Report by Darren Thomas

DOWLAIS Youth welcomed the Black Army’s Youth side, from Llantrisant, to Dowlais Top on the first weekend of December. Conditions were, to say the least, a little brisk, dry, but extremely cold with a few very firm patches on field. Dowlais fielded an unfamiliar looking side, with a few regular team members unavailable for the fixture a reconfigured team took to the field in black and white.

Dowlais kicked off playing up the slope and against the northerly wind. The home side worked hard at maintaining possession and territory during the first quarter of the match and were rewarded with the first try of the match, scored by the robust, ever present Kieran Williams who deputised at scrum half, the ensuing conversion was slotted over by Ioan Pritchard.

This score motivated the opposition who began to tighten their grip at the set piece. Play broke down the left hand side of the field and some lacklustre tackling resulted in Llantrisant scoring near the posts and the accompanying conversion tied the score at seven all.

Dowlais continued to exert pressure during the half and towards half time Llantrisant infringed at the breakdown. Llantrisant has a player yellow carded and Pritchard took the opportunity to edge Dowlais forward with the subsequent penalty. The half ended with Dowlais ahead 10 points to 7.

The second half saw Dowlais playing with the elements and these were used wisely by Pritchard, who kicked well into the right hand corner. It was one of these kicks that saw Lewys Kaler score the home side’s second try. Kaler followed up on a kick gathered the ball and dived over in the corner. Pritchard missed the conversion, Dowlais led 15 points to 7.

Llantrisant made several changes throughout the half in an attempt to breakdown the Dowlais defence. Throughout the game Kieran Williams at 9 and centre Cierion Edwards, the eventual Man of the Match for Dowlais, constantly hunted