DIVISION 3 EAST CENTRAL A

TAFFS WELL ............... 36 LLANDAFF NORTH .... 29

TAFFS Well have made the perfect start to life in Division 3 East Central A, winning all three of their league games but they were made to work hard to beat a solid Llandaff North side.

It was a great game with both sides playing open rugby, and nine tries were scored in the process with Taffs Well just edging the visitors five tries to four.

Llandaff North came out and quickly went on the attack scoring two converted tries before the home side had got into the game.

Their only score coming from a Shaun Baggs penalty goal, but a try from player-coach Gavin Close brought Taffs Well back into it at 8-14.

The visitors then produced their third try of the half, followed by a penalty goal to stretch their lead to 22-8 and with half time approaching the home side needed to do something fast and they did with first scrum half Garyn Lucas and then No 8 Max Watkins scoring a try, both converted by Shaun Baggs to bring the score back level at 22-22 at half time.

After the break a powerful scrum on the visitors’ line allowed Max Watkins to pick up and score his second try of the game, again converted by Baggs to take Taffs Well into the lead for the first time 2922, also claiming the bonus point, but the North came back again and scored a fourth try which was converted to level the score once again 29-29. And with time running out it looked odds on for a draw, but Taffs Well, who are not used to losing, staged a final assault in order to win the game, and when they were awarded a penalty up stepped Baggs but unfortunately his kick went wide and the chance gone.

But from the final play of the game Taffs Well attacked down the narrow side and scrum half Garyn Lucas scored his second try, again converted by Baggs for a 36-29 win.

The win was just about deserved but Taffs Well can play a lot better and hopefully they will when they travel to Fairwater on Saturday.

The second XV had their game called off; the newly formed Youth played well at Canton before losing 15-3. The Taffs Well Ladies were very unlucky at home to Morrison on Sunday, losing 22-21.