SWALEC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

LLANHARAN 10 RGC 1404 17 (10-10)

A late try denied Llanharan the reward their efforts had so richly deserved as a miscued clearance into the wind went straight into the arms of visiting hooker Andy Baston who could hardly believe his luck as he completed the twenty metres to the posts, giving Rhodri Carlton-Jones the formality of competing the scoring with a conversion.

It was hard luck on Nathan Huish’s men who had survived consecutive second half yellow cards without conceding a point, so intense was their commitment.

There still seemed time for the ebullient home team, clearly determined to redeem themselves after their December capitulation in Colwyn Bay, to strike back.

Scott Malone, again outstanding in the back row, was at the heart of so many things, stealing a lineout to set Gabriel Davies off on a good run and breaking through himself, but RGC somehow held out.

They eventually were granted a last kick penalty by Owain Griffith and it probably said it all that they chose neither to kick  and deprive the Dairymen of a bonus point, or run and claim a fourth try and extra point themselves, instead kicking it dead to end the match.

It was a tribute to their opponents who, had either strategy failed, were quite capable of taking play back to the other end for a game saving score.

Said head coach Matthew Lloyd: “A good performance but a loss. We have played a lot worse than that and won, but today we missed out on a huge opportunity. We created chances but couldn't capitalise. We needed to show that our performance last time against RGC wasn't a true representation lf Llanharan RFC and I think we did that. Congratulations to RGC on their win and the manner in which they play.”

It was, though, an inauspicious start for the black and blues as Tom Farrar-Evans pulled up in the warm up resulting in Youth product Scott Jones making his debut and doing a fine job at scrum half.

Further misfortune came as a stray boot saw influential second row Dan Partridge to depart for a stitching session in the Royal Glamorgan, Andrew Rosen making a sooner than expected return from injury as he came early off the bench.

Despite all this, Llanharan drew first blood. Malone seized on a loose ball, shrugged off tackles and dived over. Codey Rees, back after a four week layoff, converted and his team were 7-0 ahead.

It  was all Llanharan in the first quarter  with Bentley Halpin again giving s glimpse of his potential on the wing, but no sooner had the WRU sponsored development side got near the opposition twenty two than they had a try of their own on the board, Carwyn Ap Myrddin finishing off after a lineout drive from a penalty.

Rees responded immediately with a penalty, but then a mid field gap opened up for Llywarch Ap Myrddin to level the scores.

Even so it was still mainly Llanharan, Halpin again and Rory Martin – Smith prominent in open play as the half closed on ten apiece.

RGC 1404, the digits reflecting the date on which Owain Glyndwr became Prince of Wales, had the stiff breeze at their backs after the restart, and illustrated their philosophy as a half dozen times or more they ignored kickable penalties to go for tries, only for the ploy to fail to work in the face of stonewall resistance. 

It was a collective effort by Lloyd’s side, but Bill Carey stealing one vital lineout, add Huish securing turn overs played a full part in a phase when they played with fourteen men after the carding of   Malone and Rees in a continuous twenty minute spell.

Llanharan were well and truly in the hunt for victory, Malone and Morgan Williams sending Bentley off on one attack, the wing beating his man but just falling foul of the cover meters s hurt of the corner flag.

As the full complement was restored, they seemed to have every prospect of success – until Baston’s stroke of luck sealed their fate.

WRU overseer of the development team, the legendary Rupert Moon, was gracious enough to concede afterwards that the Dairyfield side had deserved at least a draw.

Our try –Scott Malone, Con and pen – Codey Rees

RGC 1404 tries: Andy Baston, Llywarch ap Myrddin, Carwyn ap Myrddin. Con - Rhodri Carlton-Jones

LLANHARAN

15 TYLER WILLIAMS

14 BENTLEY HALPIN

13 MORGAN WILLIAMS

12 GABRIEL DAVIES

11 RHYS WALKER

/10 CODEY REES

9 SCOTT JONES

1 SIMON COLLINS

2 NATHAN HUISH (CAPT)

3 TOM PIPER

4 DAN PARTRIDGE (ANDREW ROSEN)

5 HUW THOMAS

6 BILL CAREY

7 RORY MARTIN-SMITH

8 SCOTT MALONE

UNUSED REPLACEMENTS:

JAMIE UREN

GETHIN CASHMORE

JOSH PORTER

SWALEC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

LLANHARAN 20 BARGOED 34 (HT 6-10)

A strong half hour after half time saw Bargoed maintain their challenge for the runners up spot behind Ebbw Vale.

Five tries came their way to earn a bonus point, but Llanharan at least had the spirit to launch waves of attacks in the final phases to produce a more respectable score with two tries.

However, they were beaten by a better team, Bargoed displaying more cohesion in attack and better organisation in defence, while their scrum managed to gain ascendancy as the game wore on.

On a welcome  warm spring day, the opening spell was far from cheering for the crowd as Llanharan in particular looked to be playing a more conservative kicking based gamer in an attempt to build on the good  work of their pack.

It was nondescript action, but Lewis Williams gave the Dairymen the lead with 18th minute penalty, only for the visitors to take the lead with a try from number eight Nicky Coughlin which both sets of supporters were agreed he had knocked on in the process.

There  was little to chose between the two sides in the first quarter, but the away team began to construct ominously as half time approached, despite  a head from Nathan Huish and his pack,  and an exciting bout of movement brought a try for  second  row Gareth Short  to give his  side a 10-6 lead at the break.

With the slope and breeze in their favour, Bargoed dominated after the restart; Josh Prosser hit the target with a penalty, and saw an attack thwarted after half time replacement Rory Martin-Smith brought off a good tackle.

But the pressure was building up as the Bargoed pack got on top in the scrums, and right wing Darren Ferguson exploited the penalty advantage being played to cross on the right, Prosser converting expertly.

The outcome  was virtually certain as Ferguson gratefully accepted an interception try, Prosser again adding points, and although Scott Malone halted another try with a grasping ankle tackle, skipper Leigh Meades put the finishing touch to a driving maul, the conversion completing their scoring  at 34-6.

Encouragement for Llanharan came from refusing to capitulate to what seemed a likely half century defeat.

Malone was showing the way from a succession of quick penalties before second row Dan Partridge and full back Tyler Williams brought some crumbs of comfort in what was essentially a comprehensive defeat, Lewis Williams converting both.

Summing up, head coach Matthew Lloyd said: “The ‎3rd quarter was disappointing, but we finished strongly and will look to take that element of the game to Bonymaen next week, though from Bargoed’s point of view the game was sewn up. We will be going all out for a win next week with some changes afoot to freshen us up.” 

Llanharan tries – Tyler Williams, Dan Partridge. Cons  2 and pens  2 – Lewis Williams

Bargoed tries –Gavin Ferguson 2, Leigh Meades, Gareth Short,  Nicky Coghlin. Cons  3 and pen – Josh Prosser

LLANHARAN

15 TYLER WILLIAMS

14 TOM FARRAR-EVANS

13 MORGAN WILLIAMS

12 GABRIEL DAVIES

11 RHYS WALKER

10 LEWIS WILLIAMS

9 JONATHAN LEWIS (BENTLEY HALPIN 53)

1 JAMIE UREN (GETHIN CASHMORE 65 and Uren 79)

2 NATHAN HUISH (CAPT)

3 TOM PIPER

4 DAN PARTRIDGE

5 JOSH PORTER (CARL LEATHER 67)

6 BRADLEY MAIS (RORY MARTIN-SMITH 40)

7 SCOTT MALONE

8 HUW THOMAS

 

BEDDAU 10 LLANHARAN 17 (HT 3-17)

They say games are won or lost up front, and this was the perfect illustration of the old adage.
In particular the scrum, where Llanharan skipper Nathan Huish and his props Rob Jones and Tom Piper must have taken close to double figures on the opposing head.
It enabled Huw Thomas to play an outstanding game at the rear of his set piece, the number eight proving a thorn in Beddaus side all afternoon.
Llanharan head coach Matthew Lloyd was pleased with the performance commenting that the set piece was a huge improvement on the last couple of games, something that would have pleased forwards coach Colin Malone too.
"Games in Beddau are always close and it was a very good win for us," Lloyd added
In terms of championship matters it leaves the home club in some trouble, not having won a game since October 26th, Blackwood's win pushing them into the relegation places.
Llanharan, on the other hand, are now fifteen points clear of the last relegation spot with nine games left to play.
On a day of welcome warm sunshine, it was actually Beddau who went ahead, a Rhys Morgan penalty coming after a sloppy Llanharan start.
However, the lively visitors quickly began to exert pressure, but Lewis Williams, solid in all other respects, could not hit the target with a number of attempts awarded by the sound officiating of Chepstow's Gareth John.
Even so, it was not long before the outstanding Thomas instigated the move which saw positive input from Jonathan Lewis and ended with Gabriel Davies crashing over.
A similar thrust ended when the kick for Tom Farrar-Evans was overdone on the left, but the Dairymen were not to be denied, Lewis profiting with a try from Thomass expert control at the scrum base.
Beddau at last rallied, only to experience despair when another monumental scrum took the ball off them, the Dairymen adding insult to injury, captain extraordinary Huish going over for a third try after scrum half Dai Francis was caught offside after the impressive Josh Porter had supplied lineout ball.
It was 17-3 at the turnaround, but the Mount Pleasant boys had the advantage of the slope at the restart and punished a poor line out as Francis atoned, sprinting diagonally to the posts with Morgan converting to make it 17-10 to the away side.
Neat play by backs Hywel Chatham and Cobi Flowers again got the yellow and green shirts on the front foot, but the momentum dissipated as fine foraging by Scott Malone turned the tide.
Beddau were soon defending again, with Thomas running and kicking effectively to set up more Black and Blues pressure and Mr John eventually lost patience with the home clubs attempts to stem the flow, sending hooker Jack James to the bin.
However Llanharan could not build on overwhelming superiority and Beddau held out for a losing bonus point that was well deserved and could yet mean the difference between survival and relegation.
Looking ahead Lloyd promised his Llanharan team would keep on striving to improve and it was no secret that the drying weather would be in their favour.
He also paid tribute to the calming influence of the experienced Dennis John, assisting again after Adam Rossers move to the Arms Park.
"It is working its magic and the boys are enjoying their rugby again. It was a great team effort by everyone associated with the club players committee and

Beddau try: Dai Francis; con and pen: Rhys Morgan.
Llanharan tries: Gabriel Davies, Nathan Huish, Jonathan Lewis. Con Lewis Williams.

NEWBRIDGE 10 LLANHARAN 13 (HT 10-13)

Llanharan put in an afternoon of honest graft to record the double over Gwent rivals Newbridge.
It was a vital win that brought an end to a run of six league defeats and consolidated their mid table status.
Early season form had created a points cushion above the danger zone for the Dairymen, but an injury hit spell contributed to repeated set backs on the field.
There is also no doubt that the young side being developed does not relish the mud and rain that have afflicted fixtures in recent months, and while the Welfare Field looked the worse for wear it actually held up well and was a firm surface.
But most vital for the visitors was a clear resolve not to be beaten.
Forwards coach Colin Malone said at half time they had asked the team to show what they were made of and not sacrifice an albeit narrow 13-10 lead.
They responded well leaving Newbridge with just a losing bonus point.
Outside half Codey Rees scored all his sides points, including a try, but suffered mixed fortunes as he departed for hospital in the final minutes with damaged knuckles.
He looks like sitting out the next few weeks, but at least Llanharan seem to have enrolled another fine prospect in Tyler Williams who looked a polished performer and one capable of taking his vice captains place.
Llanharan were off to a good start, serving notice of fine scrummaging to come as Huish and props Simon Collins and Tom Piper stole an early head.
Mathew Williams and Huw Thomas built on the advantage and it led to a 4th minute Rees penalty.
However, a marginal not straight decision five minutes later saw Newbridge take a quick tap and open up the midfield for Ben Snell to score, Kieran Meek converting.
But Llanharan were ready to take the game to the home side, wing Tom Farrar-Evans attacking at every opportunity and abrasive number eight Huw Thomas often making inroads.
When Newbridge were on the offensive, Williams was accomplished at the back and flankers Rory Martin-Smith and Brendan Mais, in for sickness hit Scott Malone, effective at the breakdown.
A significant turning point came when home skipper Lee Williams was sin-binned by Andover official Robert Price for a trip.
Llanharan sensibly opted for a scrum bear the line but in going for the big heave managed to kick it through.
It was only a temporary reprieve for Newbridge though as Rees capitalised on the pressure and converted his own try to level the scores.
More attacks as Morgan Williams and Farrar-Evans featured brought Rees his second penalty and with it a half time lead.
Indiscipline produced a second yellow for Newbridge and Llanharan looked set to wrap up a win as Piper and scrum half Williams led the assault, but the chance was wasted with a poor option.
Back to full strength the former giants of the old first class game threw everything at Llanharan but met a strong resistance ethic, hard working second rows Josh Porter and Andrew Rosen typically resolute.
With their fellow forwards they resisted held out lineout drives in the corner, stole another head, and then rightly celebrated as typically strong Thomas run saw them home with the four points in the bag.
Head coach Matthew Lloyd said he was pleased the way the boys stuck at it after a few weeks without a game and felt that with a little more composure they could have had a couple more tries.
The youngsters representing Llanharan are doing very well, he said, but added that there would still be plenty to work on before Saturdays home game with Tata Steel.
Llanharan try Codey Rees; con and pens (2) Codey Rees.
Newbridge try Ben Snell; con and pen Kieran Meek.

LLANHARAN 18 TONDU 19 (HT 11-12)

It was Tondu who adapted better to the testing elements, their narrow win giving them the double over old rivals Llanharan.
A strong wind blew from the start, but two fierce downpours before half time made conditions even more challenging, though ironically the game ended in bright sunshine.
The Dairymens forwards worked valiantly and did the job expected, but with ball in hand some of their teams play was ill conceived and poorly executed.
Nor was their cause helped by repeatedly falling foul of referee Stuart Kibbles whistle, three yellow cards straddling the half time period reducing them to thirteen men for several minutes.
It was a spell when the visitors crucially moved from an 8-7 deficit to a 19-11 lead.
The Waterwheelers were appropriately more conservative in their approach, playing a risk free and largely mistake free game, and it paid dividends.
As home coach Matthew Lloyd said: Tondu played the conditions and the referee very well. They are well coached and played very much to their strengths. We struggled hard to match them physically, but will be trying hard to improve over the next couple of weeks
He went on to accept responsibility along with his fellow coaches , praising the players for never giving up, but suggesting that because of the long injury list some players were looking tired and jaded.
They were being asked to play beyond their means, though he complimented them for never giving up and battling to secure a losing bonus point.
The players were training well but struggling to reproduce it on the field, he went on.
However, a win would do wonders for confidence and brighter news was that but there were some due to return from injury and new faces in the pipeline before the next game at home to struggling Blackwood on February 15th.
It was Llanharan who had first use of the wind and they took the game to Tondu.
The offensive was highlighted by a great run from back row man Scott Malone where the final pass just went astray, and a good chase by Harry Davies caused more problems. Even with the gale, kicking for goal was proving difficult but Codey Rees eventually gave his side the lead in the 13th minute with his third penalty attempt.
A try followed five minutes later, the outstanding Nathan Huish driving over from a quickly taken penalty and Llanharan seemed on their way.
However, on a rare visit into the home twenty two a lineout catch and drive saw flanker Mathew Morgan thrust himself over the line, Mathew Murphy landing a brilliant conversion which was to prove decisive at the end of the afternoon..
The first yellow card followed a few minutes before half time, Josh Porter sent to the line, and Tondu took full advantage as another lineout from a penalty ended with number seven David Griggs getting the touchdown.
Rees pulled back three points before the teams went off for a change of shirts, but the Waterwheelers started the second half strongly, only a good Tom Piper steal denying them in the left hand corner.
Sin binnings for Nathan Huish and Codey Rees followed in quick succession and, valiantly though they strove, Llanharan were adjudged to be offending at a scrum five and a penalty try was awarded, Mathew Murphy converting.
In all fairness, once Llanharan were back to full strength they made every effort to save the game. After Morgan Williamss tackle had halted an attack at one end another defence splitting run from man of the Match Huish and an unorthodox chip from Rees had them driving forward, but they were penalised for holding on.
There were runs too from Tom Farrah-Evans and Rhys Walker before a worthy reward came as with his forwards hammering the line scrum half Jonathan Lewis found a gap and Rees converted.
However hopes of a dramatic victory were thwarted as Tondu went back on the offensive, just failing to get a 4th bonus winning try.

Llanharan tries Nathan Huish, Jonathan Lewis. Con and pens 2 Codey Rees.