Summer rebuilding pays off for Llanharan
THIS was a heartening three tries to nil win for Llanharan after a summer of much intensive rebuilding.
Despite some poor weather, a lot of good rugby emerged, although it took the home team a time to get started.
However, although line breaks by Liam Union and Scott Jones would have brought five pointers on another day, they still scored two excellent tries.
Chris Poole got the first as Llan built phases from a scrum on the left, allowing the full-back to break outside.
Another good one followed. There was again a lot of good handling before Josh Austin, like Poole, back at the Dairy after a few years away, showed skilful footwork to slide in.
The Dairymen had the wind in the second half, but a changed line-up could only add one more touchdown.
One West Central outfit Kenfig had a lot of ball, only to meet determined defence, and once more an excellent build-up brought the try that decided the match.
Tom Buckle did much of the initial spadework at the breakdown, hacking through for Josh Austin to pick up and send the supporting Kieran Martin over on the inside. LLANHARAN were not at their best against good opposition, but found the resolve to snatch victory despite being reduced to 14 men after Rhys Taylor’s 29th-minute sending off.
The Dairymen were 19-0 up when prop Taylor responded to some persistent interference and got his marching orders.
It got worse for the away team just after half-time as Liam Union was yellow carded.
Bwl took full advantage to grab a 24-19 lead, but falling behind was the trigger for the depleted visitors to show character in snatching the game with two Derek Tredray penalties, the scrum-half having taken over from broken arm victim Scott Jones.
Llanharan’s summertime rebuilding process looked again to be bearing great promise as they built up a good lead.
Chris Poole showed his class with the first try, followed by a huge 25 metres scrum drive that brought a pushover score for skipper Huw Thomas.
A driving lineout saw Taylor finish off, but he was off the field shortly after, and Ynysybwl surged into a 24-19 lead.
It galvanised the side and Tredray struck the vital kicks to earn his side a second pre-season win after Josh Austin’s try had levelled the scores.
Coach Jeff Pick commented that his team had been up against opposition that would be strong this season, so a win was to be commended.
“But,” added the man who captained Llanharan in his playing days, “we can do better.”
He said: “We decided to use a big squad and gave a large number a run-out, but next week we will ob- viously narrow it down to take on Llantwit Fardre at the Dairyfield in our first One Central game.”