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The First XV in a distinctly lacklustre performance were given a 3-26 battering by a young and impressive Cowbridge outfit in the derby game. With a large crowd in attendance the home side playing towards the Clubhouse decided to offer their visitors some Christmas spirit by offering little resistance to the quick thinking and hard running visitors during the first period. Their first converted try quickly coming from some forward dominant pressure.

The pressure continued as Llantwit failed to take any control of the game and the continued onslaught of pressure led to infringements and Cowbridge came away with a further two penalties.
Llantwit then lost their captain and hooker to injury causing a reshuffle of the pack with Alex Bloomfield moving across from prop to hooker and prop Lee Burlingham coming on to make his first appearance of the season.
Llantwit did then for a short period take the ball up field as they attempted to put up some sort of contest. Cowbridge though were too savvy for them and any drives were soon brought down and they astutely played a smart kicking game in using the slope to their advantage, with their outside half putting in some fine territorial kicks. This repeatedly put the home side on the back foot and they then played some good direct running rugby eventually leading to a huge overlap for them to canter over for their second try.
The home side then lost outside half Josh Austin to the sin bin for not releasing at the ruck, the resulting penalty kick further extending the Cowbridge lead.
Llantwit then finally woke from their slumber and some good forward drives up the field finally put themselves in some good field position, Cowbridge’s defence was solid though and repeated attempts were thwarted until man of the match scrum half Rhys Balmont spotted a gap from the base of a ruck and ducking and weaving his way through the defence dived over for an unconverted try, to give some hope of a recovery in the second half as the referee blew for the break.
There was though to be no recovery as Llantwit made several changes to their line up in the second half in an attempt to get back into the game and quickly get on the scoreboard. Cowbridge continued in the same vain as the first half in dominating possession and soon had a further three points from more indiscretion. This left Llantwit to chase repeatedly lost causes as any possession or territory was quickly slapped down by the visitors whose back row were firmly in charge of the game and their outside half and full back ruling the roost with a marvellous display of controlled kicking. Not helped by a further yellow card for wing Rhys Dixon for an illegal challenge. The only slim consolation being that Llantwit did put in a belated defensive effort to deny Cowbridge any further tries the game ending 5-26.
So what went wrong for Llantwit, they are still in second place in the league but this was one of their worst performances of the season. Cowbridge’s young side bullied them in the contact area throughout the game and certainly overall appeared to have far more desire, their energy levels putting the home side firmly in the shade. The defensive line far too often lacked any urgency, they were turned over far too often and their kicking game could learn valuable lessons from their neighbours display. Discipline was again a factor with far too many penalties given away at crucial times of the game to simple offside decisions made worse by back chatting to the referee which really is schoolboy petulant behaviour. Then of course there was this seasons normal yellow cards; when a team is under the cosh as Llantwit clearly were, the last factor you want to deal with is being down to fourteen players for twenty minutes of the game. 
Llantwit now have to lift themselves in the New Year as the good performances which elevated them in the league need to return quickly otherwise on this display and that in being knocked out of the cup the week before, they will soon slip down the league. 
As is often the case in rugby the sorrows and debrief were soon put aside for the evening as the team be it reluctantly at first, as they repented their performance, eventually enjoyed a barbecue to welcome the Christmas break cooked in fine South African style by flanker Donovan Stoppell. The team would like to thank D. Liscombe Building Services and Richie's Builders for sponsoring the food and drink.
The club would also like to thank their sponsors for their support in purchasing their new First team kit; Topstack, Colston Lettings, Oil for Wales, Richies Builders, Oil Facilities Limited, CS Boxall Ltd, Industrial Door Services and Blockley’s Barbers. 
A Merry Christmas from Llantwit Rugby Club to one and all.