Beaten twice by St. Peters last year and after a mixed start to the season the Llan faithful warily made their way to the Harlequins ground.
'Allo 'Allo a few changes to the starting XV and a strong bench, could the 'Young Ones' carry the day (No not Cliff and the Shadows!).
So, with a few butterflies in your correspondents stomach (my wife's cooking, perhaps?), the game began. The kick-off was well taken and the ball cleared a knock on by St. Peters gave the 'Lions' a scrum.
The scrum was rock steady and a few minutes later Llan. pushed St. Peters off their own scrum and an opposition line out snaffled, absolutely fabulous. The league of gentlemen, otherwise known as the pack, had made a great start but could the initial supremacy be converted into points?
A great break by Sam created havoc in the opposition defence but they reacted well and launched an attack of their own. A member of our 'Dads Army', Captain Lee, stripped the ball from a Rock's maul and a Sonny Bill pass, by Lewis freed Jonnie Davies.
With the space he had and the speed he possess it was 'Goodnight Sweetheart' as he ran the forty metres to score his first senior try. He has taken to senior rugby as if to the manor born.
A constant problem this season has been the number of penalties the side concedes and a third penalty, for offside, gave St Peters a penalty. The kick was successful and both sides had further chances to score but all were squandered.
After a Hancock (half an hour for the youngsters) Alelei Edwards put a superb tackle on the St Peters 10 and this seemed to lift the team. Good counter-rucking and attacking play by the backs saw the opposition 10 concede a penalty, for which he received a yellow card.
Alex slotted the kick but from the kick off St Peters launched a series of attack, moving the ball from left to right, and an attack down the right wing seemed certain to generate a try.
A superb try-saving tackle, by Lewis (Chewy) resulted in nasty injury to the St Peters player (we wish him well as it transpired the injury sustained means a significant period of recovery will be needed).
In the build up to the tackle Llan had been penalised and from a tap penalty St Peters scored a try to bring the scores level.
Half-Time: St Peters 8 Llanishen 8
The second began in a similar manner to the first with both sides striving to gain the upper hand.
After ten minutes a driving maul, set up from a lineout , was brought down and a great break by Tom led to a pass to Jonnie whose pass to Shaun allowed him to crash over. The conversion gave Llan a little breathing space which they were going to need.
St Peters had looked to move the all wide on every occasion and when their left winger was released a try seemed certain. When up stepped one of Our Likely Lads, Jonnie D, to make a covering tackle and then set of on a forty metre run. The counter attack should have resulted in a try but a knock on spoilt the chance.
Half way through the second half St Peters kicked a second penalty - meaning a nail-biting final quarter.
As time goes by you realise that this is when you find out about a side. The intensity level seemed to pick up and the Lions applied increasing pressure. Forwards and backs combining well and with only a minute to go Llanishen had a five metre scrum close to the Rock's posts.
How sweet it is as the pack, powerhouse of Gwion and Elliott, drove St Peters back and Lewis picked and drove over the line. The conversion brought the game to an end and put the season back on track.
Ah the good life (not you Mr Sinatra - Later perhaps..). Hopefully the dinner ladies serve up something better than bread and porridge!
Back to the club and hopefully no men behaving too badly. The seconds game was called off but points awarded to them and a thumping win for the Youth Team, meant a highly successful Saturday.
Full-Time: St Peters 11 Llanishen 22
PS
Great to hear Gabby's recovery continues to go well and we all look forward to seeing him soon.
Personally this is only he second time I have been linked to a win over St Peters (the last time a youth game in 1978) so it had to be celebrated. My head did not concur through Sunday but Monday brings blessed relief.
Abercynon on Saturday - back to back wins would be most welcome.
So with the known results at the time of publishing being : Youth Winning, 8's Winning, 11s Winning , 12's Winning, 13's Winning,14's District Champions, U16's winning ........
It's been a pretty Good Weekend all things considered !
Dont forget to join us all at the Club on Friday 20th October for Welsh Street Food Takeover's Street Food Festival
http://llanishen.rfc.wales/news/0269e0a1-b1c8-48fb-9b4a-10e8381d53ab/welsh-street-food-takeover-20-10-17
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