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The First XV retained both their unbeaten home record and their second place in the league as they won a tough game 33-26 against Old Penarthians at the Recreation Ground. With Old Pens struggling with player availability they opted for passive scrums minutes prior to kick off and in doing so took the sting out of the Llantwit game plan as their scrummage has been a big asset to their form this season. With the visitors then reduced to playing with the bare fifteen you would have thought the advantage would have been with the home team but this was far from the truth as Old Pens showed that they are an exceptional attacking team and arguably have the best back line that Llantwit have faced so far this season.

As the game kicked off in bright but chilly autumnal weather, Llantwit playing towards the Clubhouse tried to catch the visitors cold as they tested the Old Pens back three with some big kicks from outside-half Josh Austin. It soon became apparent though that they were more than up to the task as they counter attacked from deep inside their own half to show brilliant back play taking possession right up to the Llantwit line and eventually coming away with three points from a penalty kick.
Llantwit soon got on the scoreboard as from the resulting kick off a dropped catch was quickly seized upon by speedster Luke Dawes on the wing as he hacked the ball on and then out sprinted the cover defence to the bobbling ball, scoring in the Bowling Green corner. The try converted with a big kick from scrum-half Ryan ‘Evo’ Evans.
Old Pens replied with another penalty kick as the home sides penalty count grew. After some tit for tat possession two big runs from flankers Gareth Watts and Rob Carter deep into the Old Pens half set up a brilliant back line move across the pitch to allow Rhys Dixon to show his pace by going over in the top corner, converted with another huge kick from Evans.
The next try was a tremendous piece of individualism by flanker and man of the match Gareth Watts; taking the ball on the ten metre line he spotted a gap in the Old Pens defence and like a rampaging rhino charged his way through, he then set off on a beautiful angled run to round the defending winger before changing his angle and dummying the fullback to race over under the posts, converted by Evans. Watts for a big man shows remarkable speed but also has a rugby brain with great vision in his running game.
As half time approached the Old Pens got themselves back into the game with an unconverted score of their own; the half finishing at 21-11.
In the second half Old Pens were soon back on the scoreboard as Llantwit's discipline once again let them down conceding another three points. The penalty count against the home side was disturbing, conceding over fifteen penalties by the third quarter. Something the coaches will no doubt be debriefing through the week. 
Old Pens then scored another try with their back line ripping the home team apart with a fine try which thankfully for Llantwit was not converted as the kick rebounded from one of the uprights. Old Pens then missed out on rounding off another good back line move with a try but for a great cover tackle by wing Luke Dawes.
Llantwit then began to exert some pressure with some hard running by forwards and backs with centre Rhys Davies and old stalwart Shaun Shea to the fore. The pressure eventually leading to Gareth Watts diving over from close quarters at the School End for his second try, converted by Evans
This was then followed up with a fine try with forwards and backs combining well with inter looping passes finished off with a strong run from loose forward Rob Carter typically leaving several defenders in his wake as he stormed over. Unusually, Evans then missed the conversion which was probably one of the simpler ones to marginally tarnish an otherwise excellent performance with the boot.
With less than ten minutes to go and the score at 33-19, time then to control and close the game out. But no, true to form they then imploded with the traditional yellow card to keep their supporters on tenterhooks for the final whistle. This time replacement Donovan Stoppell had his marching orders after only being on the field a few minutes for infringing at the ruck. This obviously gave Old Pens a life line to snatch the game from the home side, which they duly attempted to do, making repeated attacks into the Llantwit half, eventually driving a maul over for a converted try. Leading to a nervous last few minutes with just seven points separating the teams. The Llantonians though managed to hold off the last remaining Old Pens attacks to take the spoils at 33-26 and remain second in the league.
Next week Llantwit are on the road again as they travel up to the Rhondda Valley to take on the Mighty Ducks as they face Wattstown RFC in the league. The Llantonians though will be more interested in monkeys than ducks as they will be hoping to get one from their backs in their poor away form in the Valleys, having not won a game north of the M4 for some considerable time. Kick off is back to the standard time of 2:30pm the team bus will be leaving the Clubhouse at 12:15pm with supporters welcome to travel with the team.
There has been a lot of interest in the Monmouth cup game the following weekend Saturday 10 December, so the club will be running a supporters bus or minibus. If you wish to book a seat, please put you name down on the list behind the bar in the Clubhouse.

A.H.