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An improved performance in the capital saw the First XV score six tries to beat Canton 8-34 in the league. On a bright but chilly afternoon Llantwit were expected to take advantage of playing on Cantons 3G artificial pitch and utilise their quick open style of play and they didn't disappoint. The forward pack putting up an impressive performance to dominate proceedings and allow the backs to run in the majority of the tries.

Llantwit were at first slow out of the blocks as they failed to make use of most of the possession and allowed Canton to take a foothold in the game with a three point penalty. However this was short lived as Llantwit after a nervy twenty minutes finally got into their stride as turnover ball on the half way line was quickly distributed out wide where centre Jack Austin put in a lovely long weighted grubber kick to allow wing Tinus Coetzer to use his pace and dive on over the try line, Ryan Evans adding the conversion.
Some dominant forward pressure emanating from a succession of solid line outs from Tom Winter soon had Canton back pedalling again towards their line with flanker Donovan Stoppel and Ryan Evans quick feet at nine making some hard yards the ball was again whipped out across the back line for Wise Vakacegu to dance over with Evans again adding the conversion. 
The third unconverted try came from more forward pressure, this time a free kick; from a now dominant scrum led to a succession of good angled runs and quick rucking which allowed Josh Austin to break away before releasing Gareth Watts who had already read the play and positioned himself out on the touch line to go rampaging over in the corner. This brought the score up to 3-19 at half time capping a splendid twenty minute period of rugby by the Llantonians.
The second half didn't start so well as Llantwit were again lethargic and Canton quickly crossed for an unconverted try of their own and continued to dominate the early exchanges. Then in a repeat of the first half Llantwit slowly began to exert control as they stopped defending and again began to dominate. With the pack now in total control of the scrum Canton were constantly edged back and put under pressure. This eventually leading to good field positions for the visitors, allowing them to set up plays to send both Austin brothers, Josh and Jack over the try line in succession and extend the lead further.
Canton admirably still would not yield and the rest of the game appeared to be dying out in the centre of the field until some loose ball allowed Wise Vakacegu to have the final say as he raced away from just inside the Canton half in his typical flamboyant style; bringing more joy to the sizeable number of away supporters cwtched up together from the cold in the small stand adjoining the pitch.
Man of the Match was Josh Austin who was again playing out of his preferred position of outside half at what arguably could be his best position of full back. He seems to revel in the extra time he has on the ball at fifteen and was at the heart of all of the Llantwit action. Further mention going to new second row signing Johnny Napier who made an impressive debut in the second half and tireless prop Geraint David who put in a trademark performance of work in the contact area.
A good win then but players and coaches were not getting carried away in the after match pitch huddle as they know there is still plenty of room for improvement and tough encounters to come. Starting with Tylorstown at home on Saturday k.o. 2:30pm, which should be a truly intriguing game as the first fixture ended in a 23-23 stalemate and they are now sat one place under Llantwit in the league but with two games in hand.
A.H.