LLANHARAN 10 EBBW VALE 36 (HT 3-17)

It is going to take something extraordinary to stop unbeaten Ebbw Vale marching to the championship title on this evidence.
Up against a team of impressive all round strength, Llanharan recovered a lot of self respect with their unstinting efforts following their unexpected capitulation at RGC 1404 the previous Saturday.
But they were facing an impressive unit, home head coach Matthew Lloyd describing them as “very powerful and organised”.
Even so, he complimented his own team’s efforts, adding: “We competed well and produced what we as coaches were after following last week’s debacle up north.”
He singled out back row man Rory Martin-Smith for particular commendation, describing the university student’s contribution as outstanding considering it was his first game at this level.
“We still have lots to work on, but there were encouraging signs ahead of next week’s outing at Narberth,” he said.
Indeed at one stage it looked as though Llanharan were about to give Vale a major challenge.
The score was 17-10 to the visitors when Chris Poole went for an interception on the half way line. Had he managed to seize the ball there was nothing between him and the try line, and a simple conversion would have levelled the scores.
But the ball ended up in Gwent hands and it was their left wing Wes Cunliffe who sprinted forty metres to score, Smerdon’s fine conversion making it 24-10 with the game three quarters over.
The signs for Llanharan were ominous from the start with Damien Hudd’s pack exerting huge pressure on their line.
The combined efforts of Jonathan Lewis and Morgan Williams from Adam Scanlon’s line out ball brought temporary relief, but in the 10th minute slick handling from deep inside their own half brought the reigning champions a converted try from outside half Ian Smerdon as they ran back a loose clearance.
The big Ebbw pack was causing the home eight lots of scrum problems, though it was a line out drive from skipper Hudd’s ball that produced the second try, flanker Ronnie Kynes getting the touchdown.
The Dairymen did eventually get on the score sheet with a Codey Rees penalty, only for the opposition to once more return an infield kick with interest, this time centre Carl Meyer darting over to the side of a ruck, and Vale had a useful 17-3 lead at the turn around.
The only down turn for them was the serious leg injury to Gareth Williams in the 12th minute, the number eight despatched to hospital and sadly facing Christmas in plaster.
The rain arrived as forecast as the second half got underway and it was typical of Nathan Huish’s men’s re-found resolve that they survived a Scanlon yellow carding, great tackles from Rees and Chris Poole helping keep the Steelmen at bay.
And they got some worthy reward as centre Gabriel Davies seized the ball on the half way line and raced in giving Rees a straight forward kick.
However, Cunliffe’s score brought his team the bonus point before live wire number seven Ronny Kynes capitalised on a kick ahead for another try, Smerdon once more converting.
Although 31-10 down, Llanharan were still making a valiant attempt to make an impression as Lewis Young led an assault, but lethal Vale underlined a worthy victory as replacement Leighton Bellamore scored at the other end in the pouring rain to send the large following happily back to the head of the valleys.
Llanharan will be hoping skipper Huish recovers from what appears to be a stinger injury before Saturday’s long trip to Narberth.

Llanharan try: Gabriel Davies. Con and pen: Codey Rees.
Vale tries: Ronny Kynes 2, Ian Smerdon, Carl Meyer, Wes Cunliffe, Leighton Bellamore. Cons 3 – Smerdon

LLANHARAN 19 BONYMAEN 22 (HT 14-17)

With two tries and fourteen points on the board inside ten minutes against bottom club Bonymaen, home supporters could be forgiven for indulging in try bonus chat.
Yet quarter of an hour later the Swansea side had shaken of their hapless start to lead 17-14 and look anything like strugglers.
They conceded the lead again in the wake of James Bijas yellow carding, but rattled the Dairymen with a dramatic winner just minutes from the end, leaving the home team with only a losing bonus point to muse over.
Not for the first time this season, Llanharan squandered the benefits of a breathtaking try scoring opening, failing to consolidate as their play became too loose and fragmented, and allowed a dogged away team to battle back for what was a worthy victory, only their second of the campaign.
However, Nathan Huish's side were not helped by a remarkable catalogue of injuries.
Forwards Callum Thomas (broken arm) and prop Simon Collins (shoulder ligaments) had both left the field in that opening fifteen minutes, and before the end fullback Richard Lovering had become the team's second dislocated collar bone victim in successive games after Scott Malones misfortune at Bargoed.
It had looked so promising as left wing Morgan Williams featured in an exciting build up with Jonathan Lewis and Lewis Young to finish off with a fine run in just the first minute of play.
The rampaging Young was again prominent as Will Singer went over for the next, Codey Rees adding a second conversion, and at this stage Bonymaen looked every bit relegation material.
But the Parc Mawr outfit suddenly found self belief as John Hindman went over from the back of a scrum.
Richie Cuniffe converted then added a penalty after the hard working Young found himself the only man back to deal with a kick, and Bony struck a major blow by taking the lead, back row man John Hindman going over from a long range attack on 28 minutes,
Penalties were missed on both sides in the minutes leading up to half time, but it was the away XV calling the tune as dangerous wing Nathan Brooks had a try disallowed by referee Kelvin Shorte for having a man in front of the kicker.
Nippy scrum half Jonathan Lewis revived hope in the black and blue ranks as he scurried over for a corner try just after the restart, but despite some territorial pressure it was their last score.
There was a flow of good lineout ball from Andrew Rosen, Kieran Marin and Huw Thomas, but Llanharan could not achieve cohesion and were again relieved as a Cuniffe try was ruled out because of an infringement back on the half way line.
The red and black shirted West Walians saw another try chance go a begging as scrum half Connor Salter lost the ball over the line after more fine work from Brooks, only to clinch the game as the home side allowed them to counter from an inadequate clearance and send wing Joe Millen diving in at the corner flag.
Huish and his men made a desperate effort to save the game, declining several kicks at goal which could have earned a draw in search of a winning try, but it was not to be.

Llanharan tries Morgan Williams, Will Singer, Jonathan Lewis. Cons Codey rees 2.
Bonymaen tries Rhys Leonard, John Hindman, Joe Millen. Cons 2 and pen Richie Cuniffe.

BRIDGEND ATHLETIC 21 LLANHARAN 23

Llanharan fought a desperate but successful battle to claim victory at Newbridge Fields after surrendering a 16-3 lead and trailing 21-20 into stoppage time.
Their saviour was Codey Rees who calmly slotted the late penalty that won the game and took his league tally to an impressive 107.
The opportunity came on the back of a superb effort from Nathan Huish and his pack, props Tom Piper and Simon Collins offering valuable aid as the away team put the Athletic under huge pressure, taking a head in the process as they strove to achieve the outcome they deserved.
Even then Mr Bessant somehow found an extra nine minutes of time to prolong the tension, but Llanharan were not giving up what was rightly theirs.
In fact the Nantymoel official was a source of strife to the black and blues all afternoon, the penalty count against greatly outnumbering the home team’s, while the sin binning of Lewis Young at the end of the first half was another challenge.
But head coach Matthew Lloyd summed it up as a good win against tough opposition.
“It was always going to be tough after their excellent away win at Bargoed. Changes were made for this game and it’s all credit to the players that the win was achieved.
“The squad has far more depth to it this year than in past seasons and the players will benefit later in the campaign.
“Changes will be made for another very tough game on Saturday against Bargoed where we will hopefully be competitive.
“We will look at the footage of this game and try to improve our discipline because it left us on the wrong side of the referee in many points scoring situations.
“The win could perhaps have been more comfortable - but we could have lost.
“Next week we will have to be more clinical and disciplined if we are to continue our good run – the team are certainly learning quickly and there is a good atmosphere among the squad.”
The pack performance was all the more praiseworthy as enforced changes meant a makeshift second row – but Huw Thomas and Adam Scanlon, happier in back row roles, were equal to the task and didn’t take a backward step.
An early exchange of penalties between Steven Lewis and Rees was followed by Llanharan’s now customary flourish of attacking play in the first quarter.
It brought a try after a concerted build up in which loose head Simon Collins featured twice with strong drives and ended with Harry Davies continuing his promising development by diving over wide out on the right.
Rees converted and followed a Steven Lewis penalty with another three pointer.
The home side were living on scraps, but Llanharan could not further enforce their superiority and as Young saw yellow Bridgend persisted with quick penalties and got their reward, centre Rhys Jones diving over to make it 13-8 at half time.
The green and yellow shirts came more into play after the restart and a good Harry Davies tackle snuffed out the advantage of an overlap before a Lewis penalty reduced the lead again.
However Llanharan seemed to have restored match winning control as full back Richard Lovering, safe under the high ball all day, made a penetrating run and found centre Ryan Evans in hand to score, Rees’s added points making it 20-11.
But Llanharan were paying the price for repeatedly offending in the eyes of Mr Bessant and unexpectedly the Athletic were in front. A Lewis penalty gave the home outfit hope and then ironically a bad pass caused a misalignment of the away side’s defensive formation and left wing Aled Thomas scooped up the ball and raced over, Lewis’s touchline kick giving his men the lead for the first time.
Llanharan were not giving up though, and four minutes into extra time with the likes of Scott Malone and Daffy Davies straining every sinew to turn the result around, the Llanharan pack put in an amazing spell of work to create Rees’s match saver and then maintained the effort as spectators mused humorously that perhaps the ref had turned his watch back early!
Llanharan tries – Harry Davies, Ryan Evans. Cons 2 and pens 3 – Codey Rees.
Bridgend Ath tries – Rhys Jones, Aled Thomas. Pens3 and con – Steven Lewis.

LLANHARAN 17 BEDDAU 8 (HT 7-3)

This Local derby turned out to be a close affair only decided by an exciting late try, but Llanharan know they should have been out of sight at half time. They dominated play but repeatedly failed to nail down try opportunities.
It is probably the hall mark of a young team, impetuosity and a desire to execute things at a hundred miles an hour bringing both excitement and disappointment in their play.
It meant that Beddau turned around only 7-3 behind, their own heroic defence, with former Dairyman Glen Slater to the fore, contributing to Llanharan’s frustrations.
Yellow cards also disrupted the home team’s cohesion, referee Jason Bessant sending Tom Piper and Mathew Williams to the sidelines either side of half time, despite their relatively innocuous offences being committed inside the visitors’ territory, in Piper’s case right on their try line. Beddau’s Dave Ellis too suffered a similar fate, his exclusion overlapping that of Williams.
However Llanharan head coach Matthew Lloyd described the win which took the club into second place as one they would have gratefully taken before kick off.
He added: “It was a good win played in difficult conditions - a hard, well contested game was what we expected and that was exactly what we got. Anything different wouldn’t have been llanharan/Beddau.
“Our start was very pleasing, but our accumulation of points was very disappointing. Beddau were always going to have a spell in the game and they did, some thirty minutes in, coinciding with our first card.
“We did well to defend and score a crucial try before half time. In the second half we asked for a more concentrated effort and the players gave us just that. We were far more comfortable and played with more pace and fluidity which is what we will be working on again this week.
“Generally the attitude of the players is commendable in that we are a squad and not individuals.”
It was all Llanharan in the opening quarter, skipper Nathan Huish at the vanguard of so many attacks and his forward colleagues like Huw Thomas, Andrew Rosen and Man of the Match Scott Malone fuelling the momentum.
Yet Beddau somehow escaped thanks to individual rescue acts from the likes of Dan Fox and a collective determination that coach Brett Davey would have demanded in such a contest.
Howwever, in a rare incursion into opposition territory an off side decision gave them the lead as Rhys Morgan kicked the three points.
Still it seemed only a matter of time before Llanharan prised open their defence as Adam Scanlon made great inroads, but skipper Slater and industrious second row Graham Hartt were having none of it.
It was only a matter of time though before a breach was secured. Huish and strong left wing Harry Davies prompted an assault before a quick free kick from Huw Thomas saw Codey Rees go close, for tight head prop Tom Piper to force his way over for a second try in two games, Rees converting.
Piper’s reward just seconds later was a yellow card as Mr Bessant signalled half time with Beddau again hanging on.
It was end to end after the restart, a good Adam Scanlon tackle and confident play from full back James Morris halting Beddau one end, then Rhys Walker close to getting a touch on Davies’s kick the other.
Williams was the second yellow card for not retreating ten metres, Beddau soon showing resolve as Howell Chatham and James Cashin made a strong attack up the right flank only to see a good Llanharan turn over thwart their ambitions.
But they took the lead with both sides down to fourteen, scrum half Dai Francis going over on the left from his own clever kick from a lineout.
Malone led the response and Rees cashed in with a penalty to regain the lead, but as the game moved into time added on, the Dairymen broke Beddau hearts with a try that not only clinched the win but deprived them of a losing bonus they probably deserved.
And a fine try it was too, Rees’s intelligent kick creating the foot hold, Huw Thomas setting play going with speed of thought and a action, and Gabriel Davies coming at an angle in Scott Gibbs style to score on the right. Rees converted with just seconds left to play.
Llanharan tries – Tom Piper, Gabriel Davies. Cons 2 and pen – Codey Rees.
Beddau try – Dai Francis; pen – Rhys Morgan.

TONDU 20 LLANHARAN 17 (HT 5-14)

Llanharan again got off to a dream start against Tondu only to lose their way after half time as a purposeful home side pressurised them relentlessly to earn a deserved victory.

The visitors looked good as they cruised to a 14-0 advantage in the first quarter, following the pattern of every league game to date this season.

They even then survived a crucial ten minutes defending valiantly as Tondu put in an unbroken sequence of scrummaging against the pack who had lost Scott Malone to Mr Evans's yellow card.

No one was exactly sure what the young flanker had done wrong, but centre Gabriel Davies was drafted into the back row to help Nathan Huish's pack hold out valiantly, the attackers surprisingly unwilling to move the ball against a now depleted Llanharan back line.

Yet ironically with the opposition backs restored to a full formation they did spread it and in the 5th minute of time added on wing Mark Roberts scored to give his team renewed hope which they proceeded to turn to gain.

Yet the Dairymen had started so well.

Outside half Codey Rees, second oldest in the black and blue ranks at just 24, was instrumental in creating the pressure as he followed up a kick, and was the man to put the finishing touch after second row Josh Turner had been help in the corner. The number ten took Huw Thomas's pass to grab the try, adding the conversion himself.

When the Waterwheelers tried to make inroads there were hard tackles coming in, Callum Thomas especially prominent, while prop Tom Piper made good yards in the opposite direction.

And a second try soon followed. Scrum half Matthew Williams made a quick break from a penalty and Tondu were unable to stop Callum Thomas crashing over, Rees again converting.

But Llanharan seemed to have turned off the burners as Mathew Phillips' men strove to reverse their 14-5 deficit.

A huge scrum effort gave them an advantage, and from a quick penalty scrum half Joe Heatley darted over. Murphy converted, then gave the home crowd great heart as his penalty put them in front.

Rees briefly recaptured the lead with his own kick, but flanker Mathew Morgan made it 20-17 as he made the most of a kick through.

Llanharan belatedly began to win better possession as young replacement hooker Gethin Cashmore found his man consistently, but played a game that was too loose and fragmented, ideal for the rampaging home pack to disrupt.

It was crying out for a spell of consolidation with phases rugby that would have allowed them to re-establish a pattern and take control again.

But it never came and it was undoubtedly justice that Rees's two late penalties failed, the first hitting an upright and the poor chase perhaps reflecting an off day for the team.

Head coach Matthew Lloyd was disappointed by his team's lack of control after the previous week's great win against Pontypool.

He said: "Tondu have to be commended on the way they fought back and dominated us. We will look to freshen things up next week and hopefully get a win against Newbridge."

He lamented what appeared to be an uncharacteristic lack of interest for a long period. Attitude's got to be for eighty minutes and no side wins a game after just twenty, he said, promising that the players would learn from it, train hard, and show improvement on Saturday.

Tondu tries - Mark Roberts, Joe Heatley, Mathew Morgan. Con and pen – Mathew Murphy

Llanharan tries - Codey Rees, Callum Thomas. Cons 2 and pen – Codey Rees.