“A STEP BACK IN TIME”
(By Percy Jones)
SEASON 1976 -77
John (Llew) Evans was this season’s captain with Bleddyn Griffiths Vice-captain. Other than Centenary Year (74-75), this decade had been very disappointing for the Quins as they lost a lot more games than they won. As it turned out, this season was no better. The Quins played 29 games; winning just 7, losing 20 with 2 games drawn. They fared no better in the cup competitions going down at New Dock Stars in the second round of the Welsh Cup by 31points to 7, having beaten Furnace at home in the first round by 15 points to 6. They also went out in the first round of the West Wales Cup losing at Vardre by 14 points to 6. They even lost away in a friendly match at Pontyates by 22 points to 16. Phillip (Shamby) Jones played at Scrum-half in what I believe was his only game for the Quins
The following is a report of the match printed in the Carmarthen Times:-
QUINS MADE TO FIGHT
Cardigan 13pts; Carmarthen 13pts.
Roger Phillips – Carmarthen Times
Twenty six points were evenly shared in this hard fought friendly. The Quins still with the accent on youth gave a good performance with the pack taking most of the honours.
The new-look Carmarthen front row of young Kevin Bowen, with Howard Iles in the unaccustomed role of hooker, and new signing Martin Watts, proved a success. Iles took three strikes against the head and skipper John ‘Llew’ Evans and Lyn Davies worked tremendously hard in the boiler house. With the back row working efficiently the first half belonged to Carmarthen.
The Quins directed most of the set scrums and denied Cardigan quality possession throughout. Quins built up a 13-4 lead by half-time with a great try by wing Peter Jenkins who showed pace, strength and determination in a run of 50 yards in which he beat half a dozen tacklers to touch down in the corner. The remaining points came from the super-foot of young Robert (Sonny) Thomas who banged over three magnificent 45 yard penalties from difficult positions.
Cardigan’s reply was a good determined try by centre Elwyn Makepiece.
In the second half, Cardigan, with the wind behind them, were a different side and pegged Carmarthen in their own territory. The home pack gradually got on top and their scrum-half was a constant threat.
Cardigan nibbled away at the Quins lead with a fine penalty by Neville Boulton and a splendid try by Gareth Davies which Boulton converted. Both sides came near to getting the all important score but good covering by the defences prevented this. Colin Davies made one good break for the Quins near the end and had a fine game.
A draw was a fair result in a good open running game. Quins are home on Saturday to Furnace in a W.R.U. cup match.