DIVISION 3 EAST CENTRAL B
LLANTWIT MAJOR .... 12 TYLORSTOWN ............ 26
FOURTH-PLACED Tylorstown played the best game of their season against the team that lies one place above them in the league.
This was an outstanding team performance where backs and forwards gelled together to achieve this convincing bonus-point win.
Tylorstown’s win was based on the supremacy of the forwards and the excellent game management of outside half Liam Morris.
When Tylorstown needed to kick deep into the opposition half he did so and utilised the big boot of centre Michael Melhuish.
When Tylorstown needed to attack space the outside half delivered clever passes and kept Llantwit’s defence guessing all game.
Llantwit Major were completely out muscled in the scrum and Tylorstown capitalised on this dominance to make life difficult for the home pack. Yet again the front row of Ashley Thomas, Jamie Davies and Aidan O’Donaghue gave Tylorstown the steady platform to allow the backs to cause havoc with the home defence.
Tylorstown were up against tall players in the lineouts but managed to win an abundance of good, clean ball through industrious efforts by main lineout jumper, second row Dai Hefford and accurate throwing-in of Davies.
Tylorstown were dominant from the start. Captain Chris Lloyd continually charged into the Llantwit Major defence making holes for his back row partners Nathan Davies and James Groves to exploit.
They did so with aplomb and were at the heart of everything positive for the away side. All three back row players had outstanding games.
Tylorstown’s first two tries were as a result of dominant set pieces and excellent ball carrying from the Tylorstown eight. From a series of pick and goes at the breakdowns, first second row Robert Hemmings burst over the line to score followed swiftly by young hooker Davies. Both tries were converted by Melhuish.
With Morris controlling things in the backs Tylorstown settled into a rhythm and did the basics well.
Wing Matthew Carter was again in superb form and showed a quick pair of heels every time he had the ball.
Full back Jordan Williams made a number of incursions into the home 22 and his efforts were rewarded with a try, converted by Melhuish.
When Llantwit Major had possession the Tylorstown backs tackled diligently with Morris, Melhuish and centre Sam Davies working well together to stifle attacks.
This result will certainly alert teams above Tylorstown in the league with Tylorstown needing to push on from this victory and play with the same conviction and confidence for the rest of the season.