Maesteg Quins 28 - Narberth 22: Storm Hannah played a role last Saturday on an exposed open mountain ground above Maesteg. The ground adjacent to a Secondary School is owned by the local authority.

The surface was firm and in good condition for an end of season game with the gale gusting across the field where the ground sloped gradually southward.

The Otters fielded a stronger team but still had to have two permit players due to high injury list. Jonathan Rogers was not available so Ianto Griffiths moved the fly half, Nick Gale recovered from a knee injury played at full back.

Len Randall played at inside centre and Roy Osbourne came into the second row, both permit players. Maesteg Quins kicked off and immediately attacked in the Otters 22 and looked lively.

From the subsequent breakdown Lewys Gibby gained the ball broke almost clear being brought to ground in the Quins half with only two players to beat.

The Otters were awarded a scrum at the breakdown and heeled cleanly, Lewys Gibby set the backs on their way but a handling error caused the move to break down. At the lineouts, circumstances proved difficult, the gsusting gale made the throwing in a bit of a lottery and with the referee not retaining the gap.

The combination enabled the Quins to challenge the Otters at the lineout. with tricky throwing in seemed to create a series of tapped balls with the Quins then being able to harass Lewys Gibby.

The Quins pounced and set up a series of pick and drives close to the Otters line with the Otters holding them out but not able to move the ball far up field. Back came the pressure with intense efforts by the Quins to cross the line.

This they acheived via their lively hooker Rhydian Jenkins on 15 minutes with full back Lewis Francis converting giving the Quins a seven point lead.

The Otters responded and five minutes later Yannick Parker crossed the try line to touch down.

The move came initially from an infringement by the Quins. Nick Gale kicked the penalty deep into the Quins half enabling a lineout on the twenty two.

This time the Otters were able to gain a clean catch, fed Lewys Gibby who made a diagonal break towards the corner feeding Yannick Parker who still had some work to do to beat the Quins defence crossing far out.

Nick Gale’s attempted conversion was blown off target. Maesteg Quins kicked off and with the wind kicked onto the Otters 22 with the Otters being penalised for an infringement.

Lewis Francis added three points with the wind easing at the moment of the kick giving the Quins a 10 -5 lead. The wind then continued with its severe icy gusts.

The Otters restarted with their kick out andwind aided ended in touch. From the lineout the Otters moved up field.

Then the Quins infringed and from the penalty kick Nick Gale found touch near the corner. From the lineout the move again broke down and the ref gave the Otters a penalty ten metres out.

Despite the strong gusting wind, Nick Gale scored from the penalty bringing the half time score to 10 -8.

The Otters were not at their best, the lineout was not as safe and efficient, the strong gusting wind caused problems.

This resulted in the need to knock the ball back and with the Quins pouncing like terriers on any loose ball. Passes were going astray, so the Otters needed to tighten up their game for the second half.

The game restarted and within one minute the Otters went into the lead.

A real up and under was used by the Otters which Nick Gale caught to break forward and sped the ball out to Liam Hutchings who raced through attempted tackles to cross over for a try with Nick Gale converting. The score was now 10 – 15.

Maesteg Quins upped their efforts and fielding the restart, set towards the Otters half with a few pick and drives before the whistle blew when the Otters were adjudged to have blocked release at the breakdown.

The referee awarded a penalty which Lewis Francis had the good fortune to have a brief lull of the gale as he kicked the three points.

That lull was a freak situation since the icy gusts continued almost immediately and five minutes later Lewis Francis attempted a further penalty kick.

However, Maesteg continued to harass the Otters and when the referee awarded the Otters a scrum fifteen metres from their line, Andrew Healy the Quins number eight managed to snatch the Otters heel and using his bulk forced his way over for a try which was not converted on 59 minutes. This gave Maesteg Quins the lead at 18 – 15.

From the restart the Otters attacked with Yannick Parker making a break and slipping the ball to Lewys Gibby and when tackled managed to feed Nick Gale alongside. He raced forward and when brought down the Otters offended at the breakdown enabling the Quins to find touch onthe Otters 22.

From the lineout they then kicked for the corner, Ianto Griffiths well positioned was able to clear putting play back inside the Quins half. At this point Bradley Davies replaced Dan Jacobs and Dan Smith replaced Rhodri Owens. A few moments later Rhys Lane replaced Lewys Gibby. Again from the subsequent lineout the Quins kicked for the corner which the Otters drove back towards halfway. Young Llew Jones was brought on to replace Yannick Parker and Kyle Hamer replaced Tom Powell. A minute later, on 75 minutes, the Quins scored again when the fly half Tadic McGuckin kicked over the Otters defence and substitute Callum Powell raced forward to touch down for an unconverted try. The score was now 23 – 15 and looking ominous for the Otters. With time running out the Otters managed to get close to the line when they were then awarded a penalty infront of the posts. Alex Jenkins chose a scrum which was followed by a few pick and drives towards the line when they knocked on in the tackle. This gave the Quins chance to recover but within a minute having gained possession, and with a deceptive jink confusing the defender, Nick Gale went over to score and convert his try. The score now was 23 – 22 with seemingly a minute to full time. The Quins kicked off and aimed the kick towards the top right corner, quickly following through they gained possession and in defending the Otters were penalised for a high tackle, in the process the ball had run into touch, the Quins were awarded the lineout and knocked on as they attempted to move. A scrum was formed only for the Quins to be penalised. With the penalty kick Nick Gale, aided by the gale, placed the ball into Quins 22, the Otters chased, set up a maul when the Quins were penalised for entering the rolling maul from the side. At this point advice from the coaches was to kick for the corner but possibly because of the gusting gale their advice was not heard, the Otters chose to go for a penalty kick which failed to find the posts. From the restart the Quins found touch. The Otters again knocked the ball back and the Quins pounced on the bouncing ball quickly moved up field and hooker Rhydian Jenkins again managed to score his second try which was not converted but which gained Maesteg Quins a winning bonus point putting them well clear of the relegation battle. The Otters received a losing bonus point. Whilst currently two points clear in second place they may yet be overhauled by Ystrad Rhondda. However, it has been a good season for the Otters whether they end up second or third in the Championship League. The large Narberth contingent who travelled and probably froze with the weather conditions would have witnessed an exciting game which could so easily have gone the Otters way had they been on form.

Maesteg Quins had prepared well keeping forceful centre Jack Price well policed and minimising the Otters scrum strength and were lucky that the weather conditions at the lineout.

Later Otters Director of Rugby stated: “The weather was such a leveller, we were unable to get any quality lineout ball, we put some nice rugby together in the middle of the second half but overall they wanted the win more than us.

“It was clear to see we were rusty having not played for three weeks. It showed but I was a bit disappointed overall. It was a game we prepared well for and we went for a win but unfortunately we were not good enough on the day.

“Maesteg Quins have to be given a bit of credit, they were more hungry than us. It has been a very good season, we’ve challenged the best and on our day we are as good as any side in the division.

“We have had a lot of injuries this year, I’ve not seen it like that before, so to keep going we had two players on permit yesterday because the unavailability of players through injury. It’s difficult but at the end of the day we are still a bit disappointed with the performance and the result yesterday.

“Lets not forget we have had a very good season again especially defensively, our stats have been fantastic, by only giving away 45 tries averaging out at two a game which is a great statistic, but overall I am pleased with the season and disappointed with the performance today.”

Narberth fielded: Nick Gale, Yannick Parker (Llew Jones), Jack Price, L. Randall, Liam Hutchings, Ianto Griffiths, Lewys Gibby (Rhys Lane), Dan Jacobs (Bradley Davies, Rhodri Owen (Dan Smith), Tom Kaijack, Roy Osbourne, Alex Jenkins (Capt.), Dewi Williams, Tom Powell (Kyle Hamer), Richie Rees.