The Old Parish in Maesteg is one of the revered grounds in Welsh rugby history, the  Maesteg Club having been for the majority of their 134 year history one of the premier Clubs in Wales. In the latter half of the noughties their fortune changed and they in fact came down to the second division in 2009. Aberystwyth made their first trip to the Llynfi valley ground in early October that year, and encountered a side hell-bent on going back up. The home side won 37-8 that day, and completed the double later in the season by winning 13-11 at Plascrug. But Maesteg’s return to the first division was short lived and in May 2011 were relegated again. And so, precisely 104 weeks after their last visit, the light and dark blues went to The Old Parish again but this time in different circumstances as both they and their hosts had lost all their opening games thus far this term.

It soon became apparent that the home Club are struggling. There was a  mixture of  the young and the not-so-young in their lineup, but they were not a match for their Ceredigion visitors. They valiantly tried to match them, but Aber in the end rattled up 10 tries to achieve a comprehensive 68-0 victory despite the referee’s slight indiscretion of calling a halt to the proceedings earlier than scheduled.  Aberystwyth’s wingers were the first to get in on the scoring, with right wing Rhys Richards  gathering a kick to the corner from fly half Llywarch ap Myrddin to cross for the first try after seven minutes. Centre Jason Rees made no mistake with the conversion. Aber were held up on a couple of occasions after that, but a good counter attack to a Maesteg clearance by Aber full back Siôn Summers set up left wing Ifan Beynon Thomas for the second try. Good work in the middle by ap Myrddin and centre Richard Read lead to the third try in the 27^th minute, young flanker Llyr Morris going over for the try. Then just on half time ap Myrddin broke away from the home defence 60 metres out and made it all the way to the line. Rees converted both of these tries and as the half time whistle went Aber were 26-0 and a bonus point up.

Aberystwyth added to their score regularly in the second half, Richards claiming his brace just two minutes after the restart. Within five more minutes Aber had added two more tries; a mistake by the home defence saw flanker Gareth Flynn carve through, for Rees to touch down under the posts. Almost immediately, Read went through the middle to add a seventh try. A break out of the 22 by Beynon-Thomas ended in Flynn himself getting the eighth try in the 50^th minute. Flanker Morris added the final two tries to complete a well-earned hat-trick. In the 61^st minute flanker Gwion Jones broke through to feed Morris for a try under the posts, whilst eight minutes later a Rees cross field kick picked up the young flanker on the left touchline again and he crossed over wide out. Rees converted all six second half tries, a 90% kicking record for the day allied to his own try giving the centre a 23-point personal haul. It was shortly after that that Swansea based referee Elwyn Marfell Jones blew no side, a little early but to no complaints.

It is sad to see a side of Maesteg’s pedigree struggling in this way, but at the same time totally heartening to see the loyal players, officials and fans keeping doing in the midst of their adversity. Their day will come again without doubt. Meanwhile Aberystwyth now prepare for a stronger challenge next Saturday when Aberavon Harlequins come to Plascrug. The Quins completed the double on the light and dark blues last season but the style of the win last Saturday will now greatly increase the confidence of the home unit who will look forward to continuing on their winning way.