High-five for Llanharan
DIVISION ONE EAST CENTRAL MOUNTAIN ASH ......... 26 LLANHARAN ............... 34
A FIVE-POINT haul will have gone a long way towards keeping Llanharan in Division One East Central and avoid a second successive relegation.
In a long spell with little success the Dairymen have promised much and delivered little.
Not so this time though as they produced a brilliant third quarter to seal victory, only an injurytime rally allowing the home team some respectability with a four-try bonus point.
In truth both sets of supporters had despaired at an error-strewn first half which nevertheless produced four touchdowns.
Mount were first off the mark as a side-step led to Alex Hughes’s score, Declan Conway landing the first of his three conversions.
But in the 20th minute Llanharan got on terms, with front row man Sam Grant spotting the gap and driving over, Jones embarking on a 100% kicking spree.
It was soon time for Mount to strike again, Alex Hughes’s try to the right of their scrum taking the lead to 14-7, only for the visitors’ top try man Chrissy Poole to level the scores after reacting well with a clearance charge down and follow up.
The second half restart was a revelation as centre Stu Griffiths in particular began to wreak havoc, with recent signing John Dawe profiting to make it 21-14.
Half backs Dan Burton and Scott Jones were controlling things nicely and far from sitting back on the lead Griffiths again took on the midfield and after twice being held up over the line it was skipper Kieran Martin whose long arms secured the try from the second to grab the bonus point and a 2814 lead.
Llanharan were clearly playing for keeps as Martin’s decision to go for goal brought Jones another three points and put the Old Firm three scores behind at 31-14.
And the score proved wise, a revamped Cynon Valley outfit getting a third try after a high tackle as Roberts went over again in injury-time for Conway to convert.
Replacement Adam Williams once more built on the ruthless winning mentality with a penalty and, although Roberts gained a bonus-point consolation, for the Black and Blues it was clear that it was “mission accomplished”.
Safety is still not mathematically assured however, and Saturday’s final match at home to fellow strugglers Heolycyw could still be crucial.