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Llanishen RFC | 1st Team 26 - 7 Abercynon RFC | 1st Team

Match Report
22 October 2017 / Team News

Match Report: 1st XV v Abercynon 21/10/17

Weather Does Its Worst But Our Boys Don't Cry
 
With Hurricane Bwian doing it's best - no sign of Biggus or his wife Incontinentia though - to cause a postponement a problem of recording the events materialised. Laszlo Biro, Hungarian wizard of the ball point pen, obviously didn't have to contend with wet paper and winds in excess of forty miles an hour when writing with his pens.
The following report is therefore based on the recollections of a freezing brain and any erroneous details are entirely due to the inclement weather.
 
A brave, some might say foolhardy, group of spectators turned up hoping to see a game of rugby but at times perhaps octopush would have been more appropriate. The rain came in waves and, with the high wind, lashed into the players so running rugby appeared unlikely. 
One would have been wrong as the handling in atrocious conditions was good from both sides and the endeavour couldn't be faulted. The referee kept the game flowing and the number of penalties conceded by both teams was minimal.
Llanishen had the greater amount of possession to begin with. aided by the ferocious wind, try mints or Rennies, but were unable to convert the territorial advantage into points.
 
Neil, Ian and a valiant group of spectators were kept busy retrieving rugby balls from the brambles and woods and it seemed that we gained a few balls blown out of the trees from previous weeks.
 
The scrum and line out were functioning well but, like Simon and Garfunkel, runners were slip slidin' along so changing the direction of a run was difficult. It appeared that Llanishen were going to into the break level and thoughts turned to a possible 0-0 score line.
With five minutes to go, however, a series of drives and phases saw the ball moved from side to side. A quick ball to Finn (apt in the conditions) saw him show and go to dart over under the posts.
On the stroke of half time a fiendishly high kick wasn't gathered and Sam was able to fly hack the ball over the line. He raced to touch down and the second conversion under the posts was made.
 
A significant score as the whistle for half-time blew straight after the kick. The teams raced to the changing rooms and the spectators looked for any cover available.
 
Half-Time: Llanishen 14 Abercynon 0 
 
It was increasingly cold, especially for the wingers, but the willingness to run with the ball remained. The Llanishen defensive backline: Alex, Finn, Tom, Ellis, Josh and Jonny was particularly impressive as Abercynon began the second half well. 
The forwards too were putting in a great deal of defensive work but also looking to challenge in the scrum and increasingly successfully, through George and Noah, on the opposition's line outs .
A catch and drive on the Abercynon 25 picked up momentum and with subtle changes of focal point the pack drove all the way to the try line. The referee awarded a try as Elliott came up with the ball. 
Credit to: Lee, Shaun, Mike, Mike (so good they named them twice), Elliot, Noah, George and Lewis for the control, and no little skill, in taking the chance.
 
Was there time for the boys to gain a bonus point for a fourth try I hear you ask (I've great hearing for a fifty six year old unless, that is, my wife asks me to undertake a little DIY!).
Time ticked by, as it is want to do, and it appeared that a few squandered chances were going to cost the additional point. Indeed Abercynon mounted a number of attacks and were rightly rewarded with a try which was converted.
A number of changes were then made with Max and Tomas making their debuts for the club (two bottles of port if you please) and with Llanishen in the opposition's twenty two (twenty five in old money) a chance to seal the win was on offer.
For the second week in a row the forwards drove a scrum to the try line allowing Noah to pick up and dive over the line. The conversion gave Llanishen an unassailable lead and five minutes later the referee blew the final whistle.
 
Cue mad scramble to the changing rooms - a hot shower and a cup of tea - don't know what the players did!
It really was a perishingly cold day and enough to break the spirit of most people but our boys don't cry! Mind you Robert Smiths make-up would have run, surely! 
 
 
Full-Time: Llanishen 26 Abercynon 7 
 
Postscript 
It was great to see Gabby at the game and back in the clubhouse and we look forward to see his progress over the coming months.
A great win for the seconds capped a good day for the club with well over two thirds of the players in both sides products of the mini, junior and youth sides.
A rearranged game, hopefully with a referee, against Clwb Rygbi is on next Saturday. Can the team make it three wins in a row in the league? Tune in next week to find out.
 
The food festival was epic on Friday night ..... well done to all those involved. 
 
 
 
 
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