SCINTILLATING RUGBY
(By kind permission of the Carmarthen Journal)
Carmarthen Quins 26 Captain Crawshay’s XV 50
Carmarthen Journal Reporter
Carmarthen were over-run by a star-studded Captain Crawshay’s XV who dazzled the large crowd with some scintillating rugby. They scored ten tries to Carmarthen’s four.
The Quins had to make three changes from their victorious cup semi-final side. In the absence of Peter Evans, Carmarthen brought in Whitland’s Malcolm Prothero.
The Quins conceded another try in the 15th minute when Llanelli’s Hevin Jenkins streaked over for an excellent try. The game started at a tremendous pace with a try by Crawshay’s centre Alf Woodward after only three minutes play. The visitors kept up their fast rate with another try a few minutes later by wing Gwyn Lewis
The Quins hit back strongly in the 20th minute with a superb threequarter movement for winger Graham Walters to dash over for a splendid try. Outside Halls Gary Baker put over a good 35 yard penalty to put the Quins in striking distance in the 30th minute. Two minutes later, Robert Taylor kicked a beautiful penalty to make the score only 12-10 to Crawshay’s.
Then in the 35th minute the crowd saw the brilliant Brynmor Williams of Cardiff at his best. He ghosted past half the Carmarthen team to lay on a try for wing Tom Browning. Just on half-time, Crawshay’s increased their lead again with another try by Paul Evans.
The Quins were first to score in the second-half with a try by Graham Walters. Crawshay’s gave a great display in 15 star-studded minutes with four tremendous tries. They were scored by Paul Evans, Alf Woodward, Omri Jones and full back Roger Blyth. Wing Tom Browning converted all four. Three conversions were from the touch-line.
The Quins never gave up and scored two glorious tries in the last ten minutes. The first was scored by full back Brian Furlong who scorched over under the sticks. Taylor had no difficulty with the conversion. The second one completed Walter’s hat trick, his third one of the season. Taylor converted from the touchline with a brilliant kick. With only seconds remaining, Crawshay’s centre Woodward completed his hat trick with a splendid try which Browning again converted for the glittering all stars team to notch up a mammoth 50 points.
QUINS DAZZLED BY STARS
Roger Phillips – Carmarthen Times
The Quins were over-run by a star-studded Captain Crawshay’s ‘15’ who dazzled the large crowd with some scintillating rugby. They scored ten tries to Carmarthen’s four. The Quins had to make three changes from their victorious cup semi-final side. In the absence of Peter Evans, Carmarthen brought in Whitland’s Malcolm Protheroe. This was hard luck on Quins’ second team scrum-half Percy Jones who was the logical contender for the inside-half position, and can consider himself wrongly overlooked.
The game started off at a tremendous pace with a try by Crawshay’s centre Alf Woodward after only three minutes. The visitors kept up their fast rate with another try a few minutes later by wing Gwyn Lewis. The Quins conceded another try in the 15th minute when Llanelli’s Hefin Jenkins streaked over for an excellent try. How both teams contrived to play such attractive rugby in wet, muddy conditions was nothing short of miraculous.
The Quins hit back strongly in the 20th minute with a superb threequarter movement for winger Graham Walters to dash over for a splendid try. Outside-half Gary Baker put over a good 35 yard penalty to put the Quins in striking distance in the 30th minute. Two
minutes later, Robert Taylor kicked a penalty to make the score only 12-10 to Crawshay’s. Then, in the 35th minute, the brilliant Brynmor Williams was at his best. He ghosted past half the Carmarthen team to lay on a try for wing Tom Browning. Just on half time, Crawshay’s increased their lead with another try by Paul Evans.
With Geoff Wheel in such fine form in the line-out, the visitors had very good ball. The back row of Gareth Jenkins, Hefin Jenkins and Omri Jones were everywhere and gave Carmarthen plenty to think about. The Quins also has a superb flanker in Martin Stevens who had a tremendous match and was just as good as any forward on the field.
The Quins were first to score in the second half with another try by Graham Walters. Crawshay’s gave a great display in 15 star-studded minutes with four tremendous tries, by Paul Evans, Alf Woodward, Omri Jones and full-back Roger Blyth. Wing Tom Browning converted all of them. The Quins never gave up and scored two glorious tries in the last 10 minutes. The first was scored by full-back Brian Furlong who scorched over under the posts for Taylor to convert. The second completed Walter’s hat-trick, his third of the season. Taylor converted from the touchline with a brilliant kick.
With only seconds remaining, Crawshay’s centre Woodward, completed his hat-trick with a splendid try which Browning again converted for the glittering all-stars team to notch up a mammoth 50 points.
FOOTNOTE:
If anyone has a match programme or photograph of the Crawshay’s XV for this match, or you are one of the players who appeared in this match for the Crawshay’s, would you please let me know. These are the players I know played for the Crawshay’s XV from match reports in the Carmarthen Times; Carmarthen Journal and the Western Mail. I would like to complete the team by adding the names of the missing players.
Captain Crawshay’s XV
ROGER BLYTHE (Swansea); TONY BROWNING (Newbridge);
ALF WOODWARD (London Welsh); N/K; GWYN LEWIS (Llandeilo);
PAUL EVANS Cardiff), BRYNMOR WILLIAMS (Cardiff). N/K, N/K,
N/K, N/K, GEOFF WHEEL (Swansea), HEFIN JENKINS (Llanelli),
OMRI JONES (Aberavon), GARETH JENKINS (Llanelli).
Percy Jones
Club Archivist
jpjones@talktalk.net