A STEP BACK IN TIME
(By Percy Jones)
SEASON 1952 – 53
By kind permission of the Carmarthen Journal
The Quins first XV had a similar playing record to what they achieved the previous season having won the same number of games. The squad for this season had been strengthened with several new players having joined the club. The team was captained by Gwyn Davies at scrum-half with R. H. Davies (forward) as his vice-captain. They played a total of 38 matches, winning 21, losing 8 with 9 drawn. Points for were 189 with 113 against. The fixture list for the 1952-53 season was as follows :-
September
6 – Tumble Home
13 – Kenfig Hill Away
20 – Ystalyfera Away
27 – Mountain Ash Away
October
4 – Vardre Away
11 – Pontardulais Home
18 – Felinfoel Away
25 – Trinity College Home
November
1 – Pontardulais Away
8 – Ammanford Away
15 – Loughor Home
22 – Ystalyfera Home
29 – Ammanford Home
December
6 – Amman United Away
13 – Trinity College Away
20 – Loughor Away
26 – Brynamman Home
27 – Felinfoel Home
January
3 – Vardre Home
10 – Aberystwyth Coll’ Home
17 – International
24 – Kidwelly Away
31 – Pontardawe Away
Feb 7 – Amman United Home
14 – Brynamman Away
21 – Mountain Ash Home
28 – Pontyberem Home
March
7 – Pontardawe Home
14 – Tumble Away
21 – Briton Ferry Away
28 – Pontyberem Home
Apr
4th – 6th Irish Tour
11 – Glynneath Away
18 – Glynneath Home
25 – Kenfig Hill Home
Sporting Diary by “Cardinal.”
(By kind permission of the Carmarthen Journal)
1952/53 SEASON
“CONFIDENCE JUSTIFIED”
Felinfoel, 6 pts; Carmarthen, 6 pts.
On Saturday 18th October 1952, Carmarthen Quins travelled to Felinfoel for a West Wales Rugby Union League match. There were three changes in the selected Carmarthen side, which included Austen Roblin at full-back, Brynmor Jones at left-centre and Elwyn Williams at outside-half. Felinfoel fielded as selected and a large crowd of home supporters expressed confidence in a final victory, Felinfoel had no less than 12 former Llanelly players in a team led by Stan Williams (an ex-international),in his day one of the best line-out forwards in the game.
A large number of Carmarthen supporters at the game would not hear of defeat and this confidence was justified after eight minutes of play when Carmarthen took the lead with a picture try. Each member of the back division handled before Neville Jones (left-wing) flashed along the touchline to score in the corner. The home supporters were loud in their praise of this magnificent effort. The attempt at conversion failed. This early reverse stung the home side into action and they launched a furious onslaught on the Carmarthen line. However, A. Roblin was equal to the occasion and they were driven back. The Felinfoel pack held a distinct advantage in weight and this enabled Higgins (hooker) to gain possession in the tight scrimmages. Felinfoel tried hard with some three-quarter movements but any hopes they had in this department were short lived for they were quickly nipped in the bud by wing-forwards R. H. Davies and J. Cavanagh who wreaked havoc among them. Whenever G. Treharne or Hywel Thomas evaded these wing-forwards the crash-tackling of Reg Jones and Brynmor Jones abruptly checked them. Carmarthen now had the measure of their opponents and from a loose maul in home territory, A. Roblin, up with his backs, gained possession and coolly dropped an excellent goal from 30 yards. Shortly afterwards, Felinfoel had the chance to equalise with a penalty goal but D. Lyon failed with the kick from inside the Carmarthen 25.
The second half developed into a terrific struggle between the packs. Felinfoel were superior in the set scrums, but in the loose were outplayed by a lighter and faster Carmarthen eight who time and again swept down the field with splendid foot rushes. However, it was Felinfoel who had the points when Ken Jones was allowed to run through from a line-out to score an unconverted try.
At this juncture it looked as if Carmarthen had the game well in hand. With only five minutes left for play and with Carmarthen pressing, D. Lyon the home full-back attempted to drop a goal from inside his own half. Assisted by a strong wind, he only just missed. Here, unfortunately the visitors threw away the chances of a certain victory by using the wrong tactics. Instead of playing safe and kicking out with a short punt to enable the forwards to be with the ball before the home side could gain an advantage, the ball was booted hard and high down the centre. D. Lyon, standing just inside his own half gathered the ball and dropped a magnificent goal to bring the scores level.
It was a tonic to hear the home supporters praise the display of the Carmarthen forwards who were more than a match for their experienced opponents. Although it is perhaps not fair to make special mention after such an excellent game, praise must be given where it is due. For Carmarthen, forwards John Evans, R.H. Davies and J. Cavanagh were the best on view while skipper Gwyn Davies (scrum-half) and Reg Jones excelled in defence. A. Roblin was sound at full-back. Always prominent for Felinfoel were Ken Jones, Higgins and Stan Williams (forwards), D. Williams and G. Morris (backs).