Fixture

Llanishen RFC | 1st Team 29 - 26 Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd RFC | 1st Team

Match Report
29 October 2017 / Team News

A Thriller, No, But Winning Streak Goes On

Llanishen RFC 1st XV v Clwb Rygbi Saturday 29th October 2017: 
 
We used to say, at Cardiff Harlequins, that it was never over until the referee turned up! Well after the events of last month a referee would be most welcome and he duly turned up to much relief.
 
Two exciting matches last year saw  many tries and, with the calmer conditions, it was to be hoped that would be repeated today.
So to kick-off and a site I hadn't seen before. The kick-off was headed, intentionally or unintentionally, by a Llanishen player into touch.
The line-out was stolen by Llanishen and series of phases, building momentum and gaining ground, ensued. Mike Rose carrying hard three times in the movement. The defence was good but ultimately Clwb conceded a penalty, which Alex converted.
Clwb then had the better of the next fifteen minutes and during the period two penalties were missed in the blustery conditions. The Llanishen scrum was also under-pressure but Noah was able to gather the ball from the retreating scrum, no easy feat, to create decent ball for the backs.
It was from a retreating scrum, on the half-way line, that Noah broke through despairing tackles and powered into Clwb's twenty two. Good ruck ball allowed the ball to go across the backline to Sam, who cut inside, to power over the line. 
The conversion wasn't easy but Alex nailed it and the Lions were ten nil up. 
 
Defence wins matches they say and Llanishen's players were certainly throwing themselves into tackles and counter-rucking to spoil the opposition's ball.
A break off the back off a scrum and good inter-passing gave George the chance to sprint over for a fine team try. The conversion was missed but Llanishen seemed to be gaining the upper hand. 
Silly me! We then went looking for the lower hand and found it. Penalties and missed kicks to touch put pressure on Llanishen and a penalty kick to touch resulted in a five metre line-out to Clwb.
The cwtch-and-drive enabled the forwards to drive over the line and the conversion brought the opposition back into the game.
Ellis, through the middle, and Alex, Sam and Josh, out wide, were making good line breaks and from one of the breaks Llanishen found themselves in Clwb's twenty-two.
A number of powerful drives by Elliott, Lee, Ben and Shaun enabled Mike to break a tackle and scramble over the line. Alex's conversion put Llanishen fifteen points clear, with half-time approaching.
 
'Achilles Heel' time again as mistakes and penalties gave Clwb a five metre scrum. The scrum twisted and the referee felt Llanishen were at fault and awarded a penalty try. 
 
Thus ended the first half, a bit of a 'Curate's Egg' of a half but with a slight wind advantage the home support felt confident that the team would win the game (well my Dad did!).
 
Rhys, who had made a number of crunching tackles, had to leave the field at half-time with a shoulder injury. Liam Barnard, a product of the MJY conveyer-belt, and a fine barman, took his place in the second-half.
 
Half-Time Llanishen 22 Clwb Rygbi 14
 
Second half performances haven't matched the first half's this season but a good opening to the second half gave hope (gobaith) to the home crowd. Good attacking phases allowed 'The Llan' to set up a ruck under the posts and Harry was able to snipe and reach out (he was very near the line!) to score a try, which Alex popped over.
 
The heely thing time again, why didn't Achilles Mum dunk him fully in the river,  as penalties and mistakes allowed Clwb field position.
A second 'cwtch-and-drive' gave Clwb a try but the missed conversion meant Llan were still ten points to the good.
Time for a mad-cap five minutes as Mike received, even if he didn't want it, a yellow card and a try for Clwb. In the build up Josh a deemed to have deliberately held on to the ball on the floor, so time for a card melyn. The try was converted and with just under ten minutes left things didn't look good.
It is at times like this, down to thirteen men and a rampant opposition, that sides display their true worth. It's great to have a good crack after games but on the pitch it is that camaraderie that binds a side.
The thirteen players, to a man, put their hand up and indeed were on the attack, and looking like scoring, when the referee blew the final whistle.
A nail-bitter but the team can take immense pride in the way they dealt with situation 
 
Final Score Llanishen 29 Clwb Rygbi 26
 
Final Thoughts
A bonus point win moved Llanishen up to fifth in the table and with a further home game next week a further move up the table could be on.
An interesting selection of religious types could be found back at the club and a good time was had by all. These kind of things make for a great team spirit which evidently permeates through onto the playing field. 
 
Well done to Clwb, who gained two bonus points, and good luck for the rest of the season. We look forward to the return fixture, in the first week of January, weather permitting.
 
Speaking of strangely dressed Vicars ......
 
 
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