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AUGUST 2003

NEVILLE ROBERTS

 

It is with great regret that Maesteg Harlequins lose the services of their influential coach Neville Roberts. However, it is not a negative step for the coach or the club. Neville is going on to prove his coaching prowess at a higher level, which underlines the commitment of Maesteg Harlequins RFC to produce rugby people, whether players or coaches, who can perform at higher levels within the game. 

Neville has left to take up the full-time position of Head Coach at the Llanelli Academy. As well as overseeing the development of the potential talent for the Llanelli regional team, Neville has been allocated to Whitland RFC. 

In his five-year spell at Maesteg Harlequins, the club has enjoyed unprecedented success. It was Neville’s goal to take the club from Division Seven to Division Three and he achieved just that. Along the way there were numerous other "special moments". Lifting the Worthington-Glamorgan County Silver Ball and completing a "Treble" that season must surely have been one particular highlight. 

However, to have witnessed the development of several of the younger players in the club would have given Neville as much pleasure and we should not forget, with the endorsement and help of our club, Neville coached the Welsh Deaf team to success in the inaugural Rugby World Cup for the Hearing Impaired in 2002. Defeating hosts New Zealand twice in their back yard to lift the trophy. 

After the tournament Neville stayed in New Zealand, before journeying to Australia and then South Africa to study the philosophies and practices of their provincial academies. The knowledge he returned with will stand him in good stead for his future challenges. Hopefully people will listen and learn from what he has to say, particularly those who occupy positions in the higher echelons of the game in Wales, for Neville is undoubtedly a coaching talent. 

Everyone at the Maesteg Harlequins wishes Neville every success and hopes to see him coaching at an even higher level in the very near future. 

Here is a brief resume of what Neville achieved in his five years at the club.

 

Division 5 Champions 2002

Division 6 Champions 2001

Division 7 Champions 1997

Glam. County Silver Ball Winners 2001

Glam. County Presidents’ Cup Winners 2001

Hancock’s HB Trophy Winners 1997

Glam. County Presidents’ Cup (Finalist) 1997

Central Glam. Cup Finalist 1997 & 2002

With the departure of Neville Roberts the process of selecting a new coaching team was swift and exact in their appointments. In reality, nothing has changed a great deal with Colin Roberts and Lee Sparrow remaining at the helm. The new addition to the team is club captain Nick Flay who will coach the backs.

Everyone wishes them every success for the coming season and for many seasons beyond that.

The first is not so much an arrival, but reconsideration. Colin Roberts has decided not to call time on his rugby playing days and is continuing to don the red & black for the foreseeable future. In his own indemonstrable manner Colin is quoted as saying: "You’re a long time retired."

Welsh Guardsman Geraint Williams, played in a trial match at Cowbridge a number of years ago, before embarking on his military career. Now based in Wales, he is able to commit himself to playing on a regular basis. Due to his performances in training, everyone is looking forward to seeing this pacey three-quarter on the field.

In Neil Davies it could be said that the prodigal son returns. Neil previously played 69 matches for the Harlequins between 1993 – 2000. Neil played for the club while studying at the University of Wales College Newport and while at there, he appeared for Ebbw Vale and Pontypool. He also captained the university in their British Universities Shield final victory over Cirencester Agricultural College in 1998.

On leaving university, Neil joined Tondu, before switching allegiances to Llanharan and then returning to the Old Parish with Maesteg. Neil was omitted from the Black and Ambers squad for the coming season and everyone is overjoyed at his return to the Harlequins. We are sure the rampaging flanker will be as dynamic as ever.

The club hopes to announce further new signings in the very near future.

At a most enjoyable presentation evening held at the clubhouse, a good crowd enjoyed the evening and presentation of much deserved awards to the players. Club Secretary Alan Thomas thanked the sponsors, committee, players, supporters and the stewardess Christine for their respective generosity, effort and time.

Without our sponsors it would be very difficult for the club to function and their financial contributions are greatly appreciated by everyone involved at Maesteg Harlequins RFC.

The bar staff who work tirelessly were thanked for their efforts and stewardess Christine was presented with a bouquet of flowers in appreciation of her work. The supporters have been, as always superb, with our followers often outnumbering home support when we venture away from home, regardless of the distance. The ever diminishing committee were praised for their hard work and a plea was made for more people to make themselves available for committee duty in coming years.

Finally the players were lauded for their efforts. It would have been unthinkable just six years ago, for a third placed league finish and a Silver Ball semi-final to be regarded as a disappointment, but that is how much the club has achieved in recent years and everyone is disappointed that the success has not continued this year.

The awards were presented by Mr. Dennis Bateman and Mr. Brian Williams President and Treasurer of Maesteg Youth respectively. Wales and Bridgend second-row forward Chris Stephens also made presentations and everyone was pleased to see him looking so well after such a traumatic period of illness. Everyone at the club hopes he will re-commence what was a promising rugby career.

The recipients of the awards were as follows:

The captains for the 2003-2004 season were announced as follows: