DIVISION ONE EAST CENTRAL
LLANHARAN ............... 12 YSTRAD RHONDDA ... 19
A THRILLING last-move try by Lloyd Thomas, converted by himself, gave Llanharan a well-earned losing bonus point.
It came as secondplaced Ystrad were pressing for their own try bonus point in the dying minutes.
With hooker Sam Llewellyn sin binned, it looked odds-on they would succeed as three consecutive penalty scrums put the pressure on.
But somehow Llanharan wrestled possession away from the third and Morgan Williams went haring away up field. Ystrad managed to get the ball back but replacement Thomas expertly pounced on an interception 40 metres out to race away and score, coolly adding the all-important kick.
It was deserved consolation for the home side, team manager Wayne Jervis, who himself had a spell with the Rhondda Fawr boys, praising their hard work.
To their credit they had denied the away team a score in the second half after it looked like a runaway victory was on the cards at half-time.
Indeed, Huw Thomas’s men lacked cohesion and composure in the first 40 minutes against a no-nonsense and direct Rhondda outfit who threw everything into forceful attack.
A shaky start was punished in the sixth minute as No 8 Liam Davies forced his way over.
They notched a second in an unusual way when referee Tim Davies awarded a penalty try despite the fact that the scrum was still intact and straight, and no offence appeared to have been committed.
It was a disappointment for the home front row of Rhys Taylor, Llewellyn and Matt Phillips who until then had held out well in the set piece.
Rhys Truelove converted, but Llanharan were given a glimmer of hope with a try from the dangerous Jamie Williams who got the touchdown to Stu Griffiths’ kick after the inspirational skipper Thomas had effected some good recovery work.
However, the Gelligaled XV made it 19-5 at halftime, Llanharan falling for the old front-of-the- lineout ruse by allowing scrum half Jack Foulkes to sneak through the blind side.
Llanharan started the second half missing a penalty under the posts and Ystrad soon pressed at the other end, only Thomas again and a good Rhodri Jones clearance preventing a score.
Then it was Llanharan’s time to threaten, their hard working pack with Kieran Martin, Richard Hart and Lee Morris providing quality lineout ball creating enough scope for talented runners like Chrissy Pole, Morgan Williams, Jamie Williams and Jack Pring to start making ground.
Yet it seemed there would be no reward especially as the physical commitment of Huw Thomas forced his departure five minutes from time, followed by the yellow card.
But they never gave up and Thomas’s try was the positive outcome of their resolve.
It was also pleasing to see Owain Howe make a successful return to senior action after five months out with injury.