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Rusinek runs in for vital late try for Mariners
When Milford Haven RFC gained promotion to Division Four (West) of the National League set up at the end of last season it was Ian Rusinek who scored the last-gasp try, superbly converted by Tom Arnold, which edged them through by a single point against Cwmgwrach.
Ian is just 23 years old but is already a relative old-stager in the Mariners’ team coached by Alan McClelland, having completed five seasons of senior rugby at The Observatory, and was chosen at full back for that vital decider on a neutral ground. The Mariners trailed by six points, with the referee looking at his watch, when Ian joined the threequarter line at pace and sliced through to the try line – and youth prospect Tom Arnold held his nerve to fire over the conversion so the Milford players and supporters were able to celebrate a memorable victory.
First match hammering
It was a long way from Ian’s first match for Milford’s first XV, when he was a youth player called in to play against table-topping Amman United – and they were well and truly slammed. He was part of the youth team coached by Larry Spillane and Brian Rees but quickly became a regular in the firsts, where he was looked after by the likes of Scott Walters, Mark Wonnacott, Roy Hadley and Carl Allen.
In the intervening years he has won the top try-scorer award on three occasions at the club’s annual dinner, and has a best of four tries in a match against New Dock Stars. He was third behind Dean Matthews and Sam Stalbow last campaign but says he is looking to sharpen up again for the new campaign!
Started out before ‘tag’ days
It all seems a long time ago since he first attended junior training sessions when he was a nipper of six and was coached by Peter Davies in touch rugby – because Tag rugby hadn’t even started then! His first real matches came when he was nine years old, with Ian Evans and Ian’s dad John as the coaches, and he played alongside some very promising players like Daniel Prettyman and Michael Roberts, with Aaron Sprowell a year younger but already showing signs of being the good player he is today in the No 9 jersey.
The Milford Under 11s won the Neyland festival for their age group and Ian enjoyed playing rugby at Milford Haven Comprehensive School when Neil Truman was their teacher. Ian represented Pembrokeshire at under 14, 15 and 16 levels and when he attended the Pembrokeshire College he joined the team coached by Kim Norkett and Ken Davies.
Included in the college team were players of the calibre of Aaron Sprowell, Rhydian Thomas and Tom Dinan (Whitland), Jason Scarfe (Pembroke Dock Quins), Luke Hansford (Pembroke), Steve Martin (Llanelli), and Jonathan Davies (Scarlets and Wales!)
Memorable trips, highs and lows
This group had a memorable trip to Dubai for a week where they played the top local youth side, which had been unbeaten all season – but the Pembrokeshire lads beat them early in the first match and won by a narrower margin when the opposition drafted in some bigger (and perhaps slightly older) players. The pitch on both occasions was the one used for the Dubai Sevens and the stands for the World Sevens were already being erected when they were there. It was very hot in Dubai and both matches were played at 8pm so that it was at least a little cooler. He was also part of a club tour to the slightly less exotic setting of Bristol, where they played Frampton, a team where coach McClelland’s brother is involved.
“We all had a great time in Frampton and I would go there again if we had another tour,” says Ian, “The rugby was good and the social life afterwards was even better.”
Ask Ian about highs and lows in his time at Milford Haven RFC and promotion would inevitably feature high up, with relegation the previous campaign was the low spot, especially since the Mariners won their first two matches and played quite well until the autumn internationals when their play went all to pot after that! He has also clearly enjoyed being top try scorer for three consecutive years and will be looking to gain that award next campaign with his ability to spot a gap and go for it, to use his deceptive speed off the mark to create that vital space for others.
Ambition – to lose a stone!
Ask Ian about ambitions and he would say that on the rugby front it is just to enjoy his game at Milford and help them do well.
“I would love to lose a stone in weight because the lads at The Obs always say I am the heaviest No 10 or 15 in the county - but I know that if I did lose a few pounds it would benefit my play. Perhaps a few extra training sessions are needed at the start of the season but we’ll have to wait and see!”
Major influences
Ian would say that one of the major influences on his rugby career has been his father John, allied to great support from his mother Mandy and sister Kirsten, whilst current coach Alan McClelland is a great help and Steve Truman regularly talks to Ian about his game, using his wealth of experience over many years to give sound advice. He would also list Kim Norkett and Kenny Davies from the county set-up as great helpers when he was younger.
Ian knows that whilst his attacking game is good he has to work at his tackling and connecting with other players in the club’s defensive plan – but is ready to work at those aspects of his play.
“Milford Haven RFC is a great club with some real characters in the team and I really enjoy being part of it” says Ian, “and I am going to work even harder next season to do well.”
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