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The First XV finally after four attempts achieved their first away win of the season as they eventually overcome stubborn resistance to beat St Albans RFC 14-34 at Tremorfa Park, Cardiff. With the Wales rugby International being played in the evening, the game kicked off at the much earlier time of 1:00 p.m.; and in the first quarter it seemed as both sets of players still had some sleep in their eyes as the game was pretty dull and lifeless. The only scores being an early three point penalty from the boot of outside half Dan Powell responded by a well taken drop goal by his opposite number in the St Albans side.

The game did eventually spark into some life with St Albans taking advantage of some loose ball from a Llantwit ruck in their own half by hoofing the ball down field and in doing so catching the Llantwit back line completely unaware. Leaving captain Huw Williams to show great speed for a hooker in having to race back and secure the loose ball and save their blushes. But in the resulting ruck the ball was again spilled out by the Llantwit pack and St Albans were not to be thwarted again, going over from close quarters for a converted try. Leading to the team as they stood beneath the posts receiving a much needed tongue lashing from captain Williams.
The scolding quickly paying off as Llantwit started putting the opposition under pressure with a series of strong runs and tactical kicks into St Albans territory. The pressure paying off with a turnover at a ruck giving the back line a chance to put the ball nicely through the hands and freeing up wing Rhys ‘Tinkerbell’ David, to make a strong run around the cover defence and go over in the corner. The try converted with a fine touch line kick from Powell. This was soon followed by another good try as they showed great counter attacking football from their own 22. A quickly taken drop out being well chased put St Albans on the back foot, some loose ball giving Llantwit possession which they took deep into the St Albans half. A series of back moves, rucks and mauls eventually giving a make shift back line of forwards and backs a four man overlap. The visitors though decided to go route one with a long pass finding No8 Jamie Lewis, there was only one thing the big man was going to do as he thundered through the defence and cantered over for a converted try. The referee immediately blowing for the break with the score at 8-17.
In the second half after some early attacks from St Albans, Llantwit began to exert some dominance on the game with their much lighter pack starting to game supremacy on their opponents. A scrum on the home teams 22, saw the Llantwit eight put in a huge shove resulting in a penalty against the retreating St Albans pack. Williams elected to go for a line-out rather than take the points. The decision was rewarded with man of the match Tom Winter securing the catch; a driving maul straight from the training ground was then implemented with the pack quickly driving captain Williams over the whitewash. A very well worked try which even brought a smile to the normally dour face of forwards coach Graeme Williams.
With a fourteen point lead and seemingly well in control it was now time as has become the norm this season for Llantwit to implode. First was the regular yellow card, this time for Josh Austin who spoilt an otherwise solid and classy display at fullback by pulling an attacking opponent back in similar fashion to Dan Biggar against Australia. The resulting penalty being kicked by St Albans. As Llantwit then attempted to grind out the ten minutes they conceded another penalty which was again kicked leaving just an eight point gap in a game they were in total control of. St Albans whose performance certainly does not reflect their bottom of the league status made several attacks with some some strong running from their centres but Llantwit's fourteen men stuck solidly to the task and denied them any further points.
Llantwit finally played to their strengths and finished the game in some style, with the forwards now in control again, with a notable performance by Dan Bawden, both forwards and backs were able to combine for two very good converted try’s. The first after a series of runs into the St Albans half brought some lovely support play from replacement back rower Ulaiasi Tuitubou who gave a lovely dummy to push the move on before releasing fellow flanker Gareth Watts to storm over for a bonus point try. The last try then was a great move across the field as the backs opened up a now tiring St Albans defence with some excellent passing for replacement Youth player Iestyn Jones to race over, the game ending 14-34.
There is another break this week as Wales take on Japan in the penultimate Autumn International k.o. 2:30 p.m. The game and later the hotly anticipated second test between Ireland and New Zealand will be shown at the clubhouse with members and non-members warmly welcome to attend.