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The
club began the season following relegation to Division 7 and without a
league win in the previous two seasons. New coaching staff were brought
in, Sion Lewis of Cross Keys RFC as Head Coach and Richard Mynott, a
former Cardiff RFC and Cardiff HSOB player. The
season was notable in that after such a dismal run of form, it finally
yielded a league victory. It took a long time in coming, but eventually a
gritty, gusty display brought a 17-12 victory away at Canton. Despite
conceding a try after 10 minutes, the team were clearly a better side and
scored three deserved tries, all a product of open rugby to claim the
precious win. Although the euphoria was brief, it made a big difference to
the club to break a hoodoo, and two more victories followed. At home to
Machen, Sion Lewis came off the bench to claim a hat-trick of tries, and a
great win was earnt in the fields of Garndaffaith in the middle of the
foot and mouth crisis. Team
performances were maddeningly inconsistent. It was not helped by the
difficulties the selection committee had in putting the same XV out every
week. The club also played under several captains. Pre-Christmas, the
Quins kept the runaway league winners Barry to 17-8 and in fact were the
better side for much of the game, only a score direct from the second half
kick-off being the difference. Before the Canton victory, the Quins
travelled to Blaenavon and were leading 12-0 for most of the match before
succumbing to three late tries and some of the most appalling refereeing.
However, big defeats were common, the 99-10 slaughtering from St. Albans
being the most embarrassing. Yet the Quins were capable of playing some
outstanding rugby, in particular the two tries scored against Barry away,
both of which started from the Harlequins 5 metre line, were a product of
some excellent open play. However,
despite glimpses of talent, it could not be disguised that the club
finished second from bottom in the leagues - virtually as low as the
league structure would allow. A swift exit from the cup at the hands of
Cardiff Medics was also to be contended with. An improvement compared to
previous years, but still disappointing given the proud tradition of the
club.
Rob Blunt,
Oct 2002 |
