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17 September 2019 / Club News

Blood & Blacks win at home on Community Day

The First XV gained another five points as they beat Old Penarthians 30-7 at the Recreation Ground and as it was the first home game of the season was also the club’s Community Day, when we invite everyone to celebrate their family and community hub. And the sun gods shone bright and strong with not a cloud in the sky and temperatures reaching 22 degrees with just a mild breeze the only relieve for the players unlike the strong crowd of three hundred plus, who basked in the late summer sunshine.

With the home side playing towards the School End, the first half was a cagey affair with not a point scored in the first quarter as the teams battled for supremacy. The home side edging possession but the visitors turning over possession regularly and thwarting any chance of points. Several times the Blood & Blacks came close to crossing with some big forward drives only to be turned over or penalised before the final move could touch down. Then Old Penarthians themselves took the lead as there dangerous looking backline took advantage of some good field position with a line-out and an open drive allowed then to spread the ball with a lovely miss pass from ten to thirteen and a well timed inside pass then back inside to the supporting fullback to cross for a well worked converted try. The try heartbreaking for the home side after all their hard work and wondering if they could break this energetic and resilient Old Pens team.
They soon responded as a good period of territory was awarded with a penalty some distance out but in front of the post and up-stepped centre Jack Austin to slot it over to claw some points back. A short time later another penalty kick was agonisingly close hitting the upright. Then seconds before half time Llantwit were awarded another penalty out wide but well  in Austin’s kicking range; but with the normal mantle of take the points being discussed; captain Geraint David took the brave decision to go for the corner. The skipper explaining later that he wanted to go into the break in the lead and had confidence in his pack that they wouldn’t let him down. And they didn’t, as they mauled forward from the line out and robust number eight Rob Carter snook over for an unconverted try to just nick the lead at half time 8-7.
The second half began like the first with neither team budging in their defensive lines with big hits going in across the park but no quarter given. However the home side were just starting to gain a slight edge helped in no small part to virtually one way traffic at the scrummage with the Llantwit eight either pushing the visitors pack back rapidly or taking ball against the head at will.
And as the game wore on it was felt that this pressure was going to reap some rewards sooner or later as the visitors tired. And it soon did with a turn over on the Old Pens 15m line taken up the blind side with penetrating runs by flanker Rhys David and fullback Rhys Balmont; before the ball was spread back in field and big second row Jamie Lewis was at hand to charge through and despite a last ditch tackle reached out to dab down close to the posts. Austin adding the two points.
A further period of dominance saw Llantwit awarded a further penalty again slotted by Austin taking the score to 18-7 and you just felt now the Old Pens resilience was at breaking point. 
The Blood and Blacks were now dominating the set pieces and with it two further tries were their reward. Both taken with individual flair, the first going to back rower Stu Edbrooke who on seizing a loose ball on the half way line broke free and seeing acres of daylight in front of him pinned his ears back and headed straight for the uprights, finishing off the 50metre try with a flamboyant dive, even Shane Williams would have been proud of. The second and last try was also down to some gas powered legs as replacement wing Luke Dawes showed why he has just been selected for the Team GB bobsleigh team with some outstanding pace to score in the Bowling Green corner. The move coming from a scrum which was quickly let out to the three quarters who with some switch and miss moves spread it wide and Dawes coming off his wing looped round to collect on the twenty two. Still with lots to do he rounded the first line of defence before going inside then outside to leave the covering defence clutching at air such was the speed of execution. 
A great afternoon then for the Blood & Blacks with a 30-7 bonus point win in front of a large home crowd enjoying Community Day. But mostly because Llantwit knew they had just beaten a good side in Old Penarthians who made life very difficult for them. The score in the end arguably not really showing what a battle it had been. If Old Penarthians can sort out their only real but big weakness in the scrum, then they would certainly be there or thereabouts when the league standings unfold.
Man of the Match was the work horse flanker Stuart Edbrooke with further mention going to Ryan Evans whose box kicking and sniping runs kept the impressive Old Pens breakdown team busy and centre Jack Austin who led the arduous defensive battle.
This week the league now takes a interlude as the first round of the National Cup takes place, Llantwit take the short trip north to Pontyclun, who lie in the division above them and have had an impressive start of their own, wining comfortably two out of two, kick off is at 2:30pm.

A.H.

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