Fixture

When an opposition team watching from the sideline team cheers every-time you touch the ball, you must be doing something right.  That’s what happened in the the last of today’s 5 mini-games as the combined Llantwit Major U15 and U16 team found themselves unexpectedly, at a district tournament, hosted by Dinas Powys.   

With the tournament re-arranged from a few weeks ago to this weekend, it meant that the Llantwit team were suddenly short of a game when their planned opponents, Llandaff North, pulled out at the last minute to take part in the competition.  With the end of the season fast approaching, rather than not playing a game, the coaches agreed to give the tournament a go as well, and the competition organisers were delighted to fill the slot vacated by another team.

As well as the hosts and Llandaff North, Cowbridge, Llandaff, and Barry made their way to The Common, where they were treated not only to the fantastic vista from it’s elevated position, but to some beautiful spring weather after some early frost had been melted away by the sun.

Providing some shade, the Tigers trusty gazebo made its annual appearance, defiantly filling the space between the grand marquee’s of Barry and Cowbridge.  

With 6 teams taking part, the day was arranged for each team to play each other once in games of 2-halves of 7-minutes, with a 2-minute break.  Each team played with 10-players, 5-“forwards” and 5-backs, with tap and go’s taking the place of scrums and line-outs.  With the playing surface hard and dry, it looked certain to be a good day for teams with pace to make the best use of the available space on the full sized pitch.

With perhaps greater resources, many of the teams had clearly decided to load their teams with backs, so the 8-forwards and just 4-backs making up the Llantwit Major squad of 4-U15 players and 8-U16 players, were always going to be challenged.

The score-lines for each of the games sadly reflected this mismatch, with heavy defeats to nil in the first four games, but as we’ve come to expect from the group, they always kept pushing and were again praised by opposition coaches for their energy and attitude.  

Perhaps it was the chips, butties and fizzy drinks that got consumed in the long gap before the final game against original opponents Llandaff North, or it might have been the chance to shelter and keep warm up in the now walled gazebo, following a change in weather that saw a cold breeze pick up and rain clouds threaten, but the final game of the day saw the Llantwit team start with huge amounts of energy and commitment, taking the lead with a deserved try.  Sadly this was the peak for the team, as they eventually succumbed to yet another heavy defeat at the hands of fleeter footed opposition.

That game ended the teams participation in the competition, and in all honesty, it won’t be remembered as being the teams greatest day in terms of overall performance and results.  However, what will be remembered is the respect earned by the team and especially the Llantwit Major number 21.  This was clear to see as the Dinas Powys squad who watched the last game from the sidelines, cheered every touch the team had, especially touches from number 21.  

It will come as no surprise to followers of the team, that Llantwit Major number 21 is Kelyn Joseph, who regardless of getting the only try for the team with a typically barnstorming run, worked relentlessly and enthusiastically to earn the coaches player of the tournament award.  You don’t often see final-whistle hand shakes being offered by players from a completely different team who watched a game, as well as by those who took part.  If that was to be the last time we see number 21 playing for the team, it was a decent way to bow out.

Big congratulations to all of the players who made it to the tournament today of course!  It wasn’t really a format that was going to suit Llantwit Major, but everyone stuck at it and even played on through injury in many cases, so well done to everyone.  It was really nice to see the boys having some fun and interacting with the other teams.  I hope that everyone got something out of it.

For the record, Barry were eventual winners but they were given a scare in the final with Cowbridge.  Leading by only 2-points at half time they eventually, but deservedly ran out winners by 28-points to 19.  Congratulations go to them and to all the other teams taking part in what was a brilliantly organised day out by Dinas Powys, so thanks go to them for their hospitality.