Fixture

Match Result:  Llandaff 35 Old Penarthians 8

The weather at Bishops Fields, Llandaff was bright and sunny and good conditions to play the first WRU League Division 3 South East Central (B) league match of the season. Straight from the kick-off it was clear that Llandaff wanted to play an open running game and move the ball from side to side looking for space on the wings and after two minutes this resulted in their winger racing clear of the covering defence and scoring in the corner. The try was well converted.

Within another three minutes Llandaff scored their second try again using their speed on the outside to move into space and allowing the scrum-half to cut back in field near the posts.  With five minutes played Old Penarthians had hardly touched the ball and were trailing by 14 points.

This early setback was difficult for the team to cope with and they then spent the next five minutes defending their own line and relying upon individual breaks from Joe Page, Rhys Lakin and Rowan Alcock to release the pressure and eventually move into the opposition twenty-two.

This was however short lived and after 14 minutes a penalty was conceded in the middle of the pitch which Llandaff kicked to lead 17-0. At this stage halfway through the first half the travelling supporters were fearing a significant loss as the team seem to be playing as individuals rather than as a team.

Fortunately, Steffan Crimp was having an excellent kicking game and after a penalty took the Old Pens into the opponent’s twenty-two some good attacking play from Josh Alcock led to Llandaff conceding a penalty in front of the posts. Crimp easily converted to make it 17-3.

Llandaff however added another try from a short line out to extend the lead to 22-3.

A last-ditch tackle by Joel deClaire seemed to galvanise the team and for the last 10 minutes of the half they discovered their attacking spirit. Captain, Chris Poole, ran out of his own twenty-two to be supported by deClaire for the best attacking move of the half and only desperate Llandaff defence prevented a try.

A Page interception also took the ball back into the opposition half with the move carried on by Jonathan Crimp and Lakin. Unfortunately, the move broke down 10 metres from the opposition try line and the referee blew for halftime.

A strong talk from coach Jake Thomas during half time seemed to work and after one minute of the second half Steffan Crimp put in a delicate kick which resulted in a penalty and sustained pressure.  A cross field kick from Steffan Crimp was then caught by Poole who side stepped two players to score in the corner.

Shortly afterwards James Williams, who had previously replaced Alcock was himself injured and replaced by Gareth Clancy with Tomos Hillman moving to the wing.

Despite a settled scrum from Sam Hall, Page, Antony Pritchard, Josh Mellor and Matt Stingl, Llandaff were then back on the attack and they extended the lead to 29-8 with a converted try

Penarthians dominated the next 20 minutes and were camped in the Llandaff half but despite great skills from the backs, particularly Jon Crimp and Poole the deserved try did not materialise. More injuries saw Tom Sidford come on for his first game in two years as did Owen Evans and Ben Thomas.

This didn’t deter the players and good passing between backs and forwards saw Jon Crimp slice through the Llandaff line but stopped by two Llandaff players just five meters from the try line.

As the game went into the last five minutes it was all Old Pens but they couldn’t break down a strong Llandaff defence and with one minute to go the ball was lost on the opposition’s ten metre line and in the last play of the match Llandaff broke through to run in an unopposed try which was converted to make the final score 36-8.

There is no league fixture next week with Wales playing Australia at the Principality Stadium but the first home fixture of the season takes place at Cwrt-y-vil on Saturday 27^th November against Gwernyfed.  Kick off is scheduled for 2.30pm