A STEP BACK IN TIME
(By Percy Jones)
RUGBY FOOTBALL
(“Cardinal”)
(By kind permission of the Carmarthen Journal)
SPARKLING DISPLAY
Carmarthen, 32pts; Briton Ferry, 3pts.
9th December 1955
Briton Ferry paid the penalty of failing to bring their regular team to Carmarthen Park on Saturday last. They were obliged to field only 14 men. Unfortunately for them the “Ferry” found Carmarthen in rare fettle and were soundly beaten. Even if they had a full compliment of players the visitors would still have been defeated. Carmarthen are more and more finding out it pays to play the open game and more important than all to be up with the ball. This is the secret of the team’s success.
Forwards and backs handled delightfully and Briton Ferry were outclassed. To their great credit let it be said that although playing second fiddle, the visitors never once attempted to close up the game. They emulated their opponents in every phase and contributed to what was a most pleasing and spectacular encounter. One would not wish to see a better display of the handling code on any rugger field in Wales and Carmarthen supporters have no excuse whatsoever for going outside the borough to witness “first class” games. True, there are more people lining the railings round the track than has been the case for some considerable time, but there is still room for improvement in the matter of attendance.
All the scores were clear-cut and well merited. In the first half, Glan Tucker (centre-threquarter), Brynmor Jones (forward) and Russell Davies (right wing) crossed the line, J. L. Jones (full-back) making two conversions. Russell Davies ran with determination and in addition to getting his own try, was the architect of the score by Brynmor Jones.
Playing their favourite end – towards the town – in the second Carmarthen were soon in top gear and the try-getters were Bryan Francis, Hugh Davies and D. I. Jones (forwards) and Glan Tucker. There was one conversion by J. L. Jones, who also landed a very good penalty goal. In between this spate of scoring Briton Ferry launched sporadic raids on the home line and they were deservedly rewarded when Hugh Watkins, a forward who had worked like a Trojan in the open, crossed the line for an unconverted try. It might seem strange to say that with all the scoring against his team, the outstanding player for the visitors was their full-back John Selby. But it was so. He fielded and tackled well and his safe touch-finding was of immense value. The “Ferry” were beaten before Selby could prevent a score. After all, a defender cannot cope with more than a single player at once. Carmarthen were far too skilful for their opponents who however, were game to the last.
WEEKLY SPORTING DIARY
(By “Cardinal”)
SEASON 1955 – 56
YOUTH TEAM
Carmarthen RFC has decided to organise a youth team. The club recently received a letter from the Welsh Rugby Union in which they were asked to consider forming a youth side and the local club lost little time in answering the Welsh Rugby Union. Already the club has received letters from over 30 players wishing to take part in the first trial which is to be held at Abergwili field next Saturday. Those wishing to take part in the trial are requested to be at the ground not later than 2.30pm. The Carmarthen Youth team will play their first game on Tuesday December 27th at Cefneithin. A pleasing feature of this new venture is that young men who have talent will not now have to play for youth sides outside the borough which has been the case in the past.
FOOTNOTE:
The club has no Youth team photographs for this decade (!950 – 1960) and we would ask anyone who has any youth team photographs from around this time to allow me to copy them (they will be returned) so that we can display them in the clubhouse.
We currently have 23 youth team photographs on display and would be delighted if we could add to them. These are the other missing seasons:-
Every season prior to – 1962/63
1963/64
from 1967/68 to 1982/83
from 1984/85 to 1990/91
1996/97
1998/99 & 1999 /2000
2003/04 & 2004/05
If you have any of these missing seasons (there will of course be seasons when the club could not field a youth team) please Email me at jpjones@talktalk.net