Fixture

Llanishen RFC | 1st Team

36 - 29

Taffs Well RFC | 1st Team

Match Report

03 March 2019 / Team News

Match Report Llanishen RFC v Taffs Well

I Don’t Believe It!

Get to the back of the queue Mr Meldrew because nor can anyone who watched the game.

There are things children shouldn’t see: X rated movies (obviously), Prime-Ministers Question Time (chimpanzee tea parties have more manners on show) and games like this.

So, before I continue, a health warning – those of a nervous disposition, dodgy ticker or proneness to nosebleeds stop reading now!

For those of you brave enough to keep reading you should also be warned that the following the First Team causes premature greying of the hair.

After unseasonably warm weather it was back to an overcast and windy day but none of the forecast rain so good day for a game of open rugby.

A Taff’s Well knock on, from the kick-off, enabled Llanishen to exert early pressure. The scrum seemed to be an even contest and a regular supply of ball was anticipated.

Taff’s Well broke clear and moved the ball with pace and power into the Lions’ half. After a number of phases the pressure drew a penalty but with the advantage a deft kick over the top allowed Taff’s Well to score under the posts.

A fine kick return and kick into the corner caused a knock on five metres from Taff’s Well line. A great surge from the back of the scrum gave Alex Bourne (Taff’s Well’s match reporters ‘Man of the Match’) a try the conversion brought relief to Lions’ supporters.

Taff’s Well have a strong pack and a swift powerful back line and only good defence kept the opposition from scoring.

Llanishen were now on the offensive and a it looked like a one handed Kobe Bryant pass, from Gwion to speedster James, had given us a second try. A foot had, unfortunately, been in touch so Doh! No score.

On offence Milo, Tom Hannah and Alex Bourne made good line breaks but the Taff’s Well’s scramble defence was up to the challenge.

It was time for time for ‘Madness’, ‘One Step Beyond’, with ten minutes to go until half-time Llanishen put together a series of powerful drives by Lee, Shaun, Adam and Ryan which created enough space for Miles to go over for a try. The conversion put Llanishen seven points clear.

Now we didn’t get where we are today by winning easily and, as is often the case this season, the opposition scored straight from the kick-off but the missed conversion meant we were still ahead.

The frantic five minutes were to ensue bringing shakes of heads and gnashing of teeth (don’t do it as it damages your temporomandibular joint).

A good scrum in the Taff’s Well half and a chance for a Lion’s score, perchance? Correct, but not for ‘The Lion’s’. Juggling of a standard similar to Tommy Cooper allowed the opposition 9 to grab the ball (why couldn’t he just enjoy the art on show!) and scamper away to score a fine individual try.

Like London buses when one interception arrives another soon follows. A flat pass was caught and with a fine acceleration the opposition scored their fourth, thus a bonus point try, which was converted.

So another fine mess the boys’ had got themselves into. Time to lift heads and get back into the game! A great break created space and wonderful floated pass was caught by the ‘I’m free’ Noah brought the crazy first half to a close.

Half-Time: Llanishen 19 Taff’s Well 24

The wind seemed to have swung from across the pitch to a direction in favour of Llanishen so could the team make use of it?

It certainly seemed like it for the first few minutes but a clever short line out and inter-passing gave Taff’s Well their fifth try. The team was ten points behind, no league points at this time.

After a good catch and pass, by Swills, gave space for Miles to break over the halfway line. A good kick and chases caused a five metre scrum but the opposition’s line held firm and they were able to clear down field.

Stobbs Junior had played well in attack and defence but with 25 minutes left Harry T came on and under his urging the energy level amongst the side rose (up from 30 kW to 70 kW for the energy minded readers).

The sizeable crowd were restless and with fifteen minutes time was running out and the R word was raising its ugly head, relegation, be jiggered.

A great break, by Young Miles, and a wonderful pass to the supporting JACK MCKENSIE allowed him to score a try in the corner. (Not his mischievous older brother who told the Taff’s Well match reporter that he’d scored! You know who you are Ross – dreadful behaviour). The Lions now had two points as it stood – bonus points for four tries and for being within seven points.

Tension levels were rising as the clock ticked down (from 10 Newtons to 50 Newtons for the scientifically minded amongst you) and for all the attacking intent it appeared Taff’s Well seemed as if they were going to hold on for the win.

Into the last five minutes and Llanishen in the oppositions 22, it was time for cool heads. Drive after drive of increasing ferocity finally created room for Elliot to break the line and bring the sides level. Eh! Eh! Alright! Alright! Calm down! Calm down! We had a conversion to win it but the kick drifted wide. Still three points for Llanishen and with only 30 second left, surely the final score.

There was a glint in the eyes of the Lions. It was time to go for the jugular and after numerous phases the ball moved inexorably towards the opposition’s try line.

Blood pressure levels rising beyond the 120:80 recommended levels were only brought back down when Sam went over the try line to win the game. The conversion brought the extraordinary game to an end and so, just like that, Llanishen had gained five precious League points.

The Taff’s Well side were naturally deflated but they are good side that I hope we play next year in this League (aggregate score from the two games is 62-62 so if it were football they’d win on the away points rule).

However from a Llanishen perspective it was, ‘Nice to beat you, to beat you nice’.

A truly memorable game but absolutely bonkers!

Full-Time: Llanishen 36 Taff’s Well 29

PS – thank you to the supporters who came to watch, especially our educated English friends (well we won last week and they praised the match reports) who came from Winchester to watch.

Please try and get to the Clubhouse for the Scotland match and show us the money!

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