Fixture

With a week off to commemorate Remembrance Sunday, this week the combined Llantwit Major U15 and U16 team returned for another home game, welcoming familiar opposition in the form of Cambrian RFC.

After kicking off the season with an enthralling, 27-all home draw game against Cambrian, the home team were looking forward to another competitive game. This was going to be made more difficult however, as injuries and unavailability reduced the match day Llantwit team to just 16-players from their squad of 22.

With a shortage of numbers in some positions this meant that the coaches had to shuffle things around.  With 3-scum halves unavailable, that meant that winger Rees Harris had to step in at the last minute to cover 9, while usual open-side flanker Kieron Marin found himself in the backs and replacement hooker Evan Sterck filled in at prop.

On a positive, the boys had plenty of time to warm up, as half of the Cambrian team didn’t arrive until after 11:30, when the kick off was scheduled for 11:00.  Fortunately, for the player and the healthy number of supporters, the day was bright and clear, with just the occasional blast of cold northerly wind and the soft underfoot conditions reminding us that Winter is just around the corner.

Although not as big a factor as in their last home fixture, the wind was something to be conscious of, and it was a little worrying that the home team would not be able to benefit in the second half from this and the gentle slope of the Llantwit Major first team pitch.  Having made the most of home advantage in their last 2-games, this time the home team had the challenge of starting the game down the slope, which meant that they needed to make the most of the conditions in the first half.  

It was the bigger and more direct pack of Cambrian who would strike first however, with some trademark, heavy-duty driving play proving too much for the home defence.  It was not long until the scores were brought back together, as infringements by the visitors allowed the Tigers to mount an attack from 5-metres out.  A tap and go by flanker Rob Dixon was resisted, but from a metre out, captain and number 8 Jakub Jeziorski saw a chance and burrowed his way over the line.  With both conversions missed, the score was tied at 5-all.

That became 5-10 when Cambrian once again worked a position on their left flank and used their forwards to wear down the battling defence to eventually score out wide.  Ever reliable outside-centre, Kelyn Joseph can take much of the credit for the next score, aggressively winning turn over ball in the centre of the pitch in the Cambrian half, then charging into the heart of the visitor’s defence.   Dummies and sidesteps almost allowed him to break free, with just a desperate ankle tap eventually slowing him down.  The damage was done however, as from the breakdown the ball quickly made its way to the wing where Kieron Martin burst through a couple of tackles before touching down in the corner.  With the tricky conversion missed that made it 10-all.

Stung into action, the Cambrian outfit then started to turn the screw a little.  With a much heavier pack, their scrum began to dominate, so the home team struggled to get their hands on the ball for any length of time.  Using their big forwards on hard attacking lines, they bullied their way into a strong half-time lead, scoring 2 unanswerd tries with one converted to make it 10-22 at the interval.

That dominance continued into the start of the second half, where with the benefit of the slope, Cambrian managed another unconverted score to make it 10 - 27.

While South Africa can call on the ‘bomb squad’ to make an impact in the second half of their games, Llantwit Major replacement prop Lewys Ingram, proved to be a similar catalyst.  With defensive rips, hard carries and some great kicking out of hand to secure field position from penalties, he contributed to a turning of the tide.  While Cambrian continued with their forward oriented approach, this time the home team managed to keep them at bay with Dexter Milburn at full-back having a great game as the last line of defence.

Offensively, the home team took it to the opposition, with scrum half Rees Harris using his winger skill to dance up the right flank, and Kelyn Joseph again leading by example with some barnstorming runs.   Under pressure from the home team, discipline started to become more of an issue for the visitors, and this allowed Llantwit to make their way up field and ultimately set up another 5-metre penalty, just in front of the posts.  A kamikaze charge by Rob Dixon seemed to leave the defence bamboozled to such an extent that form the breakdown created by quick thinking Dexter Milburn, the ball made its way out to hooker Corey Cox, who arched around to score unopposed in the corner.  The tricky conversion was missed, making it 15-27.

Another charge by the impressive number 13, combined with a drive from Rob Dixon again sucked in the visitors defence on their own 22, and this time the ball made it’s way quickly to winger Emlyn Miles who was able to show his speed, race away from the drifting defenders and slide over in the corner.  Another difficult conversion was missed making it 20-27.

With all the momentum, Llantwit continue to pressure the visitors.  Breaks from home outside half and eventual player of the match, Daniel Taylor were supported by runs from Jakub Jeziorski and Kieron Martin, and were only stopped by desperate defence.  There was no stopping Dexter Milburn for the next score however, as the last line of defence became the first line of attack in a break up the right flank.  Breaking tackles, the full back forced himself through and despite a last gasp, if a little high tackle, just made it to the line.

With 3 kicks missed from an almost identical position, prop Ieuan Harrison was no doubt feeling the pressure with this conversion.  This time however, the earlier pulls and a push were forgotten as he judged the line to perfection.  Sadly, the length was not quite as well judged, so hearts were in mouths as the ball died in the air and started to fall, only to then bounce up off the bar and cross the line, claiming the 2-points and making it a familiar 27-all.

On this occasion that wasn’t to be the final score however, and it was again the home team that stuck to take the lead for the first time in the game.

Once again punished for ill-discipline, Cambrian found themselves defending a line out in their 22.  A well rehearsed training move seemed the obvious call, so hooked Corey Cox found the towering Ben Raymond at the front of the line and arched around to receive the ball again before charging into the disorganised line out defence.  At least, that’s what’s supposed to happen.  This time the charge was stopped early, but the ball was recovered by Kelyn Joseph who made ground down the blindside supported by Keiron Martin.  This drew another penalty, and from the tap and go, Corey Cox took advantage of the compressed defence.  Much to the surprise of everyone, and in a throwback to the his days in U8’s, the flanker chose not to run at the opposition, but to run straight across the field.  This appeared to confuse everyone, but especially so the 5-defenders who he simply ran around, before touching down on the opposite side of the field to where he’s started!

Although again from almost the identical position as the last 4 attempts at goal, this time the conversion was missed, so with the game nearing it’s conclusion the score was 32-27 to Llantwit major.

An unlikely victory was however snatched away from the home team, as Cambrian forced their way upfield in their typical style.  Gutsy defence this time proved to be inadequate, and it was Cambrian who finished the try-scoring with a hard-earned try out wide to bring the scores level.  With neither teams excelling with their place kicking throughout the game, it was still a relief for the home team to see the ball fall short and leave the scores tied.

Although there was time for a kick off, another infringement from the visitors allowed the home team to kick the ball dead and end the breathless game.  

Credit to both teams.  To Cambrian for their huge effort in the pack, as well of course to Llantwit Major who in adversity showed great strength of character to almost pull off a notable win.