Photo's by Richard Bosworth

Dr Hywel Francis
MP PRAISES WINNING QUINS 
Aberavon MP Dr Hywel Francis recently attended the Aberavon Harlequins Celebration Dinner at Dylan’s in Cwmavon to congratulate the Club and all their players on the most outstanding season in their history.
 
Dr Francis said, 
‘I was delighted to be at the dinner to present some of the trophies to the players and to congratulate the Club captain, Richard Wanklyn, players, coaches, committee and all members on their best season ever. 
By winning promotion to Division Two West the Glamorgan Silver Ball and the District Cup, the Quins have achieved a unique hat-trick of successes. 
And for that reason I was honoured to propose to them a tour next year to Denver, Colorado.  I am pleased they have accepted and the Glendale Rugby Club will be their hosts with backing from the British Consulate and the Colorado Welsh Society whose President, Sam  Kuntz, was able to be present at the Club dinner.

Aberavon Quins Win Final of The Silver Ball

Pictured left is Head Coach David McGrath holding the trophy for the 2nd time in his rugby career. David was a player in the side when the Quins won it for the 1st time in 1982. Below Team Manager Anthony Jones with the trophy .

“YOU’VE not seen nothing like the mighty Quins,” sang Aberavon Quins’ supporters after lifting the Worthington’s Silver Ball at the Dairy Field in Llanharan. Though the 53rd Silver Ball final was anything but a classic, there was no doubting the better side won the day. It rounded off a double winning season for the Harlequin Road side, who last lifted the Silver Ball trophy under Len Ford back in 1982.

The Division Three (South West) winners upped the ante when it mattered most while the binning of the Llantwit Fardre duo of flanker Lewis James and scrum-half Carl Thomas certainly aided their cause. The Aberavon pack got stronger as a titanic battle with third-division counterparts Llantwit Fardre, who were eventually promoted through
the play-offs, came down to the nitty-gritty. The back row trio of captain and flanker Richard Wanklyn, who was nominated man-of-the-match, Craig Cox and No 8 Daniel Owen capitalised on the unstinting efforts of the front five. Quins went down the infamous Dairy Field slope during the opening half, but more significantly into a moderate wind. Though Llantwit Fardre led for the only time on the back of a fifth-minute penalty from scrum-half Carl Thomas, Quins looked more threatening behind the scrum. Each time full-back Mike Parfitt touched the ball something happened, but they flattered only to deceive when it came down to finishing. Fly-half Marc Sheppard knocked over an equalising penalty in the 10th minute, but the remainder of the half was uneventful. Quins centre Gareth Pugh just missed out with a penalty from on halfway while Llantwit Fardre scrum-half Thomas missed an easier attempt right on half time. It was 3-3 at the break, and basically the final was crying out for a spark of inspiration. Sheppard delivered a second penalty in the 47th minute, but the turning point came when Llantwit Fardre had two men binned in the space of three minutes. A third Sheppard penalty made it 9-3 on 53 minutes, but while down to 13 men, Llantwit Fardre almost caught Quins napping. A tap-and-go from fly-half Dan Povey ended with ex-Bedwas full-back Michael Thomas being dragged down within sniffing distance of the try-line. A try at this juncture could have turned the tide, but Quins steadied a rocking boat on the back of a 63rd-minute penalty from Sheppard. And when the Pontypridd side returned to a full complement, they stretched Quins to the limit. To make matters worse the Harlequin Road side had flanker Craig Cox binned in the 68th minute. Only stout defence kept Llantwit Fardre out, and Quins celebrated the great escape with the try that sealed victory. As the Aberavon forwards got their second wind, a series of close-knit charges knocked Llantwit Fardre back. And it resulted in outstanding No 8 Owen diving over for a 77th-minute try close to the corner flag that went unconverted. But there was no way back for the Pontypridd side even through eight minutes of time added on by Hafodyrynys referee Phil Connett. Quins, cheered on by the club’s enthusiastic junior section members, deservedly clung on, allowing captain Wanklyn to triumphantly hold aloft the famous old trophy. 

MATCH DETAILS 
ABERAVON QUINS: M Parfitt; A Dawe, N Pugsley (A Davies 38 mins), G Pugh, S Colarusso; M Sheppard, J Peplow-Williams; L Hayden, J Davies (P Miller 57), N Crockett (R Diaz h/t), W Lavis (K Davies 80+2), D Gibbs, C Cox (R Parfitt 80), D Owen, R Wanklyn (capt) (C Jones 69)
Scorers: Try – D Owen; Pens: M Sheppard (4) 

LLANTWIT FARDRE: M Thomas; D Thomas (A Webb 69), K Russell (P Davies 71), N Sloane, K Evans; D Povey, C Thomas; L Williams, A Evans (P Rees 71), B Lee (B Williams 36, B Lee 71), J Goodman, C Barry (L Harvey 78), D Masters (M Howells 55), G Williams, L James (S Jones 64)
Scorer: Pen – C Thomas 
YELLOW CARDS: L James 52, C Thomas 55 (both Llantwit Fardre), C Cox (Aberavon Quins) 68 
REFEREE: Phil Connett (Hafodyrynys)

Aberavon Harlequins Win Division 3 South West

Aberavon Quins were crowned champions of Division Three South West after disposing of second placed Glynneath. The Quins pack was in dominant mode but was guilty of indiscipline and the penalty count rose in favour of Glynneath and always kept them in contention in the opening quarter. The Quins defence was at its best as they constantly mowed down would be Glynneath attackers keeping their league tries against to an average of one per match. Outstanding defensive performance allied to some clever attacking contributions was to earn centre Gareth Pugh the sponsor’s accolade of ‘Man Of The Match’. Marc Sheppard eased the Quins ahead with a penalty which was soon cancelled out in like fashion by Rich Carter. The first half ended with scores even but with the Quins looking the stronger side.

From the second half restart Dan Owen and Colarusso slammed into the opposition and were unfortunate not to gain a score forcing Glynneath to drop out. Full back Mike Parfitt gathered the restart at the second attempt and set off on a devastating 60 metre run, flanker Craig Cox played a supporting role and winger Steve Colarusso was given a ‘one on one’ situation which he thrives upon and touched down in the corner. The back row of Owen, Rich Wanklyn & Craig Cox were in magnificent form and with locks Darren Gibbs and Billy Lavis in rampant mood the visitors were under heavy pressure.

The Quins scrimmage was totally dominant and Glynneath had little answer to the powerful Quins front row of Crockett, Davies & Hayden. Scrum half James Peplow- Williams made several incursions into Glynneath territory and stalwart centre Neil Pugsley as always contributed much in attack and defence. It was from a powerful surge that the smart Quins backs outfoxed the Glynneath defence and a lofted pass by centre Gareth Pugh put winger Adam Dawe on a try scoring sprint for the corner.

Sheppard added a penalty and with the Quins pack dominating proceedings it became clear that the title was theirs. Craig Cox then produced his trade mark try with a front peel from a Darren Gibbs line out take and support from Dan Owen. A serious injury to a Glynneath player held up proceedings for twenty minutes and the game ended with the Quins dominant even though playing much of the second half with fourteen men. In the latter stages the Quins strength in depth was evident as players of the calibre of hooker Paul Miller, Prop Richard Diaz and flanker Chris Jones joined the fray and when Sheppard limped off, Ashley Davies slotted in at fly half to control things

Coach John Rees was a very proud man and stated that when called upon to ‘dig in’ at various times of the season his players responded resulting in a great day for the club.

Leading try scorer, Steve Colarusso stated It was the best season he had ever had and Skipper Richard Wanklyn commented on how honoured he felt to lead this team to promotion and thanked the dedication of coaches Dave M’Grath & John Rees.

In the club house later the Supporters Club presented their ‘Player of the Year’ trophy to back rower Daniel Owen.