Dave, we lost. Permission to stop reading granted.
Well they would, I mean teeth against longbows! Maybe if the team had a player called Androcles we'd have had a chance. Why the 'Black Army' I hear you ask. I lie but here's this week's history lesson anyway. The area of Llantrisant provided the longbow men that fought for Edward, Prince of Wales, at the 'Battle of Crecy. The son of Edward the Third was known as 'The Black Prince', hence the bowmen were part 'The Black Army'. I digress, as usual, but I did warn you in the first sentence so you could have skipped this! (Crecy was a battle in the 'Hundred Year War' between Britain and France. It sometimes felt that long when my brothers and I played the board game 'Risk').
The first game, between the two teams, saw an enjoyable free-flowing game that produced sixty six points. The glorious sunny day hopefully would herald a similar match but, perhaps, the water-boys (not the band!) would be as important as the players. To paraphrase Adrian Cronauer, 'It was hot, dammed hot!'
The Llantrisant kick-off was well caught and Llanishen went on the attack going through a number of phases before Llantrisant conceded a penalty. The lineout was won and good pops from Mike and Lee allowed Llanishen to drive into the opposition's 22.
A forward pass and scrum let Llantrisant clear their lines. A conceded penalty and kick to the corner set up Llantrisant's first scoring opportunity. The catch-and-drive was bravely defended and the ball cleared to halfway.
The flowing rugby was good on the eye but, as an ex-forward, probably extremely tiring on the players' lungs. Tom Hannah, yes you, made a great break only to be stopped short by a fine open-field tackle by the full back.
Llantrisant then broke down the left wing and after a few dummies (not the Llanishen players you understand) it appeared that the Llantrisant were going to score the first points of the game. It was not to be as Elliot, tracking back for forty metres, made a superb covering tackle.
A few minutes later Llanishen conceded a penalty for 'holding' and a fine kick took Llantrisant into the lead. The scores were brought level five minutes later when Rhodri landed a penalty.
A great lineout take and passing allowed 'Johnny-on-the-spot' Bourne to break the gain line and quick ball let Charlie make a fine break. The well timed pass allowed Tom Hannah to scoot over. Happy Days?
The momentum was know with Llanishen and after another series of attacks AB went over for a try, which was converted.
A high tackle allowed Llantrisant to narrow the gap just before the end of a very entertaining half.
Half-Time - Llantrisant 6 Llanishen 15
The pitch was then cleared so the helicopter, taking Tom to a party in London, could land. How times have changed I'd have had to go by horse and cart! Sorry, he went by car and train - perhaps I was suffering from heat stroke.
Actually I wasn't but the referee might have been as he was feeling light-headed and dizzy - the Llanishen team does have that effect on the viewing public!
A short break, while he took on water and had ice applied to his neck, and the second half began.
Llanishen started the second half as they finished the first and for ten minutes it appeared they were going to secure a fine win against the promoted Llantrisant side.
The momentum then changed, however, as Llantrisant upped their game and a fine series of passes allowed their excellent left winger to break tackles and pop a pass inside to create Llantrisant's first try.
Llanishen then found themselves trapped in their own twenty two. Valiant defence in the scrum, with Alex Samms on the blind side after a yellow card, and against a series of drives was finally broken when Llanishen conceded a penalty. The successful kick put Llantrisant in front with ten minutes to go.
The pest, aka the Llantrisant left wing, then made another telling break and the try and conversion took Llantrisant eight points clear.
Llanishen heads down - not a bit of it! A good kick off chase and determined attacks gained a penalty which was kicked. Dix points down with only the kick off to come. Could the boys snatch it at the death?
No but they gave it a very good go. Sam made a break and the ball moved wide before a forward pass brought the game to an end.
Well played both sides!
P.S.
Congratulations to Llantrisant on their promotion and good luck in your upcoming final. We may well see some of you when we play Dinas Powys next weekend!
Another game with a great deal more positives than negatives and the point gained took us above Gilfach Goch into sixth place. Each passing week one can see the makings of a very good team and Llantrisant supporters and players were highly complimentary after the game (before you ask, prior to an alcoholic drink being imbibed!)
There then followed the most important matter of the day, a boat-race! Llanishen won, even with Lewis sipping his pint, so honours even on the day!
So back to the Llanishen Clubhouse with a number of red face glowing amongst the Llanishen followers to discovers the Seconds had beaten CHSOB - a good warm up for the fast approaching Ninian Stuart Cup Final.
Photo by : Carey Callaghan
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