1st's Win 30 - 25 against Cambrian Welfare in game 2 Super Saturday.

Match Report by Gareth Morgan – Llanharan Vs Cambrian Welfare.

Saturday the 13th of September 2025, The Dairy Field, Llanharan.

Roughly two thirds of the earth’s surface is covered by water, and at times on the Dairy Field this afternoon, it felt as if Josh Walsh and Jack Dauncey had decided that between them, they would cover the remaining third. Both appeared to cover every blade of grass on the field, as the Dairy Men looked to back up last weeks hard fought victory over Barry and maintain their one hundred percent start to the season. It was clear from the outset, however, that today’s opponents Cambrian would be no pushovers.

For the second week in succession the Dairymen made a scrappy start to proceedings, and errors gifted their opponents’ early opportunities. It didn’t take long before a successful penalty kick by Cambrian outside half Jonah Huntley gave the visitors a three-point advantage. By this stage, the home side had already lost tighthead prop Jordan Pritchard to injury, with Troy Johnson replacing him. Just like it did seven days earlier, conceding points seemed to wake the black and blue machine from its slumber, and the Dairymen were able to enjoy a period of possession in their opponent’s half. In fact, it wasn’t long before a penalty kick, into the face of a strong wind, was converted by Mr Reliable, Scott Jones to level the score. By this stage, the home team had their tails up, and the industrious Jack Walker was able to round off another period of attacking pressure, with a well worked try, to which Scott Jones added the extras, making it ten points to three to the home side.

Cambrian however, immediately fought back, and a well worked try, which was converted by Jonah Huntley saw the scores level once again. As we entered the second quarter, a gripping and intense battle was developing, and centre Jacob Williams, who rarely if ever puts in a poor performance was on hand to round off a nice move, and crash over to give Llanharan the advantage for a second time. Once again, Scott successfully converted to extend the lead to seventeen points to ten. As we entered the last ten minutes of the half, the Dairymen lost captain and influential centre Jack Brooks to a leg injury, which was an obvious cause for concern. However, the team rallied in his absence and should have increased their lead on a couple of occasions, before a Cambrian counterattack in the dying minutes of the half, saw the visitors narrow Llanharan’s lead to seventeen points to fifteen, which was the half time score.

For the second time in as many weeks, the Dairymen started the second half on the front foot, and evergreen lock Kieran Martin, who had assumed the captaincy following Jack Brooks’s departure was able to crash over under the post, in the opening minutes, to extend the home side’s lead to twenty-two points to fifteen. Scott Jones added the easy conversion, to make the home side’s total twenty-four points. For the large part, the second half was short on quality, but not on intermittent heavy rain showers, and both sides made a number of errors, which prevented either team scoring. However, Scott Jones took advantage of an offence from the visitors, to land a penalty from the ten-yard line, to extend the home lead to twenty-seven points to fifteen. However, very much to their credit, the visitors refused to give up the fight, and two tries from impressive Cambrian tighthead Matthew Llewellyn, which went unconverted, sandwiched an ambitious yet ultimately successful Scott Jones drop goal attempt to make the final score thirty points to twenty-five, to the Dairymen.

Josh Walsh, Jack Dauncey, Owain Howe, Jack Walker, and Ryan Russell all performed well, and had legitimate player of the match claims. It is however, only fitting that it was Scott Jones who was awarded the accolade, yet another perfect return from the tee, his game management ultimately proved the difference between the sides, particularly in the wake of captain Jack Brooks’ premature departure. This was a competitive and hard-fought fixture, which was a credit to grass roots rugby, and referee Terry Dickson deserves credit for the way he officiated proceedings.

Whilst a fourth, bonus point try for Llanharan would have been the icing on the cake, the Dairy Field crowd were more than satisfied that new coaching duo Bill Carey and Mitch Jenkins, who made it two from two. Next weekend they lead the Dairymen up the A470 to Abercwmboi, and I think it is fair to say that they will be hoping for positive news from the treatment room, over the next seven days. ⚫️🔵⚫️🔵🏉