Llanharan disappointed despite two points
CARDIFF HARLEQUINS .............. 24 LLANHARAN ............... 22
ON the face of it, collecting two bonus points away from home may seem a decent return.
However, put in context for Llanharan, who scored four tries to three and finished within seven points of the opponents, it was frustratingly disappointing.
They went into the game against the bottom but one side fully aware of the need for a win, standing as they were 14 points ahead of the Cardiff outfit but having played two games more.
So with the team from the northern suburbs collecting a victory, the Dairymen found that gap reduced to 12 with just three games of their own to play.
It was what is becoming a familiar Llanharan story, a disjointed opening half, a gradual recovery, but a failure to capitalise on pressure whereas their opponents snapped up limited chances.
The Harlequins had a lot of early ball and attacked with abandon, but they were met with some resolute defence and in the 22nd minute it was the away team that opened the scoring.
Right wing Morgan Williams made the running as he broke free and, Jamie Williams added pace before full back Lee Davies finished off.
However, they were soon back under pressure, Peddle kicking a penalty and then scrum half Bartlett running behind the posts from a ruck on the line for Peddle’s conversion to make it 10-5 in the 34th minute.
Llanharan were still at sixes and sevens when Jones went over just a few minutes later, with the conversion giving his side useful 17-5 lead.
But they responded well and innumerable phases were executed after No 8 Morgan Griffiths launched himself at the line, only to end disappointingly with a knockon.
Strong words could be heard coming from the team huddle in the interval and it seemed to evoke a response with skipper Kieran Martin showing the way, charging down Bartlett’s kick at the base of the lineout, collecting superbly and dashing over to reduce the gap to seven points just after the restart.
Some of the Black and Blues running offered a menacing threat, but they wasted good penalty lineout ball with a poor pass and then Williams again was through only to find support far behind.
Quins began to edge their way out of trouble, but left wing Jamie Williams snapped up an interception and raced half the length of the field to score.
With a tricky cross wind, the conversion crucially hit an upright and rebounded. However, at 17-15 the Dairyfield men seemed to be heading in the right direction with quarter of an hour to play.
The Diamond Field side still offered an imminent threat though, an ankle tap from Morgan Griffiths halting a dangerous thrust, only for Miller to snap up a loose ball and dart 20m to the line, Peddle converting for 24-15 lead.
Llanharan hit back immediately, Aled Llewellyn initiating pressure with a break from the scrum and Ross Pritchard crashing over, converting himself.
But time ran out leaving Llanharan with still something to do to ensure survival and avoid straight relegations.