Quins’ tactics outsmart Bulls
BUILTH WELLS .......... 7 MAESTEG QUINS ... 20
CROSSING the Beacons to Builth Wells has generally been a fruitless journey for the Quins. Although struggling, at home the Bulls are a different beast, as testified by their victory over the league’s leading lights Aberafan Quins.
With two flankers occupying the second row berths, plus a wing and scrum-half filling the vacated back-row positions, the Quins pack looked somewhat lightweight to take on the heavyweight forwards challenge that traditionally awaits at Y Groe. However, every Quins player played their part in a tremendous team performance.
The Quins’ plan was executed to perfection. They didn’t allow their hosts to get their customary stranglehold on the match for the first half hour. Continuity play and patience, put pressure on Builth and they conceded a stream of penalties. Owen Howe goaled two of three early attempts for a six-nil lead.
Slipping tackles and playing through multiple phases, the Quins swiftly recycled.
In a move that started on half-way, eventually Geraint Watkins shrugged off the final defender to snipe over from a short distance. Howe converted.
The off-loading took Builth by surprise, they didn’t anticipate a much more fluid Quins. Neither could they cope with a dominant Quins scrum. Quick line-out ball also allowed Watkins and half-back partner Lloyd Bradley to control affairs, with the latter putting in some clever kicks. Bradley also added to the collective defensive effort, with some Wilkinsonesque tackling.
In the second period the Quins created a sublime try. Breaking tackles, the Quins poured through. Carries were well supported in a composed and patient attack. Finally the Quins put the ball through the hands to send Alex Griffiths strolling over for one of the best tries seen in many seasons. Howe converted.
From the restart, the Quins inexplicably rejected a simple clearance kick and got penned in their twenty-five. This gave Builth the foothold in Quins territory they had been waiting for and soon after, replacement Richard Jones crossed in the corner. Rob Lloyd converted.
Builth’s astute tactical kicking game was totally foiled by Owen Howe. Safe as houses, Howe’s howitzer boot ensured all the returns put the hosts at least twenty yards further back from where they originally hoisted, chipped or grubbered.
For the next twentyfive minutes Y Groe resembled Pamplona, as the ‘Bulls’ of Builth stampeded towards the Quins line. However, the visiting defence was equal to the task. added the conversion to give his team a 7 points to nil lead at the break.
In the second half, Llanharan did have more attacking opportunities but Nanty’s Iain Morris who had now moved to centre crossed the line
to extend his team’s lead and this time replacement full back Callum Powell added the conversion.
Nanty continued to attack until the final whistle to claim a fantastic 14 points to 5 league victory.
Gareth Hamilton claimed the home team’s Man Of The Match award