Llan go second after Pulsating affair  - 17/04/2010 - BLACKWOOD

SWALEC ONE EAST
BLACKWOOD 22 LLANHARAN 34
Llanharan inflicted a first home defeat of the season on reigning champions Blackwood, collecting a try bonus point in the process and moving into second place behind UWIC.
It was a pulsating affair at Glan y Afan, the visitors stunning the home crowd with three tries in the first half hour. Although Blackwood fought back to take a second half lead, Gareth Edwards’ men showed they had what it takes by dominating the final quarter to claim victory.
Aled Llewellyn paved the way for the opening try with a break from a lineout, the resultant pressure ending as hooker Nathan Huish forced his way over after his side had opted for a line out from a penalty.
A run from full back Elliott Foils sent Aarron Pinches in for the second after just nine minutes, and then the young centre crashed over for another after back row man Lee Davies had made the running.
Codey Rees converted all three with the home team’s sole reply a Richard Powell penalty.
However, despite trailing 21-3 Blackwood showed they are not champions for nothing with a forceful spell that had Llanharan on the back foot. Gareth Price and Stuart Vokes grabbed tries before half time, Powell converting the first.
With Lee Thorne sin binned and with problems in the lineout Llanharan were on the defensive and Powell’s conversion of skipper Gavin Rees’s tries edged their opponents 22-21 ahead.
But the unerring boot of Rees found the target twice from penalties to regain the initiative, helped by Keiron Brown’s yellow card.
And then, from a quickly taken penalty after a strong Bill Carey run, experienced centre Dai Atkins dived over under the posts to seal victory, Rees’ conversion taking his season’s tally to 199.
Llanharan’s scrummaging strength had been negated after injuries forced passive set pieces and Blackwood still had a chance to salvage something helped by Aaron Griffin being sent to the sidelines by referee Phil Connett.
Unbelievably though, left wing Joe Bajjada dropped the ball on the try line when a score would have earned his team both a try scoring and a losing bonus point..
Llanharan supporters were happy to see Neil Lewis make a second half appearance as a replacement. The experienced back row was last with the club in their premiership season. Although he signed at the start of the campaign, a troublesome hand injury has kept him out of action until now.
Llanharan tries –A.Pinches (2), N.Huish, D.Atkins; cons – C.Rees 4, pens – C.Rees 2.
Blackwood tries; Gareth Price, Stuart Vokes, Richard Powell; con 2 and pen: Richard Powell.
Llanharan: E.Foils, L.Thorne, D.Atkins, A.Pinches, P.Adams, C.Rees, G.Holloway, J.Greenfield (E.Rees 59), N.Huish (A.Griffin 70) , A. Richards, G.Edwards (Capt.) J.Connors (N.Lewis 59), L.Davies, A.Llewellyn (B.Carey 70), J.Jones.

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