Wanderers fail to take chances in defeat

Maesteg Quins 22

Wanderers 10

“Fair result” Commented head coach Martyn Fowler “Quins took their chances we didn’t. Overall though a game both sides won’t remember tomorrow morning!”

“We should have buried the game whilst we were dominant in the first half. Credit to Quins they kicked their goals and took the one chance they had. They deserved their win” added Manager Mark Gould.

“There was little danger of a game of rugby breaking out as the whistle had a real work out this afternoon. We lost count of the yellow cards. It was hard to keep track of which side had 15 and who was in the bin” commented a Wanderers supporter. “At least it didn’t rain and the scenery and committee buffet were lovely!”

On a grey day at South Parade the whistle blew to start the game and didn’t stop until 3-55pm! The Wanderers had some early pressure and a break downfield by Alfie Llewellyn, on as a blood replacement, set up a chance only to be denied by good scramble defence from the home side. The pressure did continue and Paul Short landed a penalty to open the score 0-3. The visitors then failed on their exit from the kick-off and the Quins were straight on the attack. The first of the yellow cards then followed as Rhys Beynon spent 10 mins in the bin. There was little continuity from either side as mistakes flowed and the whistle continued. Quins levelled with a good long-range penalty and Beynon soon had company in the bin when the first of the home side saw yellow after a disagreement as to whether Wrexham was on the red list of travel destinations. The home side landed their second penalty to make it 6-3. Good scrum pressure gave the Wanderers a penalty and Short kicked deep. The visitors sustained the pressure on the back of their powerful scrum only to be denied when the visitors front row were deemed to be doing something illegal? More Yellow appeared, a contrast in colour to the grey of the day and at one time the Quins may have been down to 12 players although nobody seemed sure! The game was camped in the Quins 22 but try as they may the Wanderers could not find that killer drive or pass and eventually the home side broke clear. Somewhat against the run of play they landed two more penalties at the end of the half to make it 12-3 at the break.  

The peace of half time was soon interrupted by the whistle starting again. The Wanderers brought on Zak Fifield at scrum half in an attempt to change the course of the game and the home side were soon emptying their bench as well. Both sides continued to find phase play impossible to come by with the game going two phases then stopping.  A rare moment of excitement for the visitors was created by Fifield as he broke clear after a penalty, but Jamie Murray was held just short. The home side also had a moment when a long cut out pass set the wing away, but the attack was denied by the whistle. At last the deadlock was broken. The Wanderers went on the attack Max Wootton carrying well and a stab through from Short saw Tom Richards pounce on the ball out wide to score. Short converted and the Wanderers were back in it at 12-10. The Massiv moment of optimism was short lived. Once again kick off exit strategy (that’s what they call them nowadays) was poor and the Quins took full advantage. The home side turned the ball over and in a flash they’d established their lead again with a converted try 19-10. The visitors became more expansive but the game continued to lack any real continuity. Fifield saw yellow to keep the sin bin seats warm and the Quins landed another penalty to end the scoring for the day. There was still time for more yellow as Nathan Evans went for a sit down and there was even a penalty to the Wanderers for time wasting just before the game seemed to end early at 3-55!  All in all a day to forget but Quins deserved their win.

Wanderers Scorers:
Tries: Tom Richards
Cons: Paul Short
Pen: Paul Short

Management MOM: Eddie Drake
Massiv MOM: Max Wootton

Pics on Flickr: https://flic.kr/ps/c7gzd