CARMARTHEN QUINS XV v METROPOLITAN POLICE XV
This game was arranged through connections with Mr Denzil Jones originally from Carmarthen and brother of former Quins hooker and committeeman , Mr David Jones better known as Dai Chips. Both had been brought up in Little Water Street, Carmarthen.
Denzil had left Carmarthen to join the Mets and became Secretary of the Rugby team.
They stayed at the Falcon Hotel, Lammas Street and inflicted a defeat on the Quins primarily because of the physical superiority.
John Lewis
METROPOLITAN POLICE XV
CARMARTHEN QUINS XV
Standing: ALAN BOWEN (Committee), GARY BAKER, HOWARD ISLES, DAYID DYER, JEFF WILLIAMS, PHIL DAVlES, RICHARD JOHN, GRAHAM WALTERS, JOHN LI. EVANS.
Seated: GIDEON TAYLOR (First Aid), MARTIN STEVENS, DAVID WOODHEAD (Vice Captain), Mr CALVERT JONES (President), BRIAN LLEWELLYN (Captain), W. J. ORMAN (Chairman), PETER EVANS, ROBERT TAYLOR, COLIN DAVIES, ROGER EVANS.
Photograph enhanced by Francis Photographic, Carmarthen
POLICE POWER CRACK QUINS
Carmarthen Quins 13 Metropolitan Police XV 34
Roger Phillips – Carmarthen Times
Carmarthen had the candles on their centenary year birthday cake snuffed out by a powerful and all-action Metropolitan Police team on Easter Monday.
The London bobbies massive pack plodded a little at the start but once they worked up a sweat, there was little Quins could do to contain them. They won the tight pieces with consummate ease and their speed in the loose proved a decisive factor in a sparkling second half that produced 22 points. England Under 23 wing Steve Tiddy and full back Roger Allison were the men who really sunk Quins. They were responsible for scoring all the ‘Met’ points.
HAT TRICK
Tiddy, an elusive runner, finished with a hat-trick of tries and Allison cornered the other 22 points with two tries, two penalties and four conversions. As was expected, Quins got off to the better start and were ahead after only a minute. They took play right to the police line and hooker Richard John wriggled out of a maul to touch down at the posts. Full back Gary Baker converted. Before the police had a chance to recover, fly half Colin Davies split their ranks with a probing run and centre Robert Taylor took up the move to send wing David Dyer thundering over from 30 yards. After Allison and Baker had each kicked penalties, the police began to fire on all cylinders. The pack smashed gaping holes in the Quins defence and the threequarters created havoc with swift handling moves and electrifying solo runs.
ONE WAY
Steve Tiddy gave Quins warning of what was to come when he ghosted through for a corner try. Allison converted and just before the interval cut the deficit to 13-12 with a penalty. The second half was one-way traffic and it was the police who controlled it. The ball was whipped along the line at every opportunity and poor tackling by Quins allowed the visitors to run in four splendid tries. Tiddy got the first two and Allison weighed in with a pair. The bustling full back crowned a fine game by kicking three conversions and a penalty. The pick of a disappointing Quins team were Robert Taylor, Peter Evans, Jeff Williams and Graham Walters.
SECOND HALF SPREE
Carmarthen Journal Reporter
Metropolitan Police, in a fixture to celebrate the ‘Quins’ Centenary year, gave a dazzling display in the second half to wipe out Carmarthen’s lead of four points and run out easy winners. The police had a huge pack and controlled the rucks, mauls and scrums. They possessed strength at centre and considerable pace on the wings. Full back Roger Allison had a storming game scoring 22 points – two tries, two penalty goals and four conversions. England’s under 23 wing, S.B.Tilly scored three tries.
Carmarthen played extremely well in the first half and tries came from Richard John and David Dyer with Gary Baker converting one and kicking a penalty goal. The Quins play their next match against Loughor in the semi-final of the West Wales cup at Hendy on Friday evening.
By kind permission of the Carmarthen Journal