Fixture

Travelling supporters were treated to an epic encounter this week as the combined Llantwit Major U15 and U16 team made their way to Cardiff, for a reverse fixture against the black and yellow stripes of Llandaff North.  

The disappointment in the lack of the wished for Spring sunshine was quickly replaced by other concerns, as the expected 13-players for the game suddenly dropped to 11 on the morning of the match.  Our thanks therefore must go to the coaches at Llandaff North for making changes to allow a competitive game to go ahead by dropping to 11-aside, with 5-forwards and 6-backs, and the soft but playable pitch being reduced in size by bringing one try line up to it’s closest 22-metre line.

In their last fixture back in November, the two, then full strength teams had a great game, with Llandaff North storming into a commanding lead down the gently sloping first team pitch at Llantwit Major, and then doing just enough to resist a fight-back by the home team to take the victory.  And it did look like déjà vu all over again, as the home team received the kick off and breached the Llantwit defence to score an easy try with their first attack.  That is where the similarities ended however, as unlike in their first encounter this time it was the Llantwit Major team that scored next.

With indiscipline proving to be a problem for the home team throughout the game, Llantwit were soon rewarded with a penalty 5-metres from the Llandaff try line.  Scrum half Maison David took the tap and immediately fed prop Ieuan Harrison who intelligently challenged the space between two defenders, and forced his way over the line just to the right of the posts.  Stepping up for the conversion was second rower Jack Robson, who calmly bisected the uprights for the extra 2-points.

The home team scored next, but once again the visitors hit back with inside centre Dylan Marsh stripping the ball then barging his way over the line from short range for a determined try.  Slightly closer to the sticks, the conversion once again sailed between the posts to bring the scores level.

Benefiting perhaps from fresher legs thanks to a supply of rolling replacements, the home team then hit a purple patch with 3-unanswered tries.  Making the most of the extra space on the pitch but scoring out wide and forcing challenging conversions for their gigantic, home placekicker, who was only able to hit one out of 3 conversions.  

Llantwit Major continued to threaten with stand in winger Logan Harris being tackled just before the line after a stunning sidestep that left his opposite number grasping thin air.  And on the opposite wing, the instantly recognisable Dexter Milburn was a constant threat with ball in hand, showing great athleticism and determination.  Inside centre Dylan Marsh and stand in outside half and captain for the day, Kelyn Joseph were typically direct in attack and destructive in defence, ably supported by Rob Dixon who played at 13 instead of his usual back row position. 

Feeding the backs this week was scrum-half Maison David who constantly kept the defence on their toes, and was eventually rewarded with a try of his own with the last play of the first half.  Having just been held up over the line from one attack while playing advantage for a knock-on, referee Liam Padmore brought the teams back for a scrum 5-metres from the Llandaff North line.  This time, the sniping scrum-half was not going to stopped as he burst from the base, fended one defender and carried the next over the line for a great individual score.  With the conversion missed, the teams went into the half time break at 19 points to 31.

The pace didn’t let up at all in the second half with the home team scoring first, but next came an outstanding score from the Llantwit backline.  In anticipation of yet another hard charge by Kelyn Joseph in midfield, the home defence were drawn in only to see the ball moved to Dylan Marsh who drew a player then timed a past perfectly to allow winger Dexter Milburn to drift outside the last defender and outstrip everyone to score under the posts.  The conversion was comfortably made again by the increasingly confident Jack Robson.

A couple of try’s for Llandaff North extended their lead, but then Llantwit Major struck back with 2 try’s of their own.

In a lung bursting game, credit should go to the Llantwit Major forwards who fronted up to a much bigger opposition pack and contributed fully to the spectacle.  Second rower Cameron Hegney made his presence felt even after suffering a nose-bleed just before kick off, while hooker Evan Sterck did some great work in the line out.  The next try owed much to their combined effort as prop Lewys Ingram was quick to the breakdown in the opposition 22 in support of another Dylan Marsh break.  This set up a charge by fellow prop Ieuan Harrison which pulled in 2-defenders and allowed the scrum-half to pop a pass back to Dylan Marsh, who forced his way to the line.  After crossing out wide Jack Robson was faced with his toughest kick of the day, so there were cheers from the travelling support when this also sailed over the bar.  A superb kick.

Next up was another close range effort as once again, a penalty conceded by the home team allowed a quick tap penalty 5-metres out.  With the defence disorganised, number 10, Kelyn Joseph took full advantage, stepping off his left foot and gliding under the posts unopposed.  Yet another successful conversion made it 40-points to 50.

Llandaff struck back with a score out wide taking advantage of the tiring Llantwit defence, but there was still enough energy for one more score.  More indiscipline from the home team saw yet another penalty 5-meters out from their try line.  This time, the defence was able to resit a charge from tight-head Lewys Ingram, but being caught offside again, another 5M tap and go first saw Kelyn Joseph, then Maison David stopped just short of scoring, before loose-head Ieuan Harrison burrowed his way under a desperate defender to place the ball onto the try line right under the posts, allowing yet another comfortable conversion.

The last try appropriately went to the home team, extending their lead and bringing the final score at full time to 60-points to 47.

Huge congratulations to both teams for making it work at 11 aside, and for Llandaff North for their victory.  Once again, it was nice to see the opposition coach praising the Llantwit team for their attitude and especially their fitness in playing the entire game with no replacements. A massive effort, so well done everyone but a special mention to the man of the match, who with an exceptional kicking success rate of 87% (6 out of 7,) could only be second rower, Jack Robson.  Well done everyone!