“A STEP BACK IN TIME”
(By Percy Jones)
SEASON 1982 -83
This was a much improved season for the Quins who were ably led by prop Howard Iles. They had some very good performances in the league taking some unexpected wins away from home. They played a total of 19 league games, winning 15 and losing four. Ieuan Evans played his first game for the 1st XV whilst still a youth player
against Mumbles at the Park. He turned out at his then favoured position of outside-
half, scoring a try and kicking a penalty in a game the Quins won by 23pts to 9. The Quins played eleven friendlies winning eight and losing three.
The Quins had a fairly good run in the Welsh Cup beating Pontyates at home in the first round by 21pts to 9; Trinity College away in the second round by 52pts to nil but losing out to Neath at home in the third round by 20pts to 6. In the West Wales Cup they beat Amman United away in the first round by 23pts to 4 but lost away to Vardre in the second round by the same score. They went out of the National 7’s competition in the first round losing 12-6 to Furnace.
A special match was held at the Park on the 26th April 1983 to celebrate the Switching on of the Floodlights. The Quins lost to a Ray Gravelle Invitation XV by 38pts to 6. On their Easter tour to Portugal the Quins won both their games winning 35pts to 12 against a Select 15 and by 18pts to 6 against San Miguel.
Photographs for the seasons between 1980-1990 can be seen in the main match programme
22nd October 1982
Gowerton nil; Carmarthen Quins pts.
(By kind permission of the Carmarthen Journal)
QUINS SHOOT TO THE TOP
Quins took over top spot in the West Wales League Section C championship with a hard fought victory in an away game against main promotion rivals Gowerton.
On a paddy field surface both sides settled down to play ten-man rugby from the whistle and there was little quarter asked and little given. Bone crunching tackles took their toll and Gowerton lost two men with shoulder injuries. There was nothing to choose between the sides in the first 15 minutes and it took a bullet dropped goal from 40 yards by Dylan Richards to put the Quins ahead.
Once in front they never looked back. Gowerton’s front row were disrupted by the loss of a prop through injury and the Quins pack were able to drive them back at
almost every scrum. The constant pressure took its toll and it was the ever alert Adrian Wray, again impressing at scrum half, who scored the vital try. He stole down the blind side from a set piece and crashed over.
Gowerton were struck another injury blow when their flanker was led off, but they stuck manfully to a losing task in a dour second half. The action was confined up front where the Quins pack were always in command. In the final 15 minutes
Gowerton were subjected to tremendous pressure. Quins were camped on or near the line for a full ten minutes, but somehow a score eluded them.
When Gowerton did break out with siege gun kicks the ever reliable Roger Evans was always on hand at full back to deny them. Quins, undefeated in five league outings this season, have landed a plum tie against Neath in the Schweppes Welsh Cup. The famous All Blacks have to travel to Carmarthen for the clash and are likely to feature former Quins threequarter Dai Jacob in their line-up. The date of the tie will be
announced soon and a Quins’ spokesman said “We hope the whole town will turn out to support the lads.”
Carmarthen Quins Heroes
In an initiative put forward by club stalwart Alan Bowen, a number of past players who have represented the Quins with distinction, will receive a written record of their achievement. Presentations will take place after every home game at the clubhouse. After this Saturday’s game against Llanelli, the following players will be guests at the club:-
Howard Iles — total games played 355 Kevin Bowen — total games played 393 Roger Evans — total games played 326 Simon Rogers — total games played 255 Giles Thomas — total games played 176