A Step Back in Time Report 1960/61 v Hendy

“A STEP BACK IN TIME”

(By Percy Jones) 

 SEASON 1960/61

During this season the Quins played 29 games, won 11, drew 3 and lost 15. A Sporting Diary report by “Cardinal” in the Carmarthen Journal a week before the season started gives an insight into the club’s fortunes at the beginning of this decade.

“Cardinal”

(By kind permission of the Carmarthen Journal) 

“Carmarthen R.F.C. kick off their new season on Saturday when they play Haverfordwest away and not at home as was stated on the fixture list. It is hoped that Carmarthen will have a successful season for during the past few years they have had no measure of success. If they are to attain popularity this season then they must be supported.

I have the horrid vision of rugby football in this town becoming completely detached from the spectator. There would be no audience to spur the player to greater effort and the game would deteriorate into a hollow mockery of the pastime as we know today.

The Buffalow Inn, which the club recently bought, is now being renovated and the club hope to move in before Christmas. They follow the Carmarthen Athletic who last season opened their clubhouse. Committee members of Carmarthen R.F.C. have big plans for the new headquarters. It is hoped to have a large gymnasium which can also be used as a dance hall, a bar, lounge and committee rooms. The reason why Saturday’s game will not be played at home is that the pitch was damaged by motorcycles at the recent motorcycle races at Carmarthen Park.”

Fixture List

The teams which featured against the Quins in the 1960/61 season were:-

Haverfordwest; Kidwelly; Briton Ferry; New Dock Stars; Cwmavon; Trinity College; Abercrave; Hendy; Brynamman; Morriston; Gorseinon; Seven Sisters; Ammanford; Cefneithin; Skewen; Gowerton; Tumble and Loughor.

Another report by Cardinal in the Carmarthen Journal on the 16th December 1960 is a lead-up to the Quins’ home game the following week against Hendy.

“Cardinal”

On the rugby front, latest news is the promotion of 18 year old Tudor Lewis of Carmarthen Youth to the senior team. Mr Bill Sandbrook told me this week that they believe they have a real find in young Lewis who has played several times for Llanelli Youth. He is a sound defensive player and quick to spot an opening. It will be the first time for many years for Carmarthen to play two brothers in the same team, for Tudor’s co-centre is his brother Derek Lewis who captain’s the side.

Prop forward J. B. Jackson is another this club are more than pleased to have in their team. Aged 20, Jackson, a native of Laugharne, is now serving in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and at the beginning of the season had a trial for Swansea.

Having lost 14pts to nil last week away at Cwmavon, Carmarthen play Hendy at the park next Saturday kick-off 2.45pm.

Carmarthen, 6pts;   Hendy, 3pts 

Fog shrouded the Carmarthen-Hendy game at Carmarthen Park on Saturday last when Carmarthen had a comfortable victory over the visitors – their second victory this season over Hendy.

Rugby football is predominantly a handling game but on occasions the ball is just too slippery to handle. Only the expert Springbock forwards could have opened play up in such heavy conditions and there were no Springbock-like forwards playing at Carmarthen. Both sides attempted to throw the ball about but in doing so lost precious ground.

Undoubtedly, the man of the match was Keith Lewis, Carmarthen’s inside-half, who remained calm in the face of charging forwards from the tight and loose heads. Clive Jones and Gwilym Beynon played a strenuous game forward and B. Jackson (hooker) out-struck his opponent. Hendy full-back Haydn Rees was on good form and Raymond Jones (outside-half) was quick on the up-take. Brian Davies and John Evans were prominent in the Hendy pack.

Carmarthen opened the scoring when, from the Hendy “25,” Windsor Marks (outside-half) gave a long pass out to Brian Isaacs (left-wing) who touched down in the corner for a superb try which he failed to convert. Hendy retaliated and won two penalties in quick succession but Roy Evans (left-centre) failed badly from kickable positions inside the Carmarthen “25.”

The home side increased their lead when after interpassing between Terry Evans (right-centre) and right-wing Graham Thomas; the latter dived over in the corner for an unconverted try. In the final minutes of the first half Roy Thomas kicked a penalty goal for the visitors.

Play deteriorated after the change-over and a series of mauls ensued. Neither side came near to scoring except in the dying seconds of the game. Carmarthen forced several scrummages five yards from their opponent’s goal line. Only a stout Hendy defence succeeded in handling a stronger and heavier Carmarthen pack from getting a push-over try.