Porthcawl defence found it impossible to halt the flying Griffiths’ progress.

As he had done on several occasions throughout the match he broke the line with his pace.

Then a hand-off set him free to run under the posts. Symonds added the extras.

Porthcawl deservedly picked open the Quins defence late on, with some well executed angled running of their own to register a try.