Pre-Match Information

Squad:- G.Punter, R Dowling, C Harris, C Norris, G Thomas, K Dent, J Dent, M Chapman, M Harris, C Davies, A Jones, N Townley, J Evans, R Boobyer, C Ellis, J Davies, L Bayliss, S Partridge, H Rosser.

Match Report

Looking for their first win of the season Llantwit fielded their strongest side of the season with all regular players available. The Sports made all the early pressure but the home defence held well until after 10 minutes Nathan Townley fed centre Carle Ellis who dropped a neat goal to take the Sports into the lead. Llantwit had a good chance to level when outside half Chris Fowler missed a long range penalty. Townley cleared his line well and Josh Davies made an excellent breakout only to be hauled down short of the line with a good cover tackle from right wing Matt Roberts.

The next passage of play saw some very professional inter-passing by the Llantwit forwards with Dan Dawe and prop Liam Griffin both featuring before live wire scrum half Ryan Evans dived over the Sports line with a well taken try which was converted by Fowler. Llantwit were looking to open the ball when Fowler fumbled at outside half and the Sports outside half, Jayce Evans was quick to hack the ball through and controlled it well for the length of the pitch touching down under the posts for a try which when converted by Josh Davies took the Sports to a 7-10 lead.
Davies had two penalty attempts in the next 10 minutes and converted the more difficult one awarded for a offside infringement by the home threequarters. As the half ended Llantwit mounted a sustained attack on the Sports line and were awarded with a penalty as the Sports crept offside. Chris Fowler nailed a good kick to make the half time score 10 -13 to the Sports.

The home side started the second half well and were asking a lot of questions of the Sports defence. This held well, but a sustained attack by Llantwit in almost a carbon copy situation from their first half try saw it end in exactly the same way and the young scrum half Ryan Evans finished off the hard work of the pack and nipped over for a well taken try. Folwer extending their lead to 17 – 13.

This score remained until the final minutes of the game. The Sports were badly disrupted when they lost both second row forwards. The re- arranged pack did well but the full strength Llantwit pack were a good match. To the very end the Sports tried to widen the attack and Lewis Bayliss had the best opportunities but was against an ‘in form’ Matt Roberts who made try saving tackles on Bayliss on three occasions. Nathan Townley and Jayce Evans tried very hard at half back to break the home defence and Gary Punter and Kurt Dent were in good form from the outset.

Llantwit did not look like a side that should be bottom of the division as they consistent kicking of Fowler ended the match with a well stuck penalty taking the score to 20-13. However, it seemed fair that the Sports took a losing bonus point from this match and would imagine that the good crowd watching thought the same. A good local derby played in good spirit and the visiting supporters and the team will look forward to the home fixture at the Bandstand field.

Next week the Sports play top of the table Porth Harlequins at the Bandstand field.