“A STEP BACK IN TIME”
(By Percy Jones)
SEASON 1957 / 58
SPORTING DIARY
(By kind permission of the Carmarthen Journal –
Edition of Friday 6th September 1957)
FORTHCOMING SEASON
On Saturday, Carmarthen R.F.C. start the 1957-58 season with an attractive home fixture against Crynant, one of the best sides in the West Wales Rugby Union League. Local rugger supporters will be pleased to hear that for this game, the Carmarthen side will include Derek Lewis and Windsor Marks who are home from Germany, where they are serving in the Forces. These two lads made a great impression in South Wales last season when they were members of the Welch Regiment side which toured. Club officials are hoping that they will be able to secure the permanent services of Marks who will be demobbed shortly. Lewis who is home on leave will only play one or two games for the side. Carmarthen have a full and entertaining West Wales league fixture list as well as several friendly games.
There will be nine home games and nine away engagements. These will include fixtures with Tumble, Kidwelly, Loughor, Pontyberem, Resolven, New Dock Stars, and Amman United. Most of last year’s stalwarts remain, so Carmarthen should again have a successful season. John Evans, who will captain the team this season, has been selected to play for the Civil Service side which will tour the north of England. Another member of the side, Alec Richards (lock forward) played for Neath last Monday evening against Resolven. Richards played well for Neath who won by 31 points to nil. The kick-off for the Crynant game will be at 3.30pm.
The Quins’ first home game on 7th September 1957
HOME SIDE WAS NOT FIT
(By kind permission of the Carmarthen Journal)
CARMARTHEN, NIL; CRYNANT, 11 Pts
Two first half tries really knocked the stuffing out of Carmarthen at the hands of last year’s West Wales League Champions Crynant at Carmarthen Park on Saturday. They crashed to their second and heaviest home defeat for two seasons by one goal, a try and a penalty goal to nil. There is only one explanation for the defeat and that is thar Carmarthen were not fit. They tried everything but Crynant were far too strong for them.
The visitors had a faster three-quarter line and they were not afraid to run with the ball and run straight whereas Carmarthen’s backs lacked punch. The home forwards without their stalwarts John Evans and Alec Richards were completely outplayed in both the tight and the loose. For the champions their former Maesteg player John Hall was outstanding.
The game got off to a fine start but gradually went from bad to worse and from Carmarthen’s point of view became a pathetic display of rugby. Straight from the whistle Crynant were called upon to defend and both Derek Lewis (centre) and R. H. Davies (lock) came near to scoring. Making his debut for the home side Gareth Hughes (inside-half) started well giving his partner Windsor Marks a wonderful service. Carmarthen were all out to take an early lead and pushed Crynant back on to their own line. For the first ten minutes little, if anything was seen of the champions. They were being completely out played.
TRAINING POINT
It was obvious that this extreme pressure could not be kept up and the turning point in the game soon came. A surprise break away by the Crynant backs switched play to the Carmarthen line. Carmarthen were beginning to panic but a mark by Windsor Marks checked the attack. Carmarthen had very little breathing space for back came the visitors and from a srummage on the home line inside-half Brian Harries nipped over to score an unconverted try.
Carmarthen still had some fight left in them. Left wing Noel Thomas made a grand run from his own “25” to the Crynant “25” before being brought down by full-back Dudley Jones. Then J. L. Jones went very near with two attempts at long range drop goals.
Shortly before half-time, Crynant again went up to the home line and a scrummage developed out of a loose maul. Carmarthen heeled and Hughes threw a loose pass to his partner. Wing-forward John Jones nipped in smartly and intercepted the pass and scored underneath the posts. Howell Jones (left wing) converted.
After half-time Carmarthen made a half hearted attempt to fight their way back into the game but again it was only a “flash in the pan.” Mid-way through the second half Howell Jones finished off the scoring with a 30 yard penalty. Crynant were now in complete command and pinned Carmarthen down in their own half for the rest of the game.