Match Report Vs St. Albans (Gareth Morgan)

Llanharan vs St Albans – Match Report.

Saturday the 4^th of April saw the biggest crowd of the season at the Dairy Field, to witness the Dairymen’s date with destiny, a win would secure the WRU Division One East Central, and guarantee promotion to the Championship.  However, none of them were expecting a walk in the park, against the gritty Cardiff outfit, who had recorded a narrow victory in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.  Before kick-off, there was a minute’s silence, in memory of life long Llanharan supporter, and former player Brian Harris.

Given what was at stake for the hosts, it is hardly surprising that the game was a nervy one, despite this there were also early signs that the visitors may struggle to cope with the pace of Llanharan’s backline.  The hosts took an early lead, when four phases of attacking play saw that backline released, which resulted in a lovely, floated pass from Jack Brooks, finding Mitchell Jones who drew his defender before putting Ryan Griffiths into space wide on the left.  Despite being half tackled on his way to the line, the physical winger was able to regain his feet, and cross for the opening points.  Scott Jones was on target with the touchline conversion, and the hosts were seven points to the good.

Far from settling nerves, St Albans showed from the re-start that they had come to play, and a penalty from the breakdown was cooly slotted by Buns outside half Luke Fish, cutting the visitors deficit to seven points to three.  Things were to get even better for the visitors a short time later, when a Rhys Dauncey knock on surrendered possession to them on the Dairymen’s own ten metre line.  From the resulting scrum, the visitors were able to mount a sustained period of pressure, which eventually led to an attacking penalty ten metres from the home try line.  The Buns elected to tap and go, and a few phases later, scrum half Jake Donovan was able to crash over, but despite the try being unconverted the visitors edged into a one-point lead.

On the twenty-minute mark, Scott Jones kicked to touch from a penalty, resulting in an attacking line out to Llanharan five metres from the Buns line.  The line out went to plan, and from the driving maul, all action flanker Lloyd Gregory was able to crash over.  Again, Scott Jones was on hand to add the extras, as the Dairymen regained the lead, fourteen points to eight.  There then followed a scrappy period, during which Llanharan conceded two scrum penalties.  However, the hosts were able to extend their lead, following a St Albans line out throw on their own ten-meter line which was adjudged not straight.  Llanharan then opted for the line out themselves, which resulted in an excellent Rhys Dauncey take at the tail, allowing Taine Davies to release Jack Brooks to punch a hole in the visitors defence and release fellow centre Morgan Sienawski to canter over unopposed under the posts, the try converted by Scott Jones, to make the lead twenty-one points to eight.

Neither team was able to gather the restart cleanly, and the hosts were perhaps harshly deemed to have knocked on, however, the resultant scrum allowed the visitors to establish a foothold in home territory, which eventually resulted in an attacking penalty.  Luke Fish elected to go for touch, but his kick failed to get there, and Llanharan were able to clear long.  Buns left winger Jake Collier gathered, replied with a pinpoint up and under, which he chased himself, and caught, before spreading the ball to the right, allowing right winger Zac Wood to cross for a try wide on the right.  Luke Fish converted and the buns were back within six points.

Shortly after the restart Llanharan secured another attacking line out just inside the Buns ten metre line, from which Lloyd Gregory made a powerful midfield break, allowing Taine Davies to feed Mitchell Jones wide on the right, who then popped the ball back inside to Morgann Sienawski allowing the latter to score his second try in quick succession.  Twenty-six to fifteen to the hosts.  The final play of the half, saw a Ryan Griffiths break from deep in Dairymen territory, and carry into the Buns half, however it looked like the move had come to nothing due to a misplaced pass.  Winger Tom Buckle had other ideas, picking up excellently of his boot laces, passing the ball to the direct running Jack Brooks, the latter feeding Troy Johnson, who released Scott Jones allowing the outside half to race clear to score.  He was unable convert his own try; however, the Dairymen went in thirty-one, fifteen to the good.

On the evidence of the first half, it was more than clear that St Albans were up for the fight up front but would struggle to contain Llanharan’s potent back line.  This was evident from the restart, which was well taken by Rhys Dauncey, and resulted in the launch of a move which a Fijian sevens side would be proud of, however, unfortunately the move broke down on the visitors twenty-two, without the hosts adding to their score.  What followed was a frustrating twenty minutes for the home support, which was a mixture of an arm wrestle between the two packs, and frequent mishaps affecting the Dairymen’s normally reliable line out.  The frustration was only punctuated by a second try for St Albans scrum half Jake Donovan, following an excellent double carry from their captain Liam Hudson.  Luke Fish converted, and the Buns closed the gap to thirty-one points to twenty-two.

The Dairymen then brought on some fresh legs, with Jack Dauncey, Tom Davies and Callum Baldwin replacing Joe Buckle, Tom Jenkins and Troy Johnson, and shortly afterwards both teams were down to fourteen men, with Jordan Pritchard and Josh Dunleavy both dispatched to the sin bin.  Fortunately, Llanharan then remembered how potent their back line could be, and following a scrum near halfway, Mitchell Jones carried well, and from the resultant breakdown Scott Jones fed Tom Buckle, who committed two defenders, before feeding Jack Brooks, who’s pop pass inside to Taine Davies put the scrum half clear to race in under the posts.  Scott Jones added the extras to make the scoreline thirty-eight twenty-two.

The Buns, to their credit attempted to hit back, an excellent Tom Buckle tackle stopped a certain try, but the defensive effort saw Kieran Martin see yellow, not long after both teams had been returned to their full compliment.  Fortunately however, the Dairymen were able to clear their lines without conceding, and with time running out Morgan Sienawski launched an attack from deep, beating two defenders, before he passed to player of the match Mitchell Jones who carried forty meters, and popped the ball to Taine Davies who crossed for his second try of the half, which Scott Jones converted, to make the final score forty-five to twenty-two, to the Dairymen, and see them crowned Division One East Central Champions.

Mitchell Jones was selected as player of the match, by match sponsor Stuart Smith of Stuart Smith Building Solutions, a deserved winner, however Jack Brooks, Morgan Sienawski, and Taine Davies were also strong contenders.

There was an excellent, and deserved night of celebrations at the clubhouse, as the Dairymen recorded their third league win and promotion in four years.  Particular praise must go to head coach Bill Carey, and his fellow coaches.  Following the retirement of legendary coaching duo Gareth Nicholas and Andy Price at the end of last season, the club had a decision to make, between recruiting an experienced coaching team, or promoting for within.  Ultimately, the decision was to go with the latter, the committee having been won over by Bill’s obvious dedication and passion.  Despite being untested at this level, the Dairymen could not have asked more of their new coaching team.  Earlier in the season, the team faced some challenges, largely due to a lengthy injury list, however, not once did the coaches or players shy away from the task at hand.  The away victory against Caerphilly was arguably the turning point, with the team gaining real self-belief.  The boys kicked on from there, the momentum carrying them for the rest of the season, securing a well-deserved promotion.  Best wishes to a spirited St Albans team for their two remaining games this season.