Fixture

Abercwmboi players and supporters travelled to Llanishen in anticipation of tough encounter and they were not disappointed as the match was finely balanced until the visitors took the spoils at the very end.

On a perfect day for running rugby, both teams spread the ball at every opportunity and the lead changing hands frequently. The visitors had the first opportunity to score, but the try went begging when the ball was dropped on the home team’s 22 metre line. Llanishen took the initiative and were rewarded with a well struck penalty by their outside half. However, their lead was short lived when wing Mathew Jones finished off a good team move to score near the posts and give centre Shaun Davies the chance to add the extra points. The remainder of the first half continued with both teams trying to play open rugby, but Llanishen making more of their chances and scoring two tries, one converted, to one penalty from Abercwmboi, making the half-time score 15 – 10 to the home side.

The second half started with Llanishen adding to their lead through a well struck penalty, but the Abercwmboi seemed determined to keep their, slim, promotion hopes alive and scored two more tries through Mathew Jones and Dylan Fiddler, with the conversion giving the visitors a deserved lead. However, Llanishen showed determination and skill that belies their low league position and scored a further converted try to retake the lead. A really strong last 15 minutes by “the Village” when they scored a further three tries through returning captain Lee Jarvis and Paul Edwards (2), two converted by Shaun Davies meant that Llanishen’s final penalty meant nothing as the match finished 41 – 28 to the visitors.