News

Llanishen Rock in the Casbar

 

With weather conditions favourable and the going underfoot slightly tacky the expectant braying crowd awaited the beginning of the completion.

Unbeaten in two years the well oiled machine’s preparations had been disrupted by the festive period so question marks hung in the air prior to the start of the competition.

Welcome to the Jungle played loudly as the modern day gladiators took their seats, was I being fanciful or was that fear I saw in the opposition’s eyes? The atmosphere and expectation levels rose in the amphitheatre that is the Llanishen Rugby Club Bar as drink-off approached.

A product of the Mini, Juniors and Youth ‘The Mighty Logan’ was the lead man and on the command go was swiftly, almost balletic like, on his feet and swigging for all he was worth. 

Credit where it is due as the Cambrian Welfare team were putting the pressure on and it was neck-and-neck at the change-over. 

A smooth transfer, credit to the winter training the boys have put in, to our Captain, Svelte Lee Swindlehurst, enabled Llanishen to gain a small advantage, perhaps three fingers as the baton passed to the third member of the side.

With his proud parents watching, all that pocket money and transport to the various venues now coming to fruition, Gold George kept the momentum going as the lead crept up to half-a-pint.

With noise crescendoing to an ear-splitting level team member four, Alex ‘The Sump’ Bourne, employing a two handed technique, stretched the lead to three quarters of a pint.

Only a disaster, dropping the pint or such like, could stop the team from extending their winning run. No chance Shaun ‘The Power’ Lynch brought the baby home to rapturous applause from the fevered Llanishen crowd.

When you see sporting excellence it really is like looking at a beautiful work of art and so it was a privilege be there and the victory celebrated in the customary fashion.

Gold George led the rousing rendition of the Spandau Ballet’s Gold with home and away teams joining in the chorus. 

 

Rugby, I hear you ask. Well, yes we played that as well and a much improved Llanishen team gave Cambrian Welfare a much harder contest than in the corresponding fixture in the early autumn.

With Cambrian holding a lead, 8-5, at half-time thoughts rose that perhaps a win was possible. It was not to be as the skilful and well-drilled away side took control of the match in the second half.

They are, in your correspondence’s humble opinion, the best side we have played all season and we wish them well as they go for back-to-back promotions.

Unlike a lot of sides they also came back to the club in large numbers and the banter between sets of players and supporters good-natured and enjoyable.

The sporting honours were even at one-a-piece when the need to get back on the bus and return to the Alpine Clydach Vale stopped proceedings. 

The home team and its supporters were left to ponder what might have been on the pitch and to revel in the quality of its ‘Boat Racing Team’ – a team t-shirt/jersey is surely needed!

Perhaps a team sponsor – those beers don’t pay for themselves!

 

Infernus tu adepto Zuluensis bellator

(Team motto- Get it down you Zulu Warrior)