DIVISION ONE EAST CENTRAL
Vital bonus points for Llan despite derby-day defeat
LLANHARAN ............... 30 HEOL Y CYW ............... 35
LLANHARAN may have lost this rip roaring local derby, but the two bonus points gleaned look to have preserved their One East Central status.
Cyw themselves and Porth Quins are now the vulnerable outfits in the face of Cardiff Quins’ three games in hand. The suburbs club would need victories in all three, and one is against Heol y Cyw, so one will be unable to overtake the Dairymen.
It has been a frustrating season as the home side have tried to rebuild after last year’s relegation. So many results have, like this one, been close and it is significant that their 13 bonus points is second only to champions Treorchy.
Head coach Jeff Pick did: “This was a cruncher of a game and we were never less than one score behind for very long.
“We played good rugby, but in the first half showed too much indiscipline and allowed our former player Mike Huckridge to kick penalties as well as gain the field positions his team made much of.
“Cyw were strengthened by five Bridgend boys, including other Dairyfield products in wing Rhydian Griffiths and the O’Driscolls, and their experience at a higher level told in the second half.
“Even so, we look to be safe and will play Bridgend on Wednesday night with a spring in our step and looking forward to further progress next year.”
Llanharan also reinforced their line-up with imports, John Dawe (Bridgend) and then replacement Joe Page (Cardiff ) making an impression.
Cyw made full use of the first half wind to take a 13-0 lead, but the Dairymen began a belated fight back to claw back points and trailed only 11-16 at half time.
Llanharan fought gamely in the second half and at 23-28 looked to be in with a chance but Cyw stretched the lead with a converted try before Morgan Williams, helped by Scott Jones’ kick, made sure of two crucial points for his team.
Llanharan’s bonus point tries came from Aled Llewellyn, Kieran Martin, Stu Griffiths and Morgan Williams with Scott Jones converting two to go with his two penalties.