Blaina Match Report.
Report by Gareth Morgan. ⚫🔵⚫🔵🏉
Blaina RFC v Llanharan RFC – Match Report
Saturday 19th September 2026.
The Dairymen have made a promising start to life back in the Championship, securing a maximum ten points from their opening two fixtures. Match day three saw the black and blues on the road again, this time travelling to the northern reaches of the Ebbw Fach valley, to face a Blaina side, themselves also unbeaten so far this season. Llanharan were, therefore, anticipating a stern challenge despite their early season momentum. However, despite this, the visitors showed no signs of nerves, starting very much on the front foot, and within five minutes they were seven points to the good. Electric winger Sam Alexander scoring for the third week in succession, with Scott Jones adding the extras.
Three minutes later, the Dairymen doubled their lead, with second row Joe Buckle burrowing over following a trademark catch and drive, for the second week in succession, Scott Jones again successfully converting. The next twenty minutes saw the home side awaken and enjoy the lion’s share of both possession and territory. The Dairymen, however, were resolute in their defence, and despite the pressure, the hosts were unable to open their account. As the opening half approached its final ten minutes, Llanharan returned to the front foot, and some neat build up play saw Jack Brooks pick an excellent line from close range. Regular Llanharan supporters know that the granite like centre rarely gets stopped from close range, and true to form, he crossed under the sticks, and with Scott Jones again on target, the visitors were twenty-one points to the good. With five minutes until the break, Sam Alexander reinforced the fact that there is no substitute for pace, crossing for his second try, making it six tries from his opening three games. The try remained unconverted, but despite this Llanharan led twenty-six nil at half time.
The second period started out as a much scrappier affair, with home tempers beginning to fray, and mistakes hampering both sides. However, quarter of an hour in, thanks partially to some generous refereeing, the hosts struck back to open their account with a converted try, to make the score seven points to twenty-six. These remained the only points of the first half of the second period. Thankfully, in the final quarter, the Dairymen showed signs of reawakening. Jack Brooks led the way, another sublime angled run opened the visitors second half account, with Scott Jones again on target, to make the score seven to thirty-three. Within two minutes of the restart, the Dairymen secured an attacking line out, with Joe Buckle claiming clean ball at the front, the ensuing rolling maul saw player of the match Jack Walker cross for the visitor’s sixth try, with Scott again adding the extras, Llanharan were now forty points to seven to the good.Â
The final ten minutes saw end-to-end action, with Blaina being the next to score, to reduce the deficit to fourteen points to forty. Debutant Llanharan fullback Stef Davies, who had looked dangerous with ball in hand all afternoon then crowned a fine display with a deserved try, the conversion making the score fourteen to forty-seven. From the re-start Blaina again hit back with a converted try, twenty-one to forty-seven. The final play of the game saw Jack Brooks released into open space following an attacking Dairymen scrum, he could well have gone all the way for his hattrick try, but a delicate slipped pass inside to energetic back rower Lloyd Gregory saw the latter cross beneath the posts, for the game’s final try. With the final kick, Scott Jones slotted the extras, making the final score twenty-one to fifty-four to Bill Carey’s Dairymen.
In truth, this was a comprehensive victory, and strong team performance from Llanharan. The front row were again excellent, with Troy Jenkins getting better week by week, and Jack Walker a force of nature in his player of the match performance. Callum Baldwin added initiative, when he came on as a replacement. Kieran Martin and Joe Buckle were again solid in the boiler house, with the back row performing strongly. Rhys Dauncey and Lloyd Gregory both covered every blade of grass, Scott Malone again turned back the clock with a strong performance, and ever-reliable Owain Howe looked sharp and hungry when he entered the fray. The half-backs controlled things well, it was a pleasure to see Chris Williams back in black and blue. Both centres were strong in attack and defence, as were the wingers, Ryan Griffiths contributing some excellent tackles, and Sam Alexander showing a turnover ability many a backrower would be proud of in addition to his brace of tries. Leon Burton and Martin De Torres both added momentum following their introduction. Special mention must also go to debutant full-back Steff Davies, who seemed intent to run everything, posing a constant threat. In fact, one regular Dairymen supporter commented: “I am not sure about this new fullback, he runs well, but I don’t think he can kick.”   The very next passage of play saw the young fullback field a long kick, before cannoning a beautifully executed right footed kick down the left touchline, to secure a fifty-twenty-two. Point made.
Three from three, a maximum fifteen points, and top of the table, not a bad start, but before we get carried away, next week we are back in more familiar surrounds as we welcome Cardiff Met to the Dairy Field. The students lie second on points difference and have also scored a maximum fifteen points from their opening three games, it has the makings of a great match. ⚫🔵🏉
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