Hello to all our members, players, supporters, sponsors and the general community of Carmarthen. I trust you are all safe and well.
It is now not far off a year since we entered the first lockdown due to the awful coronavirus pandemic. That’s almost a year with no rugby and stop start opening for the club that has been a concern for us all. However, I am pleased to say that the work to support the club didn’t end with lockdown but continued to ensure that the club could look to the future and for that I am grateful to all involved.
Whereas I should be contemplating coming to the end of the 2020/2021 season I will instead reflect on the curtailed 2019/2020 season for a moment. When it came to an abrupt end we were second in the Premiership and in a Welsh Cup Semi Final. Looking back at some of the games there was disappointment at some of the results when we could have and should have done enough to win and there was elation at other results.
It is always disappointing to fall short against our Towy Valley rivals Llandovery and even more so was a 2-point defeat at home and a draw away. A different outcome on those days and some others may have seen us at the top of the pile. Notwithstanding that, what the squad achieved was immense, our rolling maul was the envy of every premiership side and some claimed it boring but we scored scintillating tries as well.
Three highlight performances for me were Aberavon away where we ran out winners in a tough game as is always the case up at the Talbot Athletic Ground. Secondly was the home game against league leaders Cardiff on a Friday night in January. Welcomed out by the under 10’s team from our juniors and their counterparts from Whitland, you had a sense there was an occasion building. This feeling took a dent when we had an unfortunate red card but the Mighty Quins didn’t give up and played for themselves and more importantly the badge and run out with a bonus point victory. Next up was the journey to the renowned Pontypool Park for a Saturday evening televised game in the quarter final of the Welsh Cup. Having lost to the mighty Pooler in a previous cup competition, we were all eager to make amends. Again the squad dug deep and the week after defeating Cardiff in the cup we overturned Pontypool and got our place in the semi final. A few league games followed and on March 7th we played our last game before lockdown.
I personally cannot wait to get back either to the Park to watch a game but know that this will only be done when it is safe to do so.
It is important to note that we are not just a senior team, we have a youth side, were in the process of restarting the second xv (and this will continue when we can) and of course we have our thriving mini and junior section with teams from Under7s to Under 16s. Every player and supporter is integral to the club.
I am happy to tell you we have started a new Facebook Page that will run alongside the Quins Sports and Social Club page, our Twitter page is engaging regularly and we aim to bring you more news and information on our website. To facilitate this a new email address has been set up to allow you our followers to let us know of any news you may have that the club needs to know. At the moment we can’t stand at the bar and share this information so please if you have any information please email cqrfcsocialmedia@gmail.com and we will use our channels to share this.
Finally I want to take a moment to say as a club we have been extremely sorry to hear the news that some of our supporters or their families are no longer with us and you have mine and all from the clubs sincere condolences. There is light at the end of the tunnel and hopefully sometime soon in 2021 we can meet at the bar and remember those who have left us and pay our full and proper respects. Until then please continue to do as you have done and follow the guidelines and then we can see you sooner rather than later.