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09 April 2019 / Club News

Rampant First XV put on a show at The Rec

The Blood and Blacks were in fine form as they crossed for ten tries in beating Llandaff last weekend 62-14. With the rugby club hosting their first community fun day the festivities continued onto the pitch with a marvellous display of rugby from both sides. Llandaff even though suffering a heavy defeat were no push overs and the home side had to work hard to break them down but once they did the tries soon flowed.

The game kicked off in splendid spring sunshine but with a swirling strong breeze cooling any thoughts of summer. Llantwit playing towards the School End in the first half didn’t have it all there own way and there was still no score after the first quarter such was the determination of both sides to gain the upper hand. And arguably it was Llandaff who just edged the early exchanges and were keen to spread the ball wide as often as they could and with a live wire scrum half were asking questions of the home side.
But gradually Llantwit began to wear their opponents down with their set play and the first try came from a big scrum deep inside the Llandaff half. The ball whisked out by the half backs to centre Joel Thomas who made a strong run into the line defence but crucially gave a great offload from the floor back to outside-half Howley who spun the ball wide to the three-quarters who themselves made good use of the space to put wing Evan Holloway over in the corner. The next try quickly followed with a good team effort in patience as thirteen phases of close control pick and go movement was used before captain Geraint David forced himself over the whitewash.
Llandaff were soon back in the game as they were rewarded for a period of dominating possession with a fine try and with the conversion were edging back into the game at 12-7. Llantwit though after some stern talking from the old heads in the huddle soon settled back into their game plan of working through patterns of play before spreading the ball. And soon extended their lead once again with two well taken tries by Holloway and full back Josh Austin before the break. The half time score now standing at 24-7 with the bonus point already in hand.
The second half commenced similar to the start with Llandaff throwing everything at the home side in an attempt to get back into the game but once the line defence had soaked up the pressure Llantwit again began to dominate and the gaps soon started to appear in-field. The break through again coming from a dominant scrum which gave number eight Rob Carter and scrum half Ryan Evans to combine to annex the move wide. Outside-half Howley and fullback Austin then combined well on a loop to put Howley away and just as his eyes lit up to the white wash he was downed by a last ditch tackle but his offload allowed good supporting wing Steff Godwin to dive over.
Godwin soon adding another after some lovely handling by forward and backs gave blindside Gary Watts some room outside to tie in the defence and flick a lovely pass out of the tackle to Godwin who glided over.
Llantwit were now rampant in their strength of play and replacement flanker Dan Farrell was in a hurry to get on the score sheet in taking the ball from a line out maul to rampage over in emphatic style for a great try having left three defenders in his wake. Hooker Huw Williams crossing soon after for more a tight forwards hurrah of a move; the ball being edged closer and closer to the line from a scrum before being smuggled over.  
Llandaff were not to be denied another score in the deluge as they battled back into the game for a final time and were rewarded for their determination with a well taken try and some neat running by their backs.
It was though back to the Llantonians to end the display with some fine running rugby the first coming from a set play where the big boys first set up some ground near the 22 before releasing the backs who again with some lovely handling put Jack Austin a good angle into space, and there was no way the big centre was being stopped as he looped around the covering defence.
The last try was another of great individual play as replacement three-quarter Rhys Dixon who had been a real live wire since his entrance took the ball in the centre of the field and with some hard running forced his way into space but then blocked used strength and agility to break through again and then with some great footwork left the rest of the defenders grasping for air as he raised in under the posts to cap off a great day for the Llantonians.
Man of the Match was wing Steff Godwin who took his tries well but was also aggressive in defence and support. Further mention going to scrum half Ryan Evans who controlled the pack well and linked well throughout. And to the two youth players outside-half Liam Padmore and prop Dominic Henson who came on in the last quarter for their senior debuts and put in solid displays.
Llantwit now have a fortnight off until their last game of the season which will be away at Tonyrefail a much sterner test expected to end the season in the foothills of the Rhondda Valley who have an impressive record on their home turf. The team calling out to their great home support to make the short trip to support them in their final game.
The club would like to thank everyone who turned out for the community fun day which was a great success and will continue for the first and last home games next season.

A.H.

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