Sep 10 2016
SSE SWALEC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
RUMNEY 11 LLANHARAN 43 (HT 6-15)
A second successive six tries bonus point victory underlined the excellent summer of rebuilding undertaken at Llanharan, Gareth Dyer notching a hat trick.
This was an impressive display against the club that regularly fought it out with us for East District supremacy in the days before national leagues.
It was far from easy as the home team’s attrition disrupted our superior attacking play for much of a first half punctuated by numerous confrontations.
However, as the interval approached, the referee decided enough was enough and in a short space of time had yellow carded no fewer than five players, three from Rumney and two from the Dairymen.
Its effect was twofold – an end to the disruptive niggling and the creation of space which Llanharan exploited with relish.
A Lloyd Thomas early penalty was cancelled out by one from Lewis Pearce, and that was how the score stood until the stroke of half time when the openings began to appear in depleted ranks.
Dyer’s first touchdown came in the 5th minute of time added on, Chris Poole, Kieran Martin and Josh Austin all prominent in the build-up before the centre finished off, Thomas converting.
Pearce struck a second penalty, but Dyer, back with his home club after several years’ absence, hit back instantly, profiting from the elusive running of co-centre Poole to give his side 15-6 lead.
It was all Llanharan in the second period with sharp and classy handling.
Promising young scrum half Tom Lucas was next over the line, Dyer, Joel Ringer and Martin major contributors in the build-up.
Dyer sailed through for his third to register the bonus point, and with fullback Jack Pring increasingly threatening with his attacks from deep, Rumney were stretched to breaking point.
The lively Lucas was also very much to the fore, sending Poole in for two tries in the final ten minutes to complete the rout.
Thomas, a skilful controller in the ten shirt, added his fifth conversion of the afternoon to complete a highly successful afternoon for his team.
A late pushover try from Mike Wilson, with Llanharan down to 14 after Martin’s hamstring pull, was of only token significance.
Llanharan tries – Gareth Dyer 3, Chris Poole 2, Tom Lucas. Cons 5 and pen – Lloyd Thomas
Rumney try – Mike Wilson. Pens 2 – Lewis Pearce.
Team:
15. JACK PRING 14. STUART GRIFFITHS 13. CHRIS POOLE 12. GARETH DYER (JORDAN GLASBY 57) 11. JOSH AUSTIN 10. LLOYD THOMAS 9. TOM LUCAS 1. RHYS TAYLOR (SAM PICK 65) 2. GETHIN CASHMORE 3. JOEL RINGER (SAM LLEWELYN 56) 4. RICHARD HART 5. KIERAN MARTIN 6. LEE MORRIS (ELYS GOODE 55) 7. MORGAN GRIFFITH (OWAIN HOWE 55) 8. HUW THOMAS CAPT
Report Hugh Smith. Images Anita Cashmore.