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This was always going to be a tough game for the First XV as they took on the league leaders Cefn Coed RFC at the Black Patch ground which sits majestically on Cilsanws Hill overlooking the Heads of the Valleys road and the county of Merthyr Tydfil. The performance did not disappoint as Cefn after a hard battle eventually snatched the spoils in the last few minutes with a 20-17 win.

The game started with Llantwit camped in their own half for a long period as both teams put several big hits into each other. This was to be the form for the rest of the game as both sides constantly hammered into each other and the physio’s were working overtime to treat the resulting bumps and bruises. Cefn were the first on the score sheet taking a 7-0 lead as their early pressure resulted in a well worked try from a driving line out.
Llantwit though soon replied as their first visit into the Cefn Coed half saw several strong runs from the pack finished off with big blind side flanker Dan Farrell rampaging through the home defence for a try, converted by outside half Dan Powell to level the score.
Cefn were soon to mirror the first period of play and reasserted their authority with a well worked try as their outside half orchestrated a wrap around run resulting in the back line sending over their wing under the posts.
Llantwit again replied with a lengthy period of dominant line outs and scrums being rewarded with a powerful driving mall sending over captain Huw Williams again converted by Powell. The first half ending at 14-14.
A large downpour of rain as Merthyr’s unique weather system kicked in greeted the players as the second half commenced. The teams battling for long periods in the wet for every inch of ground and and as frustration got the better of them both lost players to the sin-bin. The dead lock finally broken when the visitors were given a penalty just inside the Cefn half. Just reward for a dominant period of the game and some hard yards gained by the forwards and in particular the old warhorse and man of the match Shaun Shea. A huge kick by new signing Josh Austin just dropping over the crossbar to put Llantwit into the lead for the first time and bring hope to the travelling supporters that it finally looked like being the visitors afternoon.
It was not to be though as the game went into the last quarter Cefn kicked a penalty of their own to draw level. Llantwit then had their second sin-binning of the game. This is becoming a bit of an issue for the side as they conceded a large amount of penalties during the game and this was the fourth yellow card picked up in the last three games. 
Then as the game appeared to be heading for a draw some pressure by the Cefn pack saw them kick a final penalty to snatch the win at 20-17, Llantwit picking up a bonus point for their hard work. 
As the teams trooped off the Cefn coaches and players admirably admitted they had on this occasion probably had the rub of the green in some of the referees decisions and were relieved to be still on top of the league as their unbeaten run continues.
The Llantonians still felt they should have done better as they gave away too many penalties and arguably could have made better use of their talented back line. 
A positive note as a quiet and somber team bus headed south down the A470 was that many of the the Cefn players were deciding to have a quiet night of their own, as they nursed their bruises and felt shattered after a game they described as by far the hardest they had encountered this season.
Llantwit will be looking to get back to winning ways then as Tonyrefail RFC are up next in the league, with a home game on Saturday at the Recreation Ground k.o. 2:30p.m.