News

Llanhilleth had an enforced absence from league action this weekend due to opponents New Panteg pulling out of the fixture late in the week. Llan were therefore grateful for Championship side Ystrad Rhondda’s 2nd team who themselves had their own league fixture cancelled for stepping in and making the trip to Llan Park for what turned out to be our toughest contest in the season to date.

The game was played in atrocious conditions throughout but neither side let this hinder them and both teams looked to play an expansive game whenever possible.

In was very evident from the start that Ystrad Rhondda were a well drilled outfit, they were ferocious in defence and sharp in attack, so Llan knew early on that they were in for a stern test and that was what they got. 

Both teams put each other under pressure in the opening 20 minutes but it was Llan who were first to make it count and following a lengthy spell in their opponents half scrum half Conor Imms crashed over for a try which was converted by Fullback Chris Stevens for a 7-0 lead.

Ystrad Rhondda had their best spell of the game for the remainder of the first half and crossed for two tries which one was converted for a well deserved 12-7 interval lead.

Coach Leigh Taylor who was having a week on the sidelines to rest his ageing limbs, got into the players at halftime and reminded them that wins are earned not given and that we were in a right old fashion battle and needed to dig in and show what Llan are about.

To a man all responded and showed their metal as the second half was as intense as the first with no quarter asked or given, both sides were flying into each other in both attack and defence and the crowd were being entertained to 

a fiercely contested encounter.

Llanhilleth retook the lead midway through the second half when replacement scrum half Justin Breakwell broke down the blindside and drew the wing to put in blindside flanker Iestyn James to go over under challenge from Ystrad’s Fullback in the corner for the try which was converted off the touch line by replacement outside half Kyle Sterry to lead 14-12.

To be fair the final result could have gone either way as each team continued to have spells of pressure and Ystrad Rhondda missed a few Penalty attempts at goal to retake the lead but Llanhilleth held on to keep their unbeaten start to the season going.

Llanhilleth wish to thank Ystrad Rhondda for this competitive hit out and wish them all the best for the remainder of the season. Playing like that your sure to have a successful one.

Players deserving a special mention are returning loose head Prop Gavin Jones, second row Rhys Whitlock, flankers Liam Brown and Iestyn James, scrum half Conor Imms and wing James Foreshaw.

The coaches will now concentrate on getting back to league action in training this week as we travel to local rivals Markham this Saturday for what is sure to be another stern test.