“Welsh rugby is a rainy night at the end of the Llynfi Valley watching Maesteg drive forward on their table-top ground.”
So runs a line from the Welsh Rugby Union’s official history, Fields of Praise, written in 1981 to mark the governing body’s centenary.
The following year the Old Parish Maesteg marked their own first hundred years with a fixture against the New Zealand Maori. It took place exactly 40 years ago this week, on October 27, 1982.
Often, and despite the myths, tour games ended in anti-climax back in the day. Boasting a strong pack that included Staff Jones, Garin Jenkins, Graham Price, Kevin Moseley, Chris Huish and Dean Oswald, Pontypool were felt to be not without hope when they faced New Zealand in 1989.
READ MORE: French media claim Dan Biggar is joining Toulon immediately
But the quiet optimism among their supporters was taken out of the day like air leaving a balloon as the All Blacks surged to a 47-6 win.
A black labrador on the pitch almost bit the referee. Bobby Windsor ended up having a tussle at the post-match reception with someone who was getting on his nerves, while Matt Silva later reported that Zinzan Brooke was going to have a fight with Huish after the Pooler flanker kept calling him Zig Zag. “He kept saying ‘I am going to stick one on you’ and Chris was right up for it,” remembered. “He’s one of the hardest men I have ever known. People had to step in to calm things down in the end.” Let’s conclude that Brooke dodged a bullet.
Rewind further to 1972-73 when a combined Neath and Aberavon XV took on New Zealand. On paper, the home side was strong, with a teak-hard back row led by Dai Morris, who had been passed over for the Lions tour in 1971 and so became one of the greatest players never to tour with the best of British and Irish rugby. The match at The Gnoll was talked about as a chance for ‘The Shadow’, as Morris was known, to highlight the injustice of 18 months or so earlier.
But, again, the script didn’t go to plan for the locals, with the Neath-Aberavon combo crushed 43-3, prompting the inevitable inquest and a classic contribution from Max Boyce. “His side was badly beaten/We chipped in for a wreath/ Neath blamed Aberavon/ And Aberavon, Neath/ Some blamed the linesman/Some blamed you and I/Everyone blamed the committee/But no-one there blamed Dai."
But on Maesteg’s big day there was no such disappointment.
The match ended in a 10-10 draw.
It was feisty, but then most tour games are.
Maesteg tacklers cut down opposition runners ruthlessly, breaking up attacks. Dai Arthur, the home lock, played the finest game of his career, while skipper Phil Phillips crossed for the try. “Welsh forwards must be the best in the world in scrummages and lineouts,” said tour manager Waka Nathan later, paying tribute to Maesteg having achieved parity with a side who hadn’t lost in 21 previous games.
The home side were without their tactical guiding light, Gwyn Evans, who was injured, but Ian Hall had a fine game at fly-half.
The following year’s Rugby Annual for Wales spoke a “tremendous effort” from the hosts and “a memorable day for the Welsh valleys”.
“It was a great day,” agreed Dennis Thomas, the club’s chairman, historian and press officer. “The match itself was excellent and so was the occasion. We had a crowd of around 7,000 to 8,000 and the atmosphere was electric.
“Clubs hosting teams from abroad were a feature of the Welsh calendar at the time but that was the first time we had played a touring side of such repute.
“We had a function in the town hall afterwards and then it was a case of down to the 7777 Country Club for the evening. It’s clear in the mind, even now.”
Maesteg were actually five years out in their centenary celebrations, a local historian later discovering the club had played their first game, against Aberavon, in November 1877.
Recently, they held a players’ reunion to mark the club's 145th anniversary.
Their circumstances are changed hugely from those days in 1982, though, with the club having taken the decision in 2018 to self-demote through the divisions amid a shortage of players, just five having turned up for training at various points that summer.
Back then there were fears among supporters for the Old Parish's future.
Happily, such concerns haven't come to anything.
These days, the club of Chico Hopkins, Gwyn Evans, Allan Bateman, Leighton O’Connor, Colin Donovan, John Morgan, Billy Pole and Billy Howe, who won the Merit Table twice in the late 1970s, operate out of Admiral Division Four West Central.
A walk up the hill to their Llynfi Road ground will be rewarded by the sight of a venue still in good condition, with a main stand and another covered seating area on the opposite side of the pitch. The pitch is in good nick, too, and the views of the Llynfi Valley are something else.
“We are still here,” laughs Dennis Thomas.
“But I think it’s fair to say Welsh club rugby generally isn’t in great shape.
“Many clubs are finding it hard.
“We had our problems four years ago and made the call to drop down the divisions because we couldn’t fulfil all our fixtures. It was very tough at the time, but we didn’t have a lot of choice.
“We have quietly built our squad and are unbeaten so far this season. There’s also a great bunch of boys here and great camaraderie, as there has always been in Maesteg. We are holding our own in the division we are in.
“Off the field, we regularly host functions, weddings and the like.
“So we are doing OK — better than many, not as good as some, perhaps.”
The best Old Parish player Thomas, one of Welsh rugby’s longest serving press officers, has seen? “That would be Gwyn Evans,” he said.
“He could kick a ball miles, was a lovely runner and could also defend.
“The other thing was his loyalty. He stayed with us throughout his career and gave the club brilliant service. He was a wonderful player.”
Phil Bennett used to rate Maesteg one of his favourite away grounds because of the reception visiting sides would receive there.
On Thursday morning, the ground is silent, with shoppers walking past from the nearby Tesco store and not even bothering to look inside Llynfi Road.
But, as Dennis Thomas, pointed out, Maesteg RFC are very much still there.
Reduced circumstances, maybe, but there is still considerable spirit in one of Welsh rugby’s most iconic clubs.
Yma O Hyd.
Indeed.
READ MORE:
