Fixture

The fair weather fans were out in force on Sunday as the AmmoKnights hosted Gilfach Goch for a rare venture onto the Recreation Ground pitches. With supporters of welsh rugby now used to dour, risk free rugby it seems that the national team’s performance strategy hasn’t found its way to Junior rugby where players still  throw the ball around and attack from everywhere. 83 points, 13 tries and a sunny morning gave the spectators a Sunday morning feast.

Gilfach started the scoring after the home team got trigger happy at the gain line and gave away too many early penalties. After a few quick taps Gilfach found the gap on the outside to touch down in the corner. A superb conversion followed and after 7 minutes the spectators were already getting anxious. Nerves were eased as Llantwit went straight on the attack from the kick off and moment’s later lock Jake Lynch broke through two tackles to sprint over and score under the posts. With their tails up, the hosts now started to through he ball round and their adventure was rewarded when wing Harvey Kwan scored his first try and the season with a strong finish. Ethan white converted and Llantwit had the lead with the fair weather fans applauding gallantly.

Two more first half tries followed, the first another debut try for wing Chris A’Hearn that was rapidly followed by a typical Pete Mitchell try and with 5 first half minutes remaining the AmmoKnights were 26-7 in front. As the first half drew to a close Gilfach responded with their second try as they too looked to move the ball and stretch the defence. As the whistle blew the hosts found themselves 26-14 in the lead but facing the unenviable task of playing up the hill.

The AmmoKnights needn’t have worried, as following a period of sustained pressure fly half Ben Reilly and Centre Ethan white combined to slice open the Gilfach back line and send White in for his own try. Gilfach seemed to be stunned and from the kick off White broke through several tackles to go clear. As he approached the try line he generously gave the ball to Sam Croucher to score the home teams 6^th try. Gilfach didn’t lie down and with typical fight and guile they endeavoured to score four more second half tries that were interrupted by one more AmmoKnight try to take the final score to 45-38 to the home team.

A vast improvement on the previous weeks endeavours with a first ever victory over Gilfach Goch for the age group. With a tour to Bristol fast approaching this victory will boost confidence going into a tricky March. CRICC are next up for a visit to Llantwit and hopefully the weather will hold to allow more rugby to be played.