WEST CENTRAL

MAESTEG QUINS ....... 31 WAUNARLWYDD .......... 8

THIS game between a club one below top spot and the other just above the relegation area was closer than the scoreline suggests.

Starting with a bang, Waunarlwydd were lively. Then good handling and Geraint Evans’ fancy footwork put Ben Davies over. Lloyd Bradley converted.

Quins split open Waunarlwydd’s defence on a number of occasions. A mixture of bad luck and mistiming meant the scoreline remained unchanged.

Bradley kicked a penalty to put the Quins into double figures.

Given the close proximity to half-time, Waunarlwydd’s scrum-half Lee Evans converted a penalty to get his team off the mark.

After two five yards scrum offences, a penalty try could have been awarded. The referee balked at the idea, but issued a second yellow. This handed Waun’ a get out of jail card. However, passive scrums didn’t prevent a score. Quins still called a scrum and after a skirmish, Nathan Smith drove over. Lloyd Bradley converted.

Ben Davies re-gathered his chip ahead. Even though the ball was quickly recycled and a four to one overlap awaited, the ball wasn’t transferred quickly enough. It was back for a scrum at which another infringement occurred. Ben Davies was away with a quick tap to score. Bradley converted.

Quins shaded the lineout contest with a few steals and a 100% percent record of success. Rhydian Jenkins threw in impeccably, forming a fine partnership with the imperious Nathan Smith. The scrummaging contest was fascinating. For periods the Quins were dominant. Yet Waunarlwydd fought back to cause problems.

An explosive Quins shunt drove Waunarlwydd off their scrum ball and ploughed forwards. This time the controlled ferocity of the push led to a bonus-point penalty try.

Using every centimetre of South Parade’s width, Lee Evans sped up the right wing, to expertly finish in the corner and conclude the match.

The bonus point win returns the Quins to the top of the table, but with every club looking to knock the Quins off their perch, it will be an extremely hard run in to the end of the season.