Maesteg Harlequins RFC Presentation Night 2016
An enjoyable presentation evening took place at Maesteg Harlequins’ clubhouse, to round off the 2015-16 season.
Although many things didn’t go the Quins way and many could have reacted better to the tough times the club encountered, it still remained a successful season.
Few clubs lose so many, such influential personnel, then perform equally as well as in previous seasons. To have maintained their Division One status in a not too comfortable seventh place, in such an uncompromising league was, indeed, a remarkable achievement.
On the field, after a good start, the season stuttered and then came to a grinding halt from the Christmas period onwards. Were it not for the Quins fighting spirit, which was evident in most games as the losing bonus points tally testify, then relegation may have been a reality not a concern.
There were several candidates for the Clubman of the Year award, which will now have to be renamed. Firstly, there was Tom Matthews. The Quins are fortunate to have this highly committed forward grace our jersey, quite simply for his magnificent attitude. Matthews has played in every position in the pack and does so with an unswerving commitment to the cause. Keith Hood and Glyn Hughes have undertaken tremendous work in the club.
It was to the Quins Under 7’s organisers the committee turned, to make the award. The Mighty Munchquins have gone from strength to strength, under the wonderful tutorage of coaches Gareth Pittard and Andrew Murray.
Yet it was the Munchquins’ Chairperson, Secretary, Fixture Secretary and Treasurer, someone who does so much for junior rugby – Lisa Ronan who received the award; the first female to pick-up any club silverware on awards night.
Most Promising Player of the Year too had several claimants. Josh Mines played well whenever he too the field and Lloyd Bradley showed he has great potential. For a series of fine, ever improving performances, last year’s youth captain Aled Evans received the award.
Players’ Player of the Year was impressive in his scrummaging work and ball carrying in the loose, which his team-mates showed great appreciation for in selecting Mark Watson.
The Second Team Player of the Year was awarded to another of last season’s youth team stars. Highly talented Sam Mines was the deserved recipient of the award.
In tough seasons you need players with an attitude and determination to do anything for the cause of the team. Where the forwards had Tom Matthews, the recipient of the Player of the Year award played in every position in the back-line and could always be relied upon to put in a good performance. The Quins were delighted when he chose to join them seven years ago and were equally delighted to award Geraint Evans the Conrad Hawes Cup.
The players, committee and members wholeheartedly thanked the coaching team of Chris Stevens and Lee Ronan; who informed the club they were stepping down, for their unstinting dedication and hard work.
However, the club has worked extremely quickly to replace them and is delighted to officially announce the return of former player / coach Dean Ronan. The front row forward will come back with even more invaluable experience, after his season long stint as forwards coach at Bridgend RFC
Ronan hasn’t let the grass grow under his feet and pre-season training will commence on Tuesday, June, 28th at South Parade.
Anyone interested in enjoying the South Parade experience and playing Division One rugby on a purely amateur basis, turn up training on the 28th for a 6.30pm start.
-oOo-
Maesteg Quins 125.
In 2023, Maesteg Harlequins will be 125 years old. Part of the celebrations will be the publication of a book celebrating the first 125 years of the Llynfi valley’s third oldest sporting organisation.
A meeting will be held at the clubhouse on Saturday, June, 18th, starting at 5.30pm to organise the research and writing of the book.
Anybody with an interest in the club, in historical research, with expertise in historical research or wish to discover more about the project; Maesteg Harlequins would be absolutely delighted to see you at the clubhouse for the 5.30pm start.