“A STEP BACK IN TIME”
33 YEARS AGO SEASON 1978 -79
4th November 1978
Best form of the season
Pontardulais 1Opts; Carmarthen Quins 11 pts;
(By kind permission of the Carmarthen Journal)
Carmarthen, by playing their best game of the season to date, took Pontardulais’ unbeaten record and what is more important move into fourth place in the league. The Quins pack carried on from last week and dominated the set pieces and mauls. Their powerful scrummaging clearly upset the Bont’ side who were unable to settle into the rhythm that has given them 14 out of 16 point in Section B.
The unhurried front row of Huw Jones, Howard Iles and Roger Perry formed the springboard from which the rest of the team capitalised. Pontardulais were the first to give their supporters something to cheer about. From a maul the home back row peeled away and W. Rees made ground and found John Jones close up to take his pass to score a try.
Far from being overawed the Quins pack settled down and Richard Ratti and Peter Elsom showed their best lineout form this season and denied the Bont’ side that vital possession. From a penalty in his own half Mike Owens found touch 2 yards from the Bont’ line. From the ensuing lineout a maul developed, the Quins forwards won the ball and Chris Roberts went to the blind side. He broke several tackles and crashed over for a good opportunist try. Mike Owens narrowly missed the conversion.
MAGNIFICENT
Just on the half hour the Quins pack were in rampant mood. Peter Elsom made 30 yards, handed on to Howard Iles, he found Mike Davies at his elbow. Davies made valuable ground and when halted passed to winger Peter Jenkins. He in turn broke three tackles and crossed in the corner for the try of the match. Owen failed with the kick. Minutes later Bleddyn Griffiths was on target for a penalty on the half-way line. This magnificent effort gave the Quins a 11-4 half-time lead.
The home side had the advantage of the slope and wind for the second period but it was the Quins who looked the most dangerous. With 10 minutes remaining the Quins defence wilted for the first time and from a scrum close to their line Mike Williams crossed for a try. The conversion was on target bringing the Bont score to within a point of the Quins total.
The remaining ten minutes saw some desperate attempts by the Bont’ side to clinch the match but the fine team performance by the Quins held firm and the final whistle heralded a deserved win for them. For the home side R. Mirks, Alan Richards and John Jones played well.
Roger Evans, Dewi Thomas and Roger Howells tackled as though their lives depended on it. Bleddyn Griffiths dictated play to his side’s advantage, thanks to the good supply of ball given to him by his forwards. Chris Roberts was a live wire at the base of the serum. The forwards are going from strength to strength with all of them contributing to a fine performance.