Fixture

Cardiff Quins RFC | 3rd Team 5 - 46 Taffs Well RFC | 2nd Team

Match Report
13 November 2016 / Team News

2nd XV Maintain Unbeaten League Run

The consequences of an international date were felt early on in this fixture as the Quins were unable to field a qualified front row which meant that the game would have to be played with passive scrums which was disappointing as Taff’s Well have enjoyed scrummaging superiority all throughout the league campaign.

The game was to be dominated by the form of the two Taff’s Well flankers Conor Barrett and ex-youth Captain Ieuan Jones who resurrected their youth partnership to torment the home team throughout the afternoon. Centre George Howell banged over an early penalty before scrum-half Neil Moon was high-tackled as he eyed up the try line to earn his side a penalty try with Howell knocking over the extras to put the visitors up at 10-0. Man of the match Conor Barrett started to put his mark on the game and fed Neil Moon to go in under the posts with another Howell conversion to push the lead to 17-0.

With the back row running the game, they conjured up some slick inter-passing to put second-row Ieuan Jones over the whitewash for Howell to add another conversion to take the visitor’s to 24-0 at half-time and with the game in the bag and a large squad to keep happy, the Taff’s Well side had a rather changed look to it as it lined up for the second half.

The game reverted to type as the back-row of Barrett and Jones were again dictating matters and with some great play down the 10/12 channel, substitute winger Darius Mullen was sent away to score a touchdown with his first touch of the match to secure a commanding lead at 29-0 as the conversion was missed. The Quins side started to show a lot of spirit and managed to exert some sustained pressure and after living off scraps for much of the game, the backs conjured up a try to put some respectability on the scoreboard but it wasn’t long before the visitors hit back aas English University of South Wales student Alex Drury again broke the home defence to put in substitute centre Sam Harris to stretch the score to 34-5.

As the game entered the final quarter, the home team were now struggling with numbers due to injuries and Taff’s Well were starting to score at will with Darius Mullen now at scrum-half breaking down the blindside  to score a fine individual effort and the conversion added by Warren Rees.  The last try of the game was as a result of a fine loop and feed from Josh Walsh to put another ex-youth product and winger Rhys James in to complete the scoring at 46-0 to a fairly rampant Taff’s Well side. With 10 minutes remaining, the game came to a rather disappointing conclusion when after all round consultation and with the Quins down on personnel thanks to both injuries and a yellow card, it was decided to end the game early as there was nothing more to be gained but it was enough time for Taff’s Well to keep up their winning ways and remain unbeaten in the league this season.

           Final Score:  Cardiff Quins 3rd XV 5 v 46 Taff's Well 2nd XV


The Verdict

For the second time this season, the ‘Rags’ have had to contend with passive scrums which is so disappointing given that that there is so much strength and depth in the squad even when so many players are unavailable and it certainly takes away a very potent part of the pack’s armoury. As a spectacle, it was game of fits and starts thanks largely to perhaps a rather unsympathetic approach by the referee and a muddy pitch which was hardly conducive to running rugby.

The Quins may have been struggling with numbers but certainly not in spirit and it was to their credit that they wanted to carry on even when their position seemed hopeless. On the Taff’s Well side, there were many absentees but the squad strength enabled them to not only field a full match day squad but to also have the luxury of giving everyone plenty of game time. Neil Moon was at his busy best at scum-half and it was also good to see Lawrence Staniforth back from injury on the wing but the honours of the day would have to go the back-row pairing of flankers Ieuan Jones and MOM Conor Barrett who were at the centre of everything that Taff’s Well did and the guys will be now looking forward to the next friendly game away against Canton next Friday which will be played in memory of Damian Atkins.


Dave Beese  mail  davecbwales@gmail.com

 

Match Report:  Ynysowen 1st XV 14 v 43 Taff's Well 1st XV

Match Report:  Taff's Well Ladies XV 58 v 19 Merthyr Ladies XV

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