Walsh wife and husband team choose the Fishguard Select XV

We were delighted to ask Min and Paul Walsh to choose a Fishguard and Goodwick ‘Select XV’ from the last two decades because she does a first-class job as team manager and unofficial press officer – whilst worse half Paul, known to all as ‘Walshie’, gives great support in the latter if Mrs Walsh is busy when she doubles up as first-aider!

Min readily admitted that the task was far harder than they ever though likely and told us the three hours of discussion over two evenings was the most they had spoken to each other throughout the crisis!

She added that it was likely that a number of old timers who regularly watch at ‘The Moors’ would probably disagree with some choices so we provided her with the obvious escape clause – ‘Blame Walshie!”
 

So here we go with the Seagulls Select XV:

Real potential at full back and experienced try-scoring wingers

“Robbie Jones is already an outstanding full back with his safe pair of hands under high balls and superb defence which almost always ensures no opponent passes him, big or small. He can create space for others with his timely entries into the line and also score tries from long-range moves with his pace. Once he improves his kicking he will be the complete player!

“Ross Evans was very quick for a big man of 6 feet 2 inches and could throw in the odd sidestep to fox defenders so it is small wonder that he scored so many tries as an expert finisher. He had a tidy pair of hands and was steady in defence – and was missed when he stopped playing for us.

 “Jonathan Jones was very quick off the mark on the wing and knew when to offload to supporting players as someone who was great at reading a game. Known to all as ‘J.J.’ he scored loads of tries throughout a long career, never stopped talking about them and has done a wonderful job of bringing out talent from the youth team, some of whom, including his son Robbie, are mentioned in this article.
 

A Welsh youngster and experienced ‘Kiwi’ - a great centre combo

“Thomas George has just been playing his third season out of youth matches and his play in the centre this season has been terrific, especially in defence. He is not the biggest centre around but has a great tackling technique which has saved more than a few tries for us. He is sharp off the mark and has a good pair of hands, as well as being a useful finisher.

“Mark Leonard was a typically hard as nails New Zealander who married a local girl and stayed in the area to play for us at centre. He could read the game well, was adept at ball carrying and distribution to support players after he had created the space. He was also good at kicking for position and could also use his undoubted skills at outside half when needed.







 

Two old half-back warriors and both class acts

“Huw Evans was a class act at outside half and also played well for Newcastle Emlyn at a higher level. He would admit he wasn’t the fastest No 10 in the book but had that natural ability to make breaks and create space for team-mates – and was a great reader of play, a fine tactical kicker and even better points gather with his place kicking. He was also a very good coach and vociferous analyst of play during matches – and showed his ability a couple of seasons ago by helping out in a match and still looking totally at home!

“Graham Davies was certainly one of the strongest scrum halves to come out of local rugby and a real threat to the opposition with his surprisingly quick darting runs, especially from close-range scrums and quickly-taken tapped penalties. He certainly kept opposing back rows and No 9s on their toes with his confrontational approach and never shirked a tackle or close contact.
 

A legend, a son and a strong scrummager

“Romeo Colella was an easy choice for us because he was such an outstanding prop and could just as easily play really well at No 6. He is certainly a club ‘legend’ and was badly missed when he left for Whitland and became a crowd favourite there. He was a surprisingly good reader of play for a prop (no offence other front rows!) and as one of the genuine hard men relished every physical confrontation, especially from his charging runs. He was also a regular try scorer and everyone in the Fishguard camp enjoyed watching him play.

“We will have some stick for picking our son Gavin Walsh at hooker and it was close call between him and Evan Davies, who was a great servant of the club for so long.  Both were/were very strong in their front row work and ball carrying but we felt that Gav held the edge with his tidying up of poor possessions and his line-out throwing.

“Andrew Morrillo is our choice as the other prop because he is a really strong scrummager and knows his stuff in the tight – but is very much an unsung hero because he gets around the field for such a big man and never shirks a tackle or falling on the ball in danger moments. In his prime he was as good as we’ve had – and that is saying something!















 

An ideal combination in the second row

“Rhys Lewis was a very athletic second row whose ability to get around the field meant that he was also useful in the back row. He was an excellent lineout forward and his ability to support other players meant that he scored more than his fair share of tries. Now living in New Zealand and we were very sorry to see him leave The Seagulls.

“Nathan Jenkins is the current Fishguard coach and is showing the same commitment as he used to as a long-serving player. He was a good front of line jumper and a solid scrummager as well as being a good man to have in the close exchanges – and he never shirked a tackle or allowed anyone to get on top of him. His 100% commitment meant he had the respect of all at the club and that is still the case today.

Caz, Dilwyn and Simon – a terrific trio

“As a club captain for several years Carwyn Thomas was an excellent leader with his ability to read the game well – and he loved the physical confrontations of the back row – and was very adept at reaching break-downs quickly, or halting good possession for opponents with his natural ability to be in the right place at the right time.

“If we needed a nuisance on the pitch then Dilwyn Williams was a good man to have because he could disrupt the opposition with his power and drive. He was always totally involved up front and opposing teams hated his being so busy – and spectators from ‘up the line’ weren’t too fussed on him either. We loved him at the club though and he was a great asset!

Our ‘Mr Reliable’ would undoubtedly be Simon James at No 8 because he is a really gritty forward who always makes ground going forward and sets up good positions for team mates with his ability to break tackles and then off-load. In defence he is totally involved and when he finally steps down his will be a big pair of boots to fill! He was also a top player with Crymych when he played there.

Asked about replacements our intrepid Walsh duo reeled off a list of names, including other current players like Mike Jenkins, Chris Shousha and Ben John but finally settled on a bench from those below:

“Evan Davies would be a great man to have because he, like his brother Graham, epitomised all that is good in terms of attitude, commitment and talent. He was an excellent ball carrier with his distinctive short bursts straight at the opposition – and had the ability to lift others with his dynamism.

“We would describe prop Gerwyn Davies as a genuine character and an unsung hero in many ways because on the pitch he just got on with his job in the scrums and as a supporter to lineout forwards. He was tough as teak and very good at tidying up rubbish possession, even if it meant getting a bit of a kicking. Never afraid to express his views, especially in the bar afterwards!

“Andrew Merry was a big, strong second row and very useful as a front of line jumper – and was very good around the park as a bit of a bonus. He knew his job well and always looked to give support to others in the close exchanges.

“Miles McDuff learned his trade in New Zealand and it was always evident in his play because he did everything just right. He was very strong in the tackle, tackled superbly and carried the ball well before timing his passes to perfection. He was a good all-rounder and we were lucky to have his services for a few years.

“Injury has badly hit James Griffiths which prevented him from playing for a long time but we are delighted he is back in action now and playing at outside half or centre. He has total self-belief and loves nothing better than taking on opposing back rows and creating space for himself or others. He has a big boot on him and has swung games in our favour with his long-range penalties.

“Ask us about coaches and we have been very lucky to have some talented men involved but if pushed we would pick Tudur Harries because of his analytical approach and ability to read patterns of play and assess the weaknesses in the opposition. He helped a lot of players and since we have listed Huw and Nathan as players we would go for Gareth Thomas (Tenby) as his assistant.”

**We didn’t give the Walshes the chance to nominate a team manager because although there might have been other good ones there is no doubt that Min deserves that selection because she also becomes the team’s first-aider when called upon and does a wonderful job of dealing with the local press, home and away – with Paul a good replacement with the latter when Mrs Walsh is tending wounded players!