Paul Williams (Carmarthen Quins Programme Notes)
Ten Years On…
Well… actually six days less than ten years, but what noticeable difference would six days make in the context of a decade? That’s the interval since a memorable end-of-season encounter between Aberavon and Carmarthen Quins in 2014. It had been a testing time for the Wizards, who were embroiled in a battle against relegation that began way back in the opening months of the season, with Jason Hyatt taking over as coach in mid-season in a bid to keep the Wizards off the bottom of the table.
It all boiled down to that last match, with the injury-ravaged Wizards in need of just a single bonus point to preserve their Premiership status.
The rest, as they say, is history. The following day, I felt inspired to turn my relief into an article for the club’s website, and, at the end of a 2023-24 season that itself has been fraught with difficulties, make no apology for reproducing it here…
“The Last Day”
April 26th 2014. Just another Saturday. Or maybe not. The nerves started to jangle early as I went about my usual Saturday morning business like an automaton, with my mind on other things. On one other thing, actually – the quest for that damned elusive bonus-point. Failure to get it wasn’t an option, and the mind’s eye wandered through scenarios that were all about who might score the tries that would rescue my beloved Wizards. I imagined Jon Phillips racing away chasing one of his kicks ahead, Jay Baker thundering down the touchline, Stef Andrews weaving his magic, Matthew Jenkins cutting one of those great angles, Nathan Brown charging head-down for the posts, Pritch bursting clean through from a lineout…
Then I reined it all in; we’re hard-hit by injuries, I thought. Aaron broke his leg on Monday, joining Ceiron and Jamie amongst the walking-wounded, big Gav the Goon, is also out, along with any number of others suffering the effects of a hectic late-season schedule. We’ve had to borrow players to make up the numbers, I thought, and these guys won’t be familiar with those around them.
Fast-forward to half-time. Stef had indeed woven his magic, JP had indeed done his special thing in pursuit of a bouncing kick-ahead, and Matthew had indeed cut a great angle and forced his way through. Job 75% done.
Aberavon kick off after the interval, the Carmarthen forwards secure the ball, but as they attempt to move it out of danger it gets spilled. Onto it like a shot is Darren Ryan, charging away with his usual degree of regard for personal safety (or, rather, the lack thereof). Up to within a few yards of the Carmarthen line and back it comes again to one of those guys who wouldn’t be familiar with those around him. Nic Damjanovic, Trebanos’ finest, makes light of the situation by slicing through almost to the posts, perfectly setting up a ruck from which one of the Aberavon greats of the modern era, Mr Ian George “Buddha” Moore, picks up and throws himself across the line to finish the job.
A tidal wave of emotion washes over all and sundry. Players are running from all parts of the field to congratulate the hero, the noise echoing through the stand threatens to lift the roof, and suddenly, after Nic has put over the conversion, the game may as well be over from an Aberavon viewpoint. Victory or defeat won’t matter, although another bonus-point would be nice.
Fast-forward again to the final minutes. The visitors have all but secured victory, but the Wizards have the last word as another of the ‘guest’ players, Lee Evans, goes flying in beneath the posts to reduce the margin to just eight points. Nic again sends over the conversion to bring that second bonus-point into range, and it is Carmarthen who are eventually relieved to kick for touch and bring down the curtain on a remarkable match.
Looking back, much of it seems a blur. The post-match socialising gathers pace, with a happy crowd augmented by the Former Players’ Association, and we have the unusual spectacle of a rugby match ending with both camps more than happy with their day’s work. The clubhouse is bouncing, the staff are concerned that we’ll run out of beer, and the overall atmosphere is one of all-pervading delight. People are trading tales of the emotional roller-coaster they’ve just experienced, and even that men among men, Richard ‘George’ Morris, admits to shedding a tear or two of joy at the sight of ‘Buddha’ crashing over for his try.
And that is why we support the Wizards, and why we shall continue to support them come what way, and why we would have continued to support them even if The Last Day hadn’t unfolded the way it did. Aberavon RFC is like a family, but bigger; supporters, staff, players all pulling in one direction for the good of the club. May it ever remain this way.
