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The First XV held out a spirited Cardiff Saracens side to secure a much needed 8-10 win at the Roath Park Recreation Ground as the league fixtures reach the half way point in the season. The line up saw Tinus Coetzer make his first start of the season at full back and due to a late withdrawal Josh Austin having to play at the unaccustomed position of scrum-half. With a boggy parks pitch surface this was never going to be a high scoring game, the first quarter not seeing any notable action as both teams battled in the mud for territory. The stalemate eventually broken as forward pressure allowed Llantwit to open up the game with some attacking play, finished off with a lovely timed run by Josh Austin to go over the whitewash; Dan Powell adding the conversion with a great long range effort. The game though quickly returned to a struggle for territory with the only further highlight being a well earned Sarries penalty as they wrestled back into the game; the first half ending at 3-7.

The break saw instructions from the coaching staff to tighten up the game which was exemplified by man of the match Jack Austin as he made hard run after run into the Canton defence. A further three points from the boot of Powell extended the Llantwit lead after some pressure tackles and hard runs from the visitors put them into good field position. The game becoming an intriguing battle as neither team would fold and play went constantly from end to end as each side attempted to gain the upper hand. The deadlock eventually broken late on in the game by a Sarries try out wide, which thankfully for Llantwit was not converted. The Llantonians then put in a valuable final effort to grind out the win by forcing the Sarries back deep into their half so as not to allow them any further opportunity to score, the game ending at 8-10. 
This was a hard fought win against a good Sarrries side who play a determined and aggressive game which does not sit with their lowly position in the league table. Llantwit who after two losses were under increasing pressure had to match this determination and they did deliver with the players having to roll up their sleeves and do the dirty work in tough conditions; none more so than second row Dan Bawden who was like a rampaging wildebeest around the park.
The New Years resolution started well with at last no yellow cards, however this was not for want of trying by one or two of the Llantwit players! A hard fought win then and certainly by their own standards not a great performance but a win was asked for and a win was delivered. There will be more work to be done during the week but they are back on track and will now need to raise the standard further as they again travel to the capital on Saturday to take on Canton RFC, k.o. 2:30pm. With Canton now playing on a 3G artificial pitch then Llantwit have no excuses of the playing conditions and will be hoping this suits their normal quick open rugby style of play.