Fixture

Llantwit Major AmmoKnights finished 2015 with a Christmas cracker of a match against Vale rivals Old Pens. After the last month of nail biting finishes, the spectators must surely have finished off any remaining as another game went down to the final fun filled minutes. The early exchanges were very much even with the weather conditions making it difficult to play an expansive game. The AmmoKnights prodded and probed and were guilty of wasting several overlaps with white line fever infecting more than one player. The hosts struck first when following a steady scrum a well worked move exposed a gap of epic proportions in the Llantwit defence for the Old pens centre to canter through and touch down. A tricky kick meant that the neat back play only rewarded 5 points. As if slapped in the face the AmmoKnights realised they were in for a far sterner match than in previous seasons and they looked to apply some pressure of their own. As the clock hit the 10minute mark some neat interplay down the right hand side of the pitch created space out wise and Llantwit finally released quick ball with Leighton Pawsey squeezing over in the corner. At 5 points apiece the game had the makings of Christmas classic. Llantwit extended their lead just before half time with almost a replica try. Some good handling tied in defenders down the right and some excellent support play by Ben Reilly put Ben Moignard into space and his gazelle type stride did the rest. With the score 10-5 at the break and a breeze building up behind them Old Pens could sense an opportunity.

The second half started in a similar fashion to the first with both teams looking for the gaps. Old Pens sucked in defenders with some strong forwards work and after a good series of possession released their fullback who outpaced 4 would be tacklers to score Old Pens second try. The third wasn’t long in following. A dog leg blitz defence by Llantwit left a huge gap in between the centres and in the blink of eye the old pens centre was away and moments later showed great strength to score. Llantwit looked dazed and confused and warnings of pre-match complacency had clearly not been heeded. With 7 minutes to go Old Pens led by 7 points and a well deserved victory looked on the cards. All of a sudden players who’d been asleep for 50 minutes awoke and started to look hungry for the ball. Number 8 Pete Mitchell made a typical break down the right and when the ball was spread left centre Ethan White brushed off tackles to squeeze over in the corner. The conversion missed and only minutes remaining meant the visitors were down by 2 points. The kick off went deep and with only one thought the AmmoKnights run out of their 22 and were off. Some great support play resulted with players popping the ball prior to contact and eventually creating enough of a gap in the centre for White to burst through for his second try. A quick conversion and Llantwit had a 5 point lead. Pens pressed in the dying seconds looking for the breakthrough but the visitors defence now looking a little more resolute held and whilst a draw would have been a fair result, the visitors wont turn down the narrow 22-17 win.

A hard earned win against a very good Old Pens side who have shown a tremendous improvement from previous years. Llantwit finish the year having earned a well deserved break. Four weeks of very tough, tense matches will hopefully prepare them for a very difficult January with some tough challenges in the shape of Rhiwbina and the return match to Senghenydd.