DIVISION 2 EAST CENTRAL

LLANISHEN ................. 40 PONTYCLUN ............... 17

THE Llanishen programme notes emphasised this was a must-win game for both sides to steer them away from the “drop zone” but on the day it was the home side who were far mare energised by that prospect.

In a constantly up-tempo game they collected six tries and a bonus-point win over a Clun side that were nothing like the teams of their last few games.

Llanishen were orchestrated by their experienced scrum half and club coach Harry Trelawny who turned out for this targeted game. His Championship background clearly showed as he cajoled, organised and led his home team and frustrated his opposition. The Badgers had no one to match that and Joel Ayres, the promising Clun scrum half, will be a better player from watching Trelawny boss this game. The Clun back row could not contain him and as a result he was able to release his outside half Finlay Robjohn to great effect and his tactical line kicking had the visitors in all sorts of trouble.

Two tries in the first half came from pin-point kicks to the Clun corner which had full back Parsons and wing Matthew in all sorts of bother. Quick lineouts and the ball passed inside gave Llanishen two training paddock tries. Both were converted by full back Rhodri Davies.

It could have been more but for some great defence tackling where the Clun front row of Bosanko, Barclay and Jones put in some thunderous tackles. One counter attack near the half-time mark saw the visitors awarded a penalty for a ruck offence and Nicky Theaker playing at outside half, in the absence of Joe Williams, put Clun on the scoresheet with a penalty from 30m out.

The Clun coaches’ “pep talk” at half-time had some effect as the restart saw Pontyclun playing with more vigour. Theaker managed to get his threequarters moving and at last the ball reached impressive left wing Jake Dennis. He burst down the touchline and bludgeoned his way past two defenders for a great try. Theaker added the extra points from a difficult conversion and at 14 points to 10 it seemed things might change.

The set scrums were fairly even but at the lineouts Clun lock Andrew Yates was so often the visitors’ sole option. Llanishen flanker Alex Bourne, playing his first game for some months due to injury, was prominent in loose play and had the edge at the breakdowns. From a scrum in the 10m area Trelawny began a text book move with the ball eventually reaching left wing Sam Williams who scampered over for an unconverted try.

For the next 15 minutes Robjohn continued his well rehearsed tactic of accurate kicks to the corners allowing his big pack to do their stuff and rumble over for two more tries, both of which were converted by full back Davies. Despite having talented soloists the Badgers simply seemed to have no cohesion or answers and too often desperate kicks out of defence presented Robjohn with more opportunities to counter attack back into the visitors’ 22m area.

Despite this energysapping tactic Clun never gave up and eventually it was that man Dennis who broke the stranglehold. From a strong run up midfield he was able to find Theaker inside him who passed out to powerful centre Rhys Morgan to score. Another excellent Theaker conversion took the score to 33-17.

Whilst this lifted spirits, Clun continued to rely on individual creativity rather than a more practised game plan that benefitted Llanishen so well. In the dying moments it was once more that simple quick passing team movement that gave Llanishen the last word when replacement prop Sean Lynch crossed near the posts, giving Davies a conversion to take the final score to Llanishen 40 Pontyclun 17.

Pontyclun continue their season with a home game against Penarth on March 25. ON Saturday the young dragons journeyed south to Clydach Vale side Ynysbwl,

The Bwl Youth fielded a physically imposing side which pocessed a mixture of experience and younger under-16 players.

The Dowlais XV contained players who have now established themselves as the backbone of this young, developing side.

It was the home side who took the lead early on with a well-worked converted try and things looked a little ominous for the Dragons. Ynysbwl led 7-0. Dowlais worked their way into the opposition half and earned themselves a penalty which was slotted over by Dowlais outside half Ioan Pritchard.

The majority of the half saw Dowlais defend. With continuous pressure being exerted by Ynysbwl the inevitable next try came again for the home team, this too was converted and the margin between the two sides increased to 14-3.

At half-time the Ynysbwl coaching staff must have been concerned that their side had not capitalised upon the time spent within the Dowlais half. This was also a demonstration of how durable the Dowlais defence had been.

The second half saw Dowlais make changes and it was one of these changes, rangy second row forward Morgan Thomas who stormed over for the first of Dowlais’ tries. Pritchard converted and the score narrowed to 14-10.

Ynysbwl responded with another try after repeated charges made by their large, ball-carrying forwards. The conversion took the Ynysbwl score to 21. This was to be the Bwl’s final contribution to the scoreline for the afternoon.

Dowlais scored next through their lively centre Kieran Williams and Pritchard added the conversion. With four minutes left on the clock Dowlais were now within reach of the win with the scoreline at 21-17.

It was Dowlais who finished stronger. A high ball gather by Dowlais prop forward Matthew Davies saw Davies run at the Ynysbwl defence and this phase put Dowlais on the front foot. A clever tactical kick by Pritchard placed Dowlais into the Ynysbwl 22 and it was there the visitors remained until Callum Williams forced his way over to record the final try and push Dowlais into a one-point lead.

Pritchard’s conversion attempt went wide and the final whistle signified a hard earned away victory for the visitors.

At the onset of the 2016/17 season the objective for Dowlais was to re-establish a youth team. In recording their third victory of the season the young side must take confidence from what they have achieved thus far this season. This confidence should stand them in good stead for next season. The side now has two league games left before the group take a well earned trip to Portugal for their end-of-season tour.