Game Reviews And Club News.

These reviews are sent each Sunday, word for word, to the Pontypridd Observer. This site has no influence whatsoever over what is sometimes printed in the Wales On Sunday.

		Having run the Cardiff Marathon (1986) and the London Marathon (1987), Clive (56) is planning to complete the capitals of the UK and Eire nations by running the Edinburgh Marathon (May 2010), the Dublin Marathon (Oct 2010) and then the Belfast Marathon (May 2011) - Find out why by clicking on "donate" on the box to the left.
My name is Lewis I am 7 months here, please sponsor my Bampa to run 3 marathons for theTuberous Sclerosis Association.		All flights, race entries and expenses will be paid for by Clive himself so every penny sponsored will go direct to the Tuberous Sclerosis Association.

6th March 2010     GILFACH GOCH 33       LLANTWIT FARDRE 17     SWALEC League Division 2 East

A hard fought game ending in an equitable three tries each but on the day it was the penalty count against Fardre that overwhelmed them.

Fardre's away following that today travelled to the Welfare Ground have been criticised by their players as being too quiet and reserved but this match saw them more vocal than has been seen, certainly in my experience, since 1998.

Nobody would doubt that the home side deserved their win and edged the game in both halves but it was the weak reffereeing of the tackle area that lead to Fardre's frustrations all afternoon and gave Gil so many penalty oppurtunities.

Gilfach started the strongest and went all out attack having a slight breeze and playing downhill in the first half and this led to a first minute penalty to give tham an early lead but fine interpassing minutes later saw Andrew Webb make ground down the left hand side and offload, where the ball went through three pairs of hands before Geraint George crossed for the Llantwit lead.

The next thirty minutes were spent between the two tenty twos with each defence nullifying their opponents attack and a good game in prospect.

The stalemate was ended with a Gilfach quick tap penalty that caught out the Fardre defence and the try under the posts was converted to give Gil back the lead at 10 - 5.

The last kick of the half was a long range Gilfach penalty that soared above the posts leaving the officials to guess whether it would have gone between the posts or not and with the linesman undecided the refferee gave the points and Gil went into the interval 13 - 5 up.

Five minutes into the second half a sustained Gilfach attacking period was rewarded when their outside half found a gap to place the ball under the posts for a certain seven pointer.

A deliberate knock on to stop a Fardre attacking move in the first half had incensed the Llantwit faithful especially as a scrum was awarded instead of a penalty but in the second half the deliberate knock on stopped a definate try but instead of the penalty try the verdict was a penalty and a yellow card.

A scrum was called in lieu of the penalty and quick ball gave wing Keiron Evans, who had come into the centre, the oppurtunity to jink his way across the line to bring the score back to 20 - 10.

The Fardre forwards had been frustrated all afternoon by the refferees interpretation of the tackled player having to release the ball practically before he had hit the floor and on this occassion, straight after their try, thay were punished yet again and the Gil score moved on to 23 and when the same happened a minute later a penalty was moved on 10m as the frustration turned into anger and the Gil score moved on to 26.

The breakdown had been keenly contested all afternoon and Gilfach were the cleverer team realising that the refferee was allowing entry to the ruck from in front of the back foot and capitalising on it but they were just a bit too obvious on one occasion in front of their own posts and, as before, Fardre took the penalty as a scrum, Keiron was heavily marked as the same move as before was likely but this time the ball was moved out to centre Oliver Turton who crossed and saw his try converted by the substitute outside half Peter Burridge.

At 26 - 17 Fardre were still in with a shout and were three tries to two up but the situation didn't last for long as the Gil no 8 broke three or four tackles to power over the line for a converted try for a final 31 - 17 scoreline.

Llantwit take a break this weekend because of the international games but the following Friday entertain Penallta at home (7.30 kick off) in a rearranged league game the night before the Wales Italy game.

27th February 2010     MOUNTAIN ASH 11      LLANTWIT FARDRE 15          SWALEC League Division 2 East

Fardre jumped a place to sixth in 2 East in a last minute thriller away at Parc Abercynon as they faced Mountain Ash for the third time this season.

Fardre had won their home fixture by 4 points and a plate match at Parc Abercynon by 3 points so todays match was geared up to be a close run thing and worth missing Italy v Scotland to watch as many travelling fans will testify.

Things started well for Llantwit as a lineout in the second minute saw a tried and tested move from the training field work a treat and Andrew Evans found space to get over in the corner.

The Old Firm replied immediately with a penalty kick that sailed between the posts and then came Fardre's worst mistake of the day.

Ash's Gavin Roberts had joined the line from fullback and headed towards the corner but noticed that Fardre's drift defence had two defenders drifting to the touchline and this gave him a huge gap to cut inside to score and take his side into the lead for the first time at 8 - 5.

Fardre's defence was excellent from that moment on and Mount tried five times to get a rolling maul going without success so moved the ball out where, this time, the backs defence held up but were adjudged to be off side, the resulting penalty taking Mount to 11 - 5.

Fardre needed desperately to get back into the game before half time and immediately after the try a penalty to them gave Carl Thomas the oppurtunity, which was successful, and took the teams in at half time with a three point difference and all to play for at 11 - 8.

The second half was played between the two twenty twos and it looked as if there might not be another score, that is right up until the final five minutes.

Fardre's pack started taking control and two rolling mauls were pulled down on their way to the line, resulting in a penalty but no yellow card. The kick was taken back to the twenty two metre line to increase the angle but was missed so no advantage was gained.

With only two minutes to go another Fardre rolling maul was pulled down, again without a card, but this time the penalty kick went to touch where it was gathered and the rolling maul again headed for the line.

There was an attempt to pull the maul down but this time Fardre carried on straight over the top of the offender and wing Keiron Evans, who had joined his forwards in the maul, touched down for the try that Carl Thomas converted to give Fardre a famous victory.

21st February 2010   LLANTWIT FARDRE 35 Ruthin 14    SWALEC Plate Round 4

A quick look at the score line would give the false impression that Fardre had run away with this game, holding the visitors to a converted try in each half, but in reality the visitors fought hard until midway through the second half when Fardre's superior fitness began to tell.

The visitors from Denbighshire, North Wales, travelled the 230 miles down the motorway network to arrive just before the game but any thoughts of catching them cold were soon dispelled when their pack took control in the opening minutes.

Three penalties were awarded against the Fardre pack, each going to touch to be mauled towards the line with the refferee finally losing patience and awarding a penalty try that was easily converted to give the visitors a seven point lead.

As if waking from a sleep from their last competitive game played nearly a month ago, the Llantwit pack bossed things from then on and it was quick ball from the pack that allowed the backs to go through some intricate inter-passing to see centre Oliver Turton cross for Fardre's first points.

Feeling more confident, the Fardre pack started rolling mauls from anywhere on the pitch and one such maul was collapsed to give Carl Thomas the oppurtunity to slot the penalty and give Llantwit the lead for the first time at 8 - 7.

Not to be outdone the backs started to throw the ball about a bit more and a fine individual try emerged from the wing as Keiron Evans scored in the corner for a half time score of 13 - 7 and everything to play for.

Ten minutes into the second half Ruthin looked as if they were tiring until the loosehead prop suddenly took the ball on the 22 and charged through the defenc for a fine converted try which gave the visitors the lead back.

From that point on the Fardre pack really took control of the game, a lineout seeing Dominic Masters take the pass from the catcher and sprint through the gap to dive over the line for Thomas to convert and regain the lead 20 - 14.

Shortly after a long range penalty kick was sensibly aimed towards the posts and Carl Thomas took his side to more than a converted try ahead.

Llantwit relaxed a bit then and let the backs throw the passes around with Steve James joining the line from fullback to cross in the corner.

Immediately after, the forwards decided to keep the ball themselves and allowed Lewis James to cross for a converted try that put the home side out of sight.

Fardre travel to Mountain Ash this Saturday to try and complete one of their missing league games as it is a measure of how many games Fardre have missed that after that game Mount will only have two home games left while Fardre will still have six.

Fardre have only lost three league games this season, the third best record in the division, but will need to win their games if they intend to challenge.

4th February 2010  LLANTWIT FARDRE 22         Ynysybwl 14             SWALEC League division 2 East

Llantwit proved that they have matured into a side that can make a lead and then close a game down and defend to the final whistle writes Clive Thompson.

This was a tough and well fought local derby with both sides showing patches of flair, hard tackling and good all round defence.

Just two minutes into this floodlit game Fardre took the lead with a Carl Thomas penalty but soon after an Ynysybwl player who refused to move off the ball in a ruck was rucked out, an illegal act these days, but the Bwl penalty attempt sailed wide.

Half way through the first half, Fardre scrum half Dan Povey kicked the ball over the advancing defence for the speed of Keiron Evans to touch down to take the score to eight and with both linesman unsure it was up to the refferee to award the conversion to Thomas.

Thomas was back in the action before half time when a Bwl attempted kick out of defence was charged down and Thomas darted through the defensive wall to touch down again, convert his own try and take Fardre on to 17 - 0.

Ynysybwl never looked strong in attack unless it was through their pack that had a superior weight advantage and it was this pack that mauled the ball over for their only converted try of the half.

Just before half time Llantwit were again attacking and Thomas decided to kick over the advancing defence and this time it was Neil Sloan that chased and won the ball to carry it over the line for a 22 - 7 interval score.

The second half was a matter of Bwl trying to muscle over with their heavier pack and Fardre trying to keep them out. Bwl managed to cross the line once with the pack again doing the work but the conversion saw the end to their scoring with the Fardre defence holding out for the rest of the match for a deserved four points.

Fardre's next match is at home against our biannual visitors Peebles RFC on Friday 12th Feb where there will be a hogroast at pitchside and then back to the clubhouse for that fantastic singer Tracy Welsh and a chat about the following days international between Wales and our Scottish visitors.

23rd January 2010    LLANTWIT FARDRE 23       Pentyrch 13    SWALEC Plate Round 3 and also the Tommy Coleman Cup

It is said amongst the older members of the committees of these clubs that the Tommy Coleman Cup was contested every year between pentyrch and Llantwit and today, in an effort to revive that tradition, the tie was for this cup and also for the SWALEC plate round three.

Both sides started rustily not having played since round 2 of this competition, all league games since mid December having been postponed, but it was the visitors from Parc-y-Dwrlyn that started better and scored first.

Pentyrch outside half Williams kicked through from the Llantwit twenty-two and watched the foot race as both wings descended on the ball, Pentyrch's Berry just reaching out to touch down first and give his side a five point lead.

It only took another three minutes before Fardre got onto the scoresheet with a penalty kick from Carl Thomas who nearly put his side into the lead two minutes later as he watched his drop goal attempt bounce back off the upright.

The quickly gathered ball off the upright and quick move from defence resulted in a kickable Pentyrch penalty for not releasing which gave the Tyrchs a deserved 8-3 lead at half time.

Fardre upped the effort level in the second half resulting in a sustained attack that saw Mark Dolman eventually cross and Thomas duly convert the try to push Fardre into a two point lead which was the first time they had gone in front.

Things got frantic with only ten minutes of normal playing time left, starting with a Thomas penalty leaving Pentyrch to get a try to even the scores.

Fardre kept the pressure on and from his attacking twenty two line Geraint Lewis chipped through a beautifully weighted kick that stopped on the try line for wing Paul Tampsett to dive on to score and then watch the conversion attempt as Thomas was denied by the upright for the second time.

With a ten point lead Fardre could have been forgiven for trying to close the game down but instead they carried on their attacking drive and a run down the wing by Keiron Evans went through hands before reaching captain Geraint George who powered over the line for another try, giving him 150 points over the last 6 seasons which is an incredible record for a prop.

The attacking phase brought its problems however as the next attack found Fardre exposed at the back as Pentyrch raced away for their second try of the afternoon giving them a respectable 23-13 scoreline.

Fardre travel to Garndiffaith this Saturday but all their postponed matches have now been rearranged and can be found on their website at www.llantwit-rugby.co.uk

12th December 2009   MOUNTAIN ASH 0 LLANTWIT FARDRE 3    SWALEC Plate Round 2

The jury is still out on the WRU experiment with cup, plate and bowl this year with Fardre, who got to the last 16 of the cup competition last season, relishing playing and sometimes beating the big boys and the fans enjoying the big day out.

It was into the second round of the plate competition that Llantwit started their campaign on Saturday and with the WRU hoping for closer encounters, Fardre found themselves drawn against local rivals Mountain Ash, with the teams presently sixth and seventh in League Two East and with their last enclounter ending in a thirty four point thriller with Fardre scraping home by four points.

Nobody was expecting this to be other than a close cup match but it was made closer by the fact that both teams felt that a try would be necessary to secure the victory so practically every penalty of the game was fired into the corner where attack and defence nullified each other.

The Old Firm's only attempt on goal in the first half was by outside half Owen Roberts but the ball sailed wide and Roberts was substituted minutes later through injury.

The referee tried to help the sides out by playing fifteen minutes of extra time but to no avail as the teams entered the break scoreless.

Anyone looking at the final score in this game and coming to the conclusion that it must have been a boring game would be wrong as both teams gave one hundred percent effort, fought hard for every ball, comitted to every tackle and played from end to end with ferocity that led to a yellow card for each side.

Fardre's first attempt at goal came two minutes into the second half and it wasn't until the fourty minute mark that a strong Llantwit attack ended in a penalty for not rolling away after the tackle and Rob Kotyla slotted the kick for the only points of the game.

On eighty minutes Mount had what looked like a kickable penalty for the draw but decided to go all out for the win and kicked to the corner where Fardre's defence was too strong and held out until the final whistle.

For those looking for a respite from Christmas shopping Pontypridd U13s entertain Cardiff U13s at Central Park on Wednesday 13th and on Saturday 19th the home game against Penallta is followed by Goldcard night for those who are Goldcard members or who wish to become so.

5th December 2009 TREORCHY 20 LLANTWIT FARDRE 5  League division 2 (East)

A quick look at the other league 2 results on this day, with the top club being beaten by the bottom club, will show that this was lottery Saturday with the weather being the only real winner .

From an hour before kick off the rain lashed down and did not relent through the whole of the game but Treorchy, with their knowledge of the Oval, knew where the pools would be deepest, had the wind behind them in the first half, and deftly kicked to touch, pinning the visitors down in their own half and gaining two converted tries in the first quarter.

Fardre struggled against the wind and rain, desperate to get out of their own half with kicks to touch being held up in a vicious wind, but on one attack near the end of the half Carl Thomas cross kicked to the wing and the ball held up beautifully to drop into his brother's arms with Dean crossing in the corner for Llantwit's only points of the afternoon.

The third quarter saw Fardre with the wind and all of the territory but unable to penetrate an excellent Treorchy defence that knew that they had, simply, to close the game down and hold on to their first half lead - which they did expertly and also added a long range wind assisted penalty.

The fourth quarter was confusing as both teams appeared to be playing in brown with only the substitutes being recognisable for the first thirty seconds that they were on the field and the game being constantly stopped so that mud could be washed out of eyes.

Fardre will be looking forward to this coming Saturday whan, hopefully, the conditions will suit their more open running style of rugby as they travel to Mountain Ash for the second round of the SWALEC plate but please note that there is an early kick off at 2pm.

24th October 2009     ABERCYNON 29 LLANTWIT FARDRE 5  League division 2 East

It's difficult to see why Fardre are not quite firing on all cylinders at the moment; whether it be a knock in confidence after the previous game or whether the injury situation is affecting them - something is missing.

Llantwit have been blessed by other results around them as they cling on to fourth position in the league and will be looking forward to the respite of the Autumn Internationals to regroup.

Their trip to Abercynon was always going to be a difficult match but one where they believed thay could come away with something from the game but their confidence seemed to wain after two minutes when pressure from the Abercynon pack pushed their front row up and the resulting penalty was slotted by Matthew Turner to give Cynon an early lead.

Nothing seemed to go right for Fardre and a long defensive kick down field, with the wind, was fielded by the Abercynon fullback who showed how such a kick should be dealt with by starting a run with the ball moving swiftly through his backs until centre Turner, neatly positioned on the wing, added to his points tally with a try in the corner.

Llantwit wake up and had the best of the next ten minutes with some good pressure coming from rolling mauls with one maul tying the Cynon defence in and seeing the ball moved through the Fardre backs where second row Adam Isles had positioned himself and slid across the line on the rain soaked pitch to bring Fardre to within three points of the home side.

The rest of the first half turned sticky as one minute the sun was shining and the next minute the players were battling through wind and rain and it wasn't until two minutes before the interval that the Fardre defence eventually let through another try in the corner, converted by Turner to take his side in at 15 - 5.

The changeable weather continued through the second half with Cynon tries coming at the very start and very end of the period.

The first try was from a Cynon rolling maul that the refferee had a long hard look at before deciding that it had not been held up and the second, Cynon's bonus point try, was a try under the posts and Matt Turner converted both tries with his last conversion receiving the full time whistle.

In past seasons Llantwit have been going through a purple patch when the Autumn Internationals have spoiled things for them but this season they will be hoping that the long rest and hopeful return of their injured players wiill see them start afresh when they invite third placed Ynysybwl to Parc Canol on 14th November.

17th October 2009   Llantwit Fardre 5    Gilfach Goch 25 League Division 2 East

Gilfach showed their determination to put their stamp on the game from the start and the first ten minutes were all played in the Fardre half with keen defence keeping the visitors out.

The two centres for Gilfach looked strong and, indeed, it was interpassing between the two of them that resulted in a try for captain Walters, converted by Ian Davies.

The refferee made his mark and showed Fardre that he would penalise them if he saw hands in the ruck, which he saw a lot and penalised each time resulting, eventually in another three points for Davies.

Just before half time some quick passing across the Gilfach backs and then quick recycling at the breakdown saw outside half Walters put his number eight through for the second try and a 15 -0 half time score.

Gilfach closed the game down after half time and, knowing that Fardre were playing catch-up rugby, defended until mistakes were made and capitalised on them with runs out of defence.  This resulted in a successful long range penalty for Davies and then a well worked try down the right wing that Davies converted.

Llantwit did not give up their attacking spirit and a late try to Keiran Evans was well deserved.

10th October 2009    NEWPORT SARACENS 3       LLANTWIT FARDRE 22     League division 2 East

An unbeaten Fardre team, brimming with confidence, went away to Newport Saracens last week, Saracens being a team that were unbeaten at home and building a fortress mentality at their new Maesglas ground.

As usual Llantwit started the game pressurising their opponents but it took them a full seventeen minutes before the breakthrough came when scrum half Luke Evans picked up from the base of an attacking scrum on the 22 and saw a gap down the blindside but still had to beat two covering defenders on his way to the line for a fine individual try.

Saraecens were finding it nearly impossible to stop the Fardre attack and their frustrations led to a skermish on the twenty minute mark, the resulting penalty seeing Rob Kotyla bisecting the posts to take the score on to 8-0.

Only a minute later Kotyla was at the other end of the pitch hoisting a long kick out of defence that Saracens wing and full back both attempted to field and got in each others way and then watched as Peter Burridge picked up the loose ball and passed inside to Dean Thomas, who had come in off his wing, to touch the ball down under the posts for Kotyla to add the extras.

Saracens had an attacking five minutes before half time but an awesome defensive effort saw their hopes come to nothing when a desperate drop goal attempt went wide and the teams went in to a half time break at 15 - 0.

Mid way through the second half the ball popped out of a ruck and was pounced on by a Fardre player but the refferee deemed it illegal and Saracens were given a penalty that saw them score their only points of the afternoon.

Saracens did a fair job of containing Llantwit and keeping the score down in the second half but with only two minutes to go and after halting an attacking scrum for the seventh time the refferee lost his patience and awarded a penalty try.

With Kotyla off the pitch injured it fell to Luke Evans to convert the try and the whistle blew shortly after to give the visitors their sixth victory out of six games this season.

It looked as if the top of the table clash this season would be Llantwit and Treorchy as it had been last year in Division Three exept that Gilfach Goch had different ideas beating Treorchy, knocking them off the top and leapfrogging over them into second position just one position behind Llantwit.

Needless to say this adds spice to this Saturdays match at Parc Canol where Llantwit and Gilfach kick off at 2.30 in what promises to be the match of the season between the top two.

3rd October 2009     LLANTWIT FARDRE 20 GARNDIFFAITH 5     League division 2 East

A young Garndiffaith side, sat at the foot of the table, visited Parc Canol to face the league leaders and, in flashes, showed that they have a back line that can cause defences problems. Unfortunately their game plan seemed to be to spoil and the flashes of movement from their backs were all too rare .

The first fifteen minutes of this game were physical with both sides trying each other out and neither team looking like scoring until a ruck where Garn flanker Evans threw a haymaker punch that connected but, being out of the view of the referee, Evans was lucky to stay on the field.

The resulting penalty saw Rob Kotyla open the scoring for Fardre and it would be a case from now on as to whether Fardre played Garn at the game that Garn wanted to play or whether they played their own game and accepted the penalty kicks.

For the rest of the first half Llantwit played their own game and a long run out of the Fardre defence by Dean Thomas saw him brought down after kicking on, the penalty being taken quickly by Peter Burridge who was then tackled after two metres and the second penalty then being slotted by Kotyla to take the score on to six.

An attacking Fardre scrum, late in the half, saw scrum half Luke Evans pick up and jink through the defence to throw himself at the line, his momentum and the wet conditions taking him over for the score and Kotyla adding the extras for a half time score of 13 - 0.

The second half was scrappy and played on Garndiffaith's terms and when a skirmish happened early on the referee had no other alternative than to send both number eights off for a ten minute rest.

The Fardre pack were still bossing things and a fifteen metre rolling maul saw Dominic Masters come up with the ball after touching down over the whitewash and Kotyla yet again adding two points to take Fardre to their final tally.

With only five minutes to go a Garndiffaith sub picked up from the base of a scrum and went on a wide looping run catching the Fardre defence unawares and breaking two tackles before touching down in the corner for an unconverted try showing that Garn did have the attacking power required after all.

Llantwit have now won five out of five games but find themselves in the strange position of sitting in the second position in the table behind Treorchy who have lost a match but have managed to pick up a bonus point in every game.

The bonus point situation will not be on the Fardre teams minds for this weeks enclounter with old rivals Newport Saracens away, they will want to concentrate on keeping the winning streak going and letting the bonus points look after themselves.

Llantwit youth also had a win when they travelled away to Llantrisant where they notched up nine tries for a 51 - 0 victory the tries coming from Scott Burrows (2), Chris Palmer, Dan Rees, Dan Morgan, Tom Hale, Mike Dowden, Chris Jenkins and Luke John with Hale also kicking two conversions and Burrows the third.

26th September 2009   RHYDYFELIN 26 LLANTWIT FARDRE 27    League division 2 East

Llantwit 1sts and 2nds both go away and both return 27 - 26 wins.

When Fardre declared their wish to return to division 2 to face local villages in local rivalries, it was just this sort of game that they were looking for; a ding dong battle in bright sunshine with good and vocal banter from both sets of supporters.

Fardre supporters had a strong feeling of deja vu as in the first five minutes an attacking move was broken down by an interception that saw Rhyd run the length of the pitch, finally passing out to Gavin Close to score in the corner, almost a carbon copy of Fardre's last match.

The conversion attempt from near the touchline was not given by the refferee but with the linesman not being able to make up their minds it caused confusion in the scoring for the rest of the match in the minds of the supporters.

Rhyd no 10 Ross Lucas was binned for ten minutes and had his team mates to thank thet the score didn't change during his absence, without the yellow he could have been man of the match for his kicking abilities and the way he dictated the Rhyd game.

Llantwit got their rolling maul working and Rhyd's only answer was to pull it down giving Robert Kotyla the chance to step up and slot the penalty to put Fardre on the score board at 5 - 3.

Five minutes before half time the forwards started another rolling maul, from far out, which broke down and turned into inter-passing between the forwards that could not be stopped and saw Geraint George go over the whitewash and Kotyla again split the posts to give Fardre a deserved 5 - 10 lead at the interval.

One player with a history in these clubs is centre Peter Burridge who was for years with Llantwit before transferring to Rhyd and then came back to Llantwit and it was Burridge, five minutes into the second half, who broke down an attacking Rhyd move and stole the ball to get it out quickly and find scrum half Luke Evans going over to extend the Fardre lead to 5 - 15.

There was then a frantic ten minutes of scoring from both sides starting with a Rhyd converted try in the corner, but straight from the restart Rhyd were off side and Kotyla replied with a penalty, but a minute later a Rhyd player picked the ball up in front of the kicker and Kotyla slotted another penalty to be answered by Rhyd who dropped a goal and the score had suddenly reached 15 - 21.

The supporters then had a breather and much discussion over what the score was before the teams traded points again with a Rhydyfelin penalty for off side being neutralised by a drop goal from Fardre's Luke Evans but another Rhyd penalty took the scores to 21 - 24.

It was the type of game that could only end in drama and some supporters had their money on a 24 all draw but then the drama unfolded before them.

A kick-through by Rhyd saw fullback Kotyla, who had given an impeccable performance, kick the ball from the ground into the attackers hands and could only watch him glide by to score in the corner for an unconverted try and a Rhydyfelin lead.

The game was not over however and another Fardre attack was stopped by a jump in the air by wing Gavin Close who tapped the ball into touch with his hand giving Fardre a penalty that the refferee said would be the last play of the game.

Kotyla placed the ball on the touchline knowing his side were two points down and he would either be saint or sinner depending on the outcome of his actions and as he kicked to split the posts down the middle the other Fardre players and subs were already congratulating him before he could pick up his kicking tee.

If the return match is anything near as exciting as this then I for one will be there and am already looking forward to Fardre's next home game this Saturday against Garndiffaith.

It wasn't until returning to the Fardre clubhouse that it ws realised that both the senior teams had travelled away and both had come back having won 26 - 27 an occurrance that nobody in the club could remember happening previously.

The seconds team performance at Gilfach Goch was topped by a coaches award of a man of the match performance by Sean Cooper who also scored one of the tries along with others from Ross O'Connell and Paul Davies while another outstanding performance from Marcus Caudle saw him slot the three conversions and also add two penalties.

19th September 2009       LLANTWIT FARDRE 19 LLANTRISANT 15      League division 2 East

It was in February 2007 that this local derby league match last took place when Llantrisant were on their way from division two to division one and Llantwit would spend one more season in two before dropping to division three.

Playing like a team that have the confidence of moving up a division and winning their two opening games, Fardre opened with all guns blazing and pinned Llantrisant down in their own twenty two for the first four minutes.

Then a stray, long pass saw Llantrisant centre, King, intercept and run the whole length of the pitch before having to offload to wing Rees who was pushed out to the corner by a quick defence that denied Llantrisant the conversion.

Fardre heads did not go down and another two minutes of pressure saw a penalty taken quickly by Daniel Povey who slipped through a sleeping defence to score under the posts for Carl Thomas to convert and give Llantwit a deserved lead.

With the score at 7 - 5 after only six minutes the game looked like it could be a classic but the rest of the first half was dominated by the referees whistle and the stop start nature of the game frustartaed players and spectators.

The only other score in the first half was a penalty kick from Llantrisant's Ian Wogan that hit the upright and bounced in to give the green army an 8-7 lead at half time.

Early on in the second half Llantrisant again showed that they would pounce on any morsel that was given them when a defensive Fardre kick was charged down and the following clash deemed to be obstruction by the kicker so the referee awarded a penalty try that Wogan converted to give Llantrisant a comfortable 15 - 7 lead with both their tries having come from Fardre mistakes.

It looked as if the game might fizzle out with another bout of whistle blowing and numerous scrums around the half way line, the only attacking rugby coming from man of the match Keiran Evans who three times took his wing on, on the outside and beat him to give oppurtunities to the Fardre attack.

On one such occassion Evans took on substitute wing Alford who was so frustrated at being beaten that he took Evans out and all awaited the yellow card decision but the referree played advantage and the ball was moved to captian Geraint Georges hands to cross under the posts for Rob Kotyla to convert and bring Fardre to within one point of Llantrisant.

The tiring Llantrisant defence had no answer to Evans' swerving runs and when he took off down the wing again the Fardre attack had difficulty keeping up with him so he kept going and kept going and crossed the whitewash alone in the corner and then waited for his colleagues to catch up and celebrate with him.

The final ten minutes of the game saw Fardre defending a very slim 19 - 15 lead which they did so by playing completely in the Llantrisant 22 until the final whistle.

Celebrations continued as this was the Llantwit Fardre Goldcard members night in the lounge, which was enjoyed by all.

The youth side have also had a good start to the season with three out of three wins, beating Treherbert 46 - 0.

Tries came from David Webb and Christian Parker who each got two and also from Scott Burrows, Ian Cooper, David Edwards and Tom Richards.

Tom Hill slotted two conversions while the third was put over by Jack Orrell.

16th May 2009     LLANTWIT FARDRE 14    PILL HARRIERS 0     DIVISION 3 PROMOTION PLAY OFFS.

FARDRE PROMOTED TO DIVISION 2.

The last time these two teams met was in 2007 when both were still in division 2 East and both were today desparate for a return to those heights.

Harriers have finished second in 3 East, nineteen points clear of their nearest rivals and likewise Llantwit have finished second in 3 South East twenty five points behind their nearest rivals, so today would see a clash between two very good teams, both deserving of second division rugby.

The first twenty minutes were played end to end neither team wanting to concede the first points in this cup final atmosphere and the duck was finally broken when a penalty against Pill was moved on ten metres making it easier for Carl Thomas to open the Fardre account with a kick between the posts.

Fardre have used a number of fullbacks throughout the season, three of which were playing today with the usual outside half Michael Thomas taking up the spot at the back with Geraint Walsh moving to Centre and Keiran Evans moving to wing and it was Thomas' long clearance kicks, that were finding touch, that gave Fardre the territorial advantage throughout the game.

One fine attacking move from Fardre saw them suck in the Pill pack, and some of the backs, in the left corner and then found themselves with men over on the right, where a quick witted scrum half Carl Thomas launched a cross kick to the right hand corner where his brother Dean caught the ball and fended off a prop before touching down over the whitewash for the only try of the game.

Periods of bright sunshine and heavy showers during the first half made the ball slippery for both sides and many an attack was halted by a knock on decision but it was Fardre that went in happiest at the interval with an eight point lead.

The second half was equally exciting but tryless as both sides attacked in patches but again it was Michael Thomas' long touchfinders that kept most of the play in the Pill half where two penalties came from mistakes, both slotted by Carl Thomas to give Fardre a welcome win and promotion to Division two.

After the celebrations died down I managed to get a word from Coach Steve Goddard who told me that the team felt that they had been in a wilderness for a couple of seasons playing Cardiff clubs and needed to get back into division 2 to play their local rivals such as Mountain Ash, Gilfach, Abercynon, Llantrisant, Ynysybwl and Rhydyfelin, his job now though, he told me, was to calm everyone down for the small matter of the Worthington Silver Ball Final this Saturday at Llanharran.

Fardre face Aberavon Quins on Saturday, a team they beat by a single try back in December on their way, eventually, to the last sixteen of the SWALEC cup and will be very aware that this is a team that defends very well and breaks out of defence very quickly - it should be a cracker of a final.

6th May 2009  Old Illtydians  0   Llantwit Fardre   23

An early kick off meant that  a meagre few spectators managed to reach the threatened Eastern Leisure Centre playing fields in Llanrumney - destined to become housing if the protests are not listened to. Old Illt's fielded a Barbarians side, the invited players wearing their own clubs socks to provide a most colourful spectacle.

With nothing really on the game - Old Illts are definately relegated and Llant are definately in the playoffs - it was strange to see Llant get two yellow cards, Old Illt's pick up four yellows and a red and the Illt's coach spoken to once in each half by the refferee.

Llant played up the hill first half with the wind behind them and during an early try scoring attempt the ref was heard to shout a penalty advantage so Mike Thomas took the chance with a drop goal which sailed between the sticks.

Old Illtydians first yellow card was accompanied by a penalty that Mike Thomas slotted to take him to 100 points for the season, I clapped but the non statiticians in the small crowd seemed to not see the significance of the event.

Finding it hard to break the defensive line Fardre resorted to the Nelly Tank tactic passing to Neil Sloan on the burst who fired through the defence and managed to offload to James Buzzer Allen to place the ball between the posts for Mike Thomas to convert.

Half time 16 Nil and I was informed by a loan fan who claimed to be knowledgable about the game that Fardre were winning because the Ref was one sided !

Fardre's second try came from a long kick and rush down field and was followed up by Dean Thomas. Dean has the nack of watching a ball land and predicting which way it will bounce and then placing himself in that spot to collect the ball and score near the posts to the disgruntlement of a defender who kicked him in the head for his trouble.

The Old Illt's no 12 was getting on just about everyones nerves and when he was about to be shown a yellow the ref exclaimed "Oh, its you again" and changed the colour to red.

If this was the last league game of the season it would have been a bit of a damp squib. Thankfully there is the small matter of a "get into division 2" playoff match and also a cup final to come. Phew.

26th April 2009    LLANTWIT FARDRE 22    BRECON 17     DIVISION 3 SOUTH EAST.

Fardre back to winning ways as they head towards playoffs and cup final matches.

Fifth placed Brecon headed toward Parc Canol knowing that Fardre are at least beatable and it showed in their attitude towards the game.

The first thirty minutes were frantic from both sides but remained scoreless as they neutralised each others attacks.

On the thirty minute mark Fardre flanker Craig Evans stayed down with a possible neck injury and it was twenty minutes pater that he was taken away by ambulance - all from both teams wish him a speedy recovery.

Fardre then had a purple patch of attacking with each move thwarted by defenders not rolling away and as a number of tap penalties had led nowhere, the frustration ended with Michael Thomas slotting the ball between the posts for the opening score.

Brecons reply was a slick backs move down the left wing ending with wing Watkins crossing the line to take his team into the lead 5-3.

What appeared to be a well practiced training move saw Fardre's Tony Davies off load at the back of the maul to a charging James Allen who blasted through the defence to place the ball close enough to the posts for Thomas to add the extras for a 10-5 half time lead.

Straight from the second half whistle the Brecon backs came out firing on all cylinders ending in a converted try to regain the lead for Brecon.

The same Brecon left wing kicked on, two minutes later, and collecting a lucky bounce scored in the same corner to give his side a 17-10 lead.

The rest of the match was all Llantwit attack and Brecon defence with Brecon slowing the ball down at every oppurtunity and mostly getting away with it.

Fardre frustrations ended in a yellow card and a minute later Brecon received their first yellow, inevitably for laying over the ball and not rolling away.

Michael Thomas took advantage of the situation with three points accepted for an off side decision and a further three for laying over the ball so we went into the last couple of minutes of the match with Fardre losing 17 - 16.

Further Llantwit pressure led to another penalty Thomas slotting to give Fardre back a two point lead and, as the ref called one minute to go, Fardre knew that two points was not enough to sit back on and increased the attacking pressure.

After a number of attacking moves that could not pearce the defence the ball was laid back to Michael Thomas who dropped a goal from the 22m line to save the victory.

Fardre travel to Old Illtydians (Llanrumney Recreational Ground) this Wednesday 6th for their last league game before the playoffs and also await a date for the final of the Worthington Silver Ball so the season is by no means over yet.

Rugby League Division 3 South East     Treorchy 41 Llantwit Fardre 8

Catalogue of errors sees Fardre set to compete in the playoffs.

A good crowd filled the stadium for this top of the table clash, expecting a closely fought game between first and second placed teams and they got that for the first seven minutes until a good Treorchy move down the left wing saw Peter Hutchins score for Treorchy and after kevin Ashton's conversion Fardre decided to give Treorchy too much respect.

In the centre of the pitch flanker Wayne Davies found himself facing five Fardre defenders and could only put his head down and prey but with only one defender taking him on and slipping the tackle he had a free run for the line for another converted try to take the Zebras to 14 - 0.

The Treorchy supporters are always vociferous at home and away but it has to be pointed out that when Fardre had a penalty attempt, on twenty eight minutes, there was a hush around the ground from the home crowd that would be great to hear at other matches.

Two minutes before half time Tre's Ashton sent an aimless kick up the middle of the field that was too long and crossed the try line for a touch down but the ball bobbled over shoulders and through arms only to see Christian Lasler follow up and touch down before returning the ball to Ashton for another conversion.

Two minutes into the second half Mike Thomas slotted a penalty for Llantwit to at least get them on the score board with hopes of better times to come.

Then came the try of the match when a Tre player picked up on his twenty two and avoided four tackles during his run before laying off to Lasler who weaved through another two attempted tackles before crossing the whitewash for the try bonus point that Ashton duly converted.

Greg Williams brought a glimmer of light to the Llantwit proceedings with a solo effort after picking up at the base of a ruck on the twenty two and side stepping two on his way to Fardre's first try of the game but this was very quickly followed by an Ashton penalty at the other end.

Ashton himself scored try number 5 for the Zebras and converted it himself before finishing off with a penalty and hearing over the tannoy that he had been voted man of the match.

Unless something goes really awry it would look as if Treorchy will be promoted as league champions and Fardre will go into a four way playoff for the two remaining places in division two and could be drawn against the probable contenders of Pill Harriers of Newport, Either Glyn Neath or Tondu from SW and also Aberystwyth. Do not be shocked if we are drawn against Pill leaving a neat West and East split.

18th April 2009 FAIRWATER 7 LLANTWIT FARDRE 42  (By guest writers of the week Wayne Evans and Paul Redman)

Llantwit maintained their position at the top of Division 3 South East with a hard fought but ultimately comfortable away victory at Fairwater.

Following a close victory in atrocious conditions at Parc Canol earlier in the season the conditions this time around were more conducive to the 15 man game that Llantwit favour. With the wind at their backs Llantwit went immediately on the offensive and created a number of try scoring opportunities. However despite dominating territorially, a combination of stout Fairwater defence and Llantwit over enthusiasm saw the match remain scoreless for much of the first half. Fairwater were determined to slow the game down at every opportunity, not always by fair means. Llantwit's frustration at these tactics resulted in a yellow card for Captain Geriant George with ten minutes remaining of the first half.

This setback only served to galvanise the remaining fourteen into action and good interpassing between centre James Allen and left wing Andrew Kent created the space for second row Mark Dolman to announce his return to the team with a canter to the line from 25 metres. Outside half Michael Thomas added the conversion. Llantwit continued to dominate territorially as the half drew to a close. Having secured good lineout possession the ball was transferred to scrum half Dan Povey. He broke blind, brushed off his opposite number and raced in from 30 metres for try number two. Michael Thomas again added the conversion to give Llantwit a 14-0 half time lead.

Any thoughts that Llantwit might have had about coasting to a bonus point win were quickly dispelled when immediately following the restart a mistake deep in defence allowed Fairwater to cross between the posts. The conversion was added to reduce the lead to seven points. With the wind at their backs the Fairwater tactic was to kick deep out of defence. In return Llantwit choose to run the ball back and full back Keiron Evans was prominent, with a number of mazy runs to put a tiring Fairwater side on the back foot. Ten minutes into the second half the Fairwater defence was stretched by a sweeping right to left move involving backs and forwards. The ball was quickly re-cycled, allowing space to be found for marauding prop Ben Lee to cross under the posts. Michael Thomas converted.

Llantwit wasted no time in securing a try bonus point by registering their fourth try. A clever interchange between hooker Andrew Evans and right wing Dean Thomas set up an attacking position from where swift transference of the ball found the space for centre Kevin Russell to cross. Michael Thomas added the conversion from wide out. Although Fairwater continued to strive to reduce the deficit, the game was now effectively over as a contest. Their tactic of kicking deep was not working as time and again the Llantwit backs and forwards combined to run the ball back with interest. One bout of interpassing amongst the forwards typified the confidence now being shown by the team and created the space for Dean Thomas to cross. Michael Thomas made it five out of five with the conversion.

Llantwit's final try followed a similar pattern to the others scored during an entertaining second half. Full back Keiron Evans fielded the ball in the Llantwit half and set off on a run that saw him leave half of the Fairwater team in his wake. Although stopped just short of the line, the ball quickly found its way into the hands of outside half Michael Thomas whose deft inside pass was seized upon by replacement wing forward Craig Evans who crossed under the posts. Michael Thomas kept up his perfect kicking record on the day with the conversion.

After a passage of scrappy play between the twenty twos the referee had seen enough and blew for time.

11th April 2009 - Llantwit Fardre 22 Penarth 18  (By guest writers of the week Wayne Evans and Paul Redman)

Llantwit remain out in front in the battle to top Division 3 South East following a hard fought win against a Penarth side determined, like all the others visiting Parc Canol, to carry out a bit of giant killing.

The first five minutes of the game belonged to Penarth, with Llantwit struggling to get their hands on the ball. The Llantwit defence were easily soaking up the pressure but a moment of indiscipline cost them a penalty which was put between the posts by the visiting full back. This proved to be the kick start Llantwit needed and a period of sustained pressure over the next 20 minutes saw them run in three tries. With forwards and backs beginning to combine well Llantwit began to fracture the Penarth defence and after a series of near misses were rewarded when Keiron Evans was driven over in the right hand corner. Within minutes of the re-start Llantwit established another promising position in the Penarth twenty two. A good line out steal by Tony Davies saw the ball moved swiftly along the backline for left wing Andrew Kent to stroll over in the corner. Llantwit had picked up the pace of the game and at this stage Penarth were struggling to cope with it. A third try was not long coming. From a scrum in midfield No 8 Greg Williams picked up and leaving the Penarth back row in his wake powered through what remained of the defence to score under the posts. Michael Thomas added the conversion.

Llantwit went searching for the 4th try that would earn them the bonus point but were denied by a couple of marginal forward pass calls by the referee. Penarth, maybe sensing Llantwit's frustration, began to get their own game together and were rewarded after 30 minutes when their right wing scored wide out. Aided by a yellow card for the Penarth open side flanker, Llantwit regained the ascendancy but were unable to add to their three tries before half time.

Penarth began the second half with confidence and, with a slight wind at their backs, quickly established a good position in the Llantwit half. Indiscipline gave the Penarth full back the opportunity to further reduce the Llantwit lead after 45 minutes and he duly obliged; kicking a penalty from the twenty two. With scrum and lineout working effectively Llantwit were seeing plenty of the ball, however their failure to go through the phases was presenting Penarth with opportunities to counter attack. When replacement Llantwit wing Kevin Russell was sin binned for a late tackle Penarth began sensing an upset and soon created a second try. After the forwards secured possession in midfield the Penarth backs quickly transferred the ball wide to find space (where the sin binned Kevin Russell ought to have been) and allow their left wing to touch down in the corner. A fine conversion from the touchline saw Penarth take a one point lead with 15 minutes remaining.

Aware that this was Llantwit's third game in a week the Penarth bench and coaches were calling for their team to kill the game off. Llantwit had other ideas and spurred on by a team talk from captain Geraint George quickly established a position close to the Penarth line. Intense Llantwit pressure was met by equally intense Penarth defence. Finally though the Penarth resistance was broken when from a scrum 10 metres out No 8 Greg Williams outsmarted his opposite number to score Llantwit's 4th try and secure a try bonus point. Michael Thomas hit the post with his attempted conversion.

The game was by no means over. With time running out Penarth threw everything into attack but despite establishing a position in the Llantwit 22 were unable to further breach the solid home defence. The referee's whistle was greeted with some relief amongst the home supporters around Parc Canol. What had begun as a walk in the park for Llantwit turned into a hard fought, bonus point, victory. The Llantwit players are to be congratulated for fighting back in the way they did at the end of a punishing week. The Penarth team should also be commended for not rolling over in the way that some teams in the division have today!!

8th APRIL 2009    LLANTWIT FARDRE 23    PYLE 16   WORTHINGTON SILVER BALL SEMI FINAL.   LLANTWIT SCRAPE THROUGH TO FINAL.

At the neutral Llanharran ground Llantwit from division 3 met Pyle from Division 5 in the multi league Worthington Silver Ball competition.

Pyle's attempt at giant killing gave them the impetus early on and Fardre's defence was tested so that the two sides neutralised each other for the first thirty minutes.

An early Fardre attack was stopped when a huge tackle stopped centre Paul Davies who seemed groggy for the rest of the half.

Andrew Kent, who has played well for the second team this season for Llantwit, took off down the wing and layed the ball off to fullback Geraint Walsh to score in the corner.

A few minutes later strong reffereeing that refused to allow tacklers to lay in the way of fast ball to the attackers, gave Fardre a penalty chance that was slotted by Mike Thomas to give his side an 8-0 lead.

Pyle were not winning a lot of ball through their forwards but what little ball they gained was moved swiftly through the hands of fast moving backs and in one such move number 8 Dickie Cowan joined the line and crossed in the corner to bring the score back to 8-5.

Llantwit centre Paul davies took another big hit before halftime which saw him helped off the pitch to be later attended to by a Paramedic before being taken off to hospital - all involved with both clubs wish him well.

A late Pyle penalty looked to be falling short before hitting the crossbar and falling over to give both teams 8 points at the interval.

Ten minutes into the second half the linesman spotted something that most of the crowd had missed and a Pyle player received a red card which brought complaints from the Pyle players so the penalty was moved on 10m which put it in range for Mike Thomas to take Llantwit into a lead again 11-8.

This was swiftly answered by another swift backs move from Pyle finishing with Captain Barry Grabham crossing to take Pyle into the lead for the first time in the game.

Fardre were attacking with Pyle tied into a ruck and Fardre having four players free out wide when the refferee again penalised Pyle for slowing the ball down but this time adding a yellow card. With the penalty taken quickly there were still attackers out wide and when the ball came out to prop Geraing George there seemed to be no way of stopping him reaching the line to give Fardre back the lead 16 - 13.

Shortly after it was Llantwit with ill discipline as a freekick was turned into a penalty for kicking the ball away and outside half Cliff Rickets brought the scores level again.

Fardre needed to do something special if they were to win the match and it was decided that fullback Geraint Walsh and outside half Michael Thomas would switch positions to add some variety to their attacking play which worked well as from a scrum on the 22m line Walsh jinked through the defence to touch down for Thomas to convert and give the final score of 23-16.

League Division 3 South East      Llanishen 24 Llantwit Fardre 16      Fardre lose their unbeaten league record.

Fardre failed to win this contest and didn't come away with a losing bonus point despite a gutsy performance right up to the final whistle.

The players will not be looking for excuses but from the touchline it appeared that a hard and deeply divoted and sanded Usk Road pitch, along with one of the weakest reffereeing performances seen for some seasons, did not help their cause.

The early stages were close with Llanishen outside half Gareth Jones taking an early penalty and following it up with a solo effort try, swiftly followed by a Dean Thomas try for Llantwit to bring the score back to 8-5.

Llanishen had done their homework and after three fierce tackles, Llantwit top scorer Carl Thomas was helped off the pitch on the twelve minute mark and would take no further part in proceedings.

When faced with weak refereeing Fardre are never good at compensating for the decisions and seem stuck in their training ways of staying on side and not giving away panalties and, to be fair to Llanishen, they played the referee to perfection and it was that ability that gave them their deserved win.

It was clear from the start that every Llantwit attack would end with a Llanishen tackler not rolloing away or diving over the ball, the number 5 and number 8 taking it in turns to offend and not be penalised.

Fardre's only recourse was to ruck the player out and this led to the next penalty decision against Fardre for use of the studs with Jones slotting the penalty for Llanishen to move them forward to a 11-5 lead.

Two Fardre mistakes in defence followed by a knock on that was played on led to a Rhodri Thomas try for Llanishen in the corner and Llantwit knew that luck would not be with them that day as Jones conversion attempt hit the post to bounce in for the extras.

Llanishen outside half Gareth Jones who is by far the star of the Llanishen side was lucky not to be red carded shortly after when a head butt was not seen by the refferee who had his back to the incident.

Just before half time Llantwit's Tony Davies found yet another sand filled divot and was helped off with a twisted ankle.

Fardre's sustained attack before the interval whistle ended when Llanishen were offside from three phases and were told to get back on side followed by prop Ross Meadows laying over the ball and not rolling away and yet another warning from the refferee who added this time that the next offence would be carded, Michael Thomas took the three points but Fardre could have done with the try to get them nearer to their opponents at the break.

Llantwit came out after the break with all guns blazing and sustained attack looked like paying dividends until Llanishen tackler Sean Gilbertson didn't roll away and was deemed to have slowed the ball down and, incredibly, received yet another warning.

Having lost yet another try scoring oppurtunity Fardre took the points to bring them back to 18 - 11 but Llanishen had their own penalty minutes later to bring the gap back to ten points again.

The second half was spoiled by a number of petty brawls both on and off the ball as the players became more and more frustrated at not being allowed to play a proper game and how the match got to the seventieth minute without a card being shown was beyond belief but on the seventieth minute mark a player from each side was given a ten minute rest for fighting.

The last ten minutes was all Fardre attack as they tried to salvage something from the game although Llanishen had another penalty from the breakdown to give themselves a thirteen point cushion..

A Fardre attacking breakdown ended in the inevitable Llanishen player not allowing the ball to come back but this time the refferee allowed Llantwit's Lewis James to ruck the player out of the way, pick up the ball and weave his way over the line for a try that was not converted leaving Fardre without the losing bonus point.

Llantwit take a break from the league on Wednesday when they take on Pyle in the semi finals of the Worthington Silver Ball at Llanharran at 7.15 followed by an early kickoff this Saturday of 1.30 at Parc Canol when Penarth are the visitors to be followed by a Goldcard evening at 3.30pm.

Saturday 28th March 2009  LLANTWIT FARDRE 73   NANTYMOEL 7   DIVISION 3 SOUTH EAST. (By guest writers of the week Wayne Evans and Phil Redman)

Llantwit continued their winning run, making light of the windy conditions to record a convincing win against a committed but ultimately outgunned Nantymoel at Central Park.

Despite making several changes from the team that gained a bonus point win at Aberdare the previous Tuesday Llantwit quickly got into their stride with Kerion Evans crossing after seven minutes after a good break by outside half Michael Thomas. Thomas added the conversion.

Shortly afterwards Llantwit failed to capitalise on an excellent break by centre Paul Davies when Dean Thomas was penalised for holding onto the ball in the tackle. This proved to be only a temporary reprieve for Nantymoel however as following a period of forward pressure the ball was moved wide for James Allen to cross. Michael Thomas converted.

Nantymoel continued to toil and showed enterprise in taking a quick penalty that resulted in a try for outside half R Davies who also added the conversion. Llantwit's response was almost instant when good interplay amongst the forwards resulted in a score for Lewis James, converted by Michael Thomas.

The Nantymoel cause was not helped by the loss of scrum half G Pearce with half time approaching. Llantwit took full advantage of the remaining minutes to run in a further two tries and secure the bonus point. The first came from Paul Davies who scored wide out after the ball had moved through a number of pairs of hands. The second from Marcus Caudle following an excellent break from his own 22-metre line by Michael Thomas and good support work from Lewis James. Michael Thomas converted

The second half started in much the same vein as the first when after only two minutes an excellent passage of play finished with Kerian Evans crossing.

Llantwit were in full flow now and excellent turn over ball by Geraint George produced the second try of the half, with Andrew Webb running in from 40 metres. Michael Thomas added the two points.

Nantymoel continued to strive to make positive use of their limited possession. A promising position was lost though when Dean Thomas intercepted a pass ten metres from his own line before offloading to Keirann Evans for him to run in from 22 metres Michael Thomas converted.

Llantwit rang the changes on sixty-five minutes bringing on Andrew Evans for Matthew Howells, Chester Barnes for Ben Lee, Richard Andrews for James Goodman, and Carl Thomas for James Allen. The impact was immediate when following a turnover Michael Thomas' chip was seized on by Carl Thomas who ran under the posts making the conversion by Michael Thomas a formality.

From the restart an excellent passage of play allowed full back Keiran Evans to run in under the posts for his fourth try of the game. Michael Thomas converted.

Llantwit were still not finished and following another excellent passage of play that saw the team advance sixty-five-metre up field wing Andrew Webb was on hand to run in his second try of the day, the team's eleventh. On a tricky day for kickers Michael Thomas added his ninth conversion.

This leaves Fardre undefeated and eleven points clear at the top of the league and Treorchy, who have two games in hand, would still be a point behing Fardre if they won both games with bonus points.

Llantwit have a busy couple of weeks in the run in starting with Llanishen away in the league this Saturday and no midweek rest as they face Pyle on Wed 8th at Llanharran in the semi final of the Worthington Silver Ball and then Penarth at home in the league on the 11th. More details of fixtures at www.llantwit-rugby.co.uk

Tuesday 24th March 2009  ABERDARE 19     LLANTWIT FARDRE 32   DIVISION 3 SOUTH EAST.

The open Aberdare pitch lived up to its reputation with a biting chill wind on a dark Tuesday evening, well supported by Fardre fans.

Five minutes into the game Fardre got an early penalty when the Aberdare openside was deemed to be laying on the ball after tackling, without moving away and Carl Thomas opened the scoring but, frustratingly, the same openside was allowed to lay on the ball at every ruck through the rest of the first half.

Aberdare, knowing the pitch and knowing the biting wind at their backs, kicked to the corners with the eventual reward of a converted try to take a deserved lead.

In the best move of the first half Fardre centre Kevin Russell jinked around three defenders, went through another two before laying the ball off to Keiran Evans to score under the posts where Thomas converted to give Llantwit a 10-7 lead at half time.

Fardre opened the second half with all guns blazing and a five minute attacking spell ended in an attacking scrum from which number eight Greg Williams picked up and handed off all in front of him to cross the line.

Refusing to lay down Aberdare were awarded a penalty in front of the posts and their scrum half took Fardre by surprise by tapping to himself, jinking through the defence and placing the ball on the line below the cross bar for an easy conversion to bring his team back to within a point.

A penalty of apparently no particular significance was slotted by Carl Thomas exept that it was his thirtieth of the season and took him beyond two hundred points in this campaign.

A few minutes later Thomas chipped up the field and followed on to see the Aberdare wing deliberately handle the ball into touch but rather than wait for the penalty Thomas took the quick throw to Kevin Russell who took off towards the posts placing the ball under the crossbar for Thomas to convert and take Llantwit into a 25-14 lead.

Llantwit kept pushing for the bonus point try and it eventually came in the form of a scrum from which Greg Williams picked up and in a well worked move, passed back inside to flanker Lewis James to cross and let Thomas convert.

Aberdare kept plugging away and after being awarded three penalties that they used to gain territory, crossed for a converted try to give a final score of 32 - 19.

18th MARCH 2009      LLANTWIT FARDRE 41       LLANDAFF 5       SILVER BALL QUARTER FINALS.

LLANTWIT WITH LATE FINISH TO POWER INTO SEMI FINALS.

At the neutral Llanharran ground Llantwit met Llandaff from Division 4 East in the multi league Silver Bowl competition.

Fardre started off slowly with solid attacking moves that were breaking down at the final phase and one breakdown resulted in an interception try that sent Llandaff into a five point lead, denied the extra two points by sterling work by Llantwit centre Paul Davies who pushed the Llandaff wing to the corner making the conversion difficult.

Minutes later Fardre's Carl Thomas slotted a penalty and then after a series of Blues backs moves with 'men over' where the ball fell to ground on the last pass, Thomas slotted another penalty for off side which gave Llantwit the narrowest of leads at 6-5 at the interval.

Five minutes into the second half Fardre's Mike Thomas attempted a drop goal but scuffed it and it fell beneath the cross bar but the refferee deemed it over to the surprise of the spectators and players.

Fardre then seemed to find their playing slot and the moves they were attempting started to work starting with a good James Allen try where he jinked through a number of defenders on his way to the line.

The conversion attempt was missed because of the angle but within a minute Carl Thomas was able to use the practice shot to his advantage with an off-side decision on the same spot which this time sailed through the posts.

Ball carrying number eight Greg Williams made a number of attempts to break his way through with two chances in quick succession the second being successful in reaching the line leaving Carl Thomas to convert and take Llantwit into a more comfortable 24 -5 lead.

The blues still had defending to do and some sustained Llandaff pressure was relieved when Fardre fullback Keiran Evans launched a huge clearance kick for thirty players to chase with Evans himself winning the foot race and dropping on the ball over the line.

A good Llantwit backs move saw the ball moving through hands where centre Paul Davies was nearly tackled with ball in hand but managed a flick pass to Andrew Webb on the wing who crossed the whitewash in the corner.

The last backs move from Fardre saw the ever present Greg Williams join in the running, committing the Llandaff fullback before laying the ball off to wing Dean Thomas to cross the line, touch down under the posts and hand the ball to his brother Carl to convert for the final score of 41-5.

Fardre have now reached the semi finals of the silver bowl and face a strong Pyle side, again at Llanharran, on Wednesday 8th April at 7.15, knowing that Pyle have won 13 of their 14 games to top division 5 South Central and that they have averaged 32 points per game this season.

7th MARCH 2009      LLANTWIT FARDRE 24       LLANDAFF NORTH 17       DIVISION 3 SOUTH EAST.

LLANTWIT BLUES STAY AT 100% WITH THEIR FOURTEENTH CONSECUTIVE LEAGUE WIN.

In atrocious weather this was never going to be a day for pretty rugby so Fardre had to change their style, dog out the match and wait patiently for the openings to appear.

Playing with the wind in the first half Llantwit came out top with the ealy penalty trade offs and went into a 6-3 lead thanks to the boot of scrum half Carl Thomas.

Thomas would be the first to thank his forwards for the position and territory that they gained in the early stages, without gaining any glory, it was hard work in the forwards through the mud that was gaining the oppurtunity for points.

It was in the dying minutes of the first half that Fardre hit with two tries to seal off the first fourty, the first from a well rehearsed scrum call that saw Keiran Evans join the line at fullback and cross the line unopposed, the second seeing Carl Thomas pick up from the scrum and then skirt around it to find the line.

With the score at 16 - 3 at the break all seemed to be going well for Fardre but it was the visitors that scored first after the interval.

With North in a good attacking position with a scrum 5m out from their opponents line, their scrum started moving forward and saw Fardre collapse in the mud; a clear penalty decision but the refferee saw the first collapse as a penalty try to the surprise of fans and players from both sides.

Fardre had a further try oppurtunity minutes later when fullback Keiran Evans again joined the line and his jinking run through the opposition ended in him chipping on but then being taken out illegally which only resulted in a penalty and consequently a lineout.

Further Llantwit pressure gave them an offside decision that saw Carl Thomas slot his twenty fifth penalty of the season moving Fardre on to 19-10.

Being two scores ahead with not that long to go may have relaxed Fardre who were soon woken up by a Llandaff converted try that brought them back to within two points of the leaders.

The mud and rain had dominated and ensured a game in the forwards for most of the match and it was the forwards that saved the day for Fardre as one of them broke from their opponents 22m line, covered in mud so that no distinguishing features could be seen, he broke three tackles and it wasn't until he was dropping over the try line with a smile that the distinctive gum shield of Mark Dolman picked him out as being the scorer.

RUGBY - 21st FEBRUARY 2009      ABERAVON 74       LLANTWIT FARDRE 0       SWALEC CUP ROUND 6.

Fardre go out fighting representing the lower divisions with pride and passion.

The statistics will show that Aberavon scored eleven deserved tries without reply and with the deadly boot of Jamie Davies converting eight of them and adding a penalty, Fardre were well beaten - but this shows only a portion of what happened this afternoon at The Athletic Ground where visiting players, committee and fans were shown the best of hospitality by the home side.

Fardre held Aberavon to 24 points at the interval and, for long stretches of the first fourty minutes, there didn't look to be that great a difference between Premier Division and Division 3 East where Fardre sit with fifty seven teams between them and their opponents of today.

Indeed it was Fardre that caused problems in the first half that Aberavon could not answer legally and suffered with two of their back row being yellow carded rather than see Fardre with the advantage.

The match was stopped for ten minutes as Aberavon flanker James King was stretchered off with a head injury and all that were at the ground wish him a speedy recovery.

The second half was thrown open by the mass employment of substitutes from both sides that fragmented the game and Fardre's cause was not helped by the red carding of Mark Dolman for what the crowd saw as rucking of the ball with an illegal Aberavon hand on it but the refferee saw as deliberate stamping.

So, Llantwit Fardre have ended their cup dream and will not be in the last eight of the top teams in Wales - did they have a right to believe that they could be in the top eight? Did they even have the right to be where they were today - amongst the top sixteen clubs in Wales? Well the team thought so, the fans believed so - and they turned out in their droves to show that belief.

Their were big differences in the two teams today, massive differences in some areas and not all to the disadvantage of Llantwit but to the advantage of grass roots rugby played at division 3 level and below.

The Aberavon players were all bigger than their division 3 counterparts, the Aber backs looking like taller versions of the Llantwit forwards, and there is the small matter of the 74 points - another big differece between the teams, but it was the strains of "I'll be forever Blue" that rang out around the ground through most of the last fourty.

As the Aberavon fans left the ground, job done in their minds, and their players who are deservedly lucky enough to be profesional or semi pro left with their wages and win bonus, it was the Fardre players who were mobbed by their fans, clapped off the field and smacked on their backs by four coach loads of fans and the occupants of many cars that had made the journey.

If Fardre had won today they would not have been paid and their would have been no win bonus so why were they there and what were they fighting for. Well in the lower divisions you are representing your village, representing the fans that travel to watch you and clap you off the pitch, representing your club badge and your club shirt.

Llantwit Fardre made a commitment two seasons ago to use local village lads in the squad which lately rotates between the first and second team and is drawing greater support from throughout the ever increasing Llantwit Fardre area - they are top of their division, unbeaten in the league and made it to the last 16 of the cup - which is why players and fans celebrated this 74-0 loss with a party and band at the clubhouse, enjoyed by all.

Thanks lads for representing our village. Long live grass roots rugby.

7th FEBRUARY 2009       LLANTWIT FARDRE 16        ST. PETERS 13        DIVISION 3 SOUTH EAST.

LLANTWIT BLUES MAKE IT THE ROUND DOZEN WITH THEIR TWELTH CONSECUTIVE LEAGUE WIN.

Fardre found this match tough going against a plucky sixth placed St Peters.

It was certainly a game of two halves as Fardre were 10-3 up at half time but St Peters came back to almost steal the spoils at the finish.

Carl Thomas's boot took Fardre into an early lead with a second minute penalty but the home crowd had to wait until the 20 minute mark before wing Andrew Webb crossed in the corner for a try that Thomas converted to give the home side a 10-0 lead.

There was some dogged play from both sides for the rest of the half which concluded with a successful St Peters penalty followed immediately by the referrees half time whistle.

Luckily for Fardre the trading off of penalties in the second half went two-one to Llantwit to give them a 16-6 lead because it was St Peters that scored the only converted try of the half to reach 13 points and gaining them a losing bonus point.

Llantwit fans had a nailbiting finish, wondering if their team could hang on to their lead, a situation they found themselves in for the first time this season.

With Llantwit having a break this weekend for the Wales England international, seats on the coaches are going fast for the trip to Aberavon on 21st Feb for the last 16 of the SWALEC Cup - details from the clubhouse.

31st January 2009     LLANTWIT FARDRE 15      TREORCHY 0     DIVISION 3 SOUTH EAST.

FARDRE MAKE IT ELEVEN OUT OF ELEVEN LEAGUE WINS TO BECOME THE ONLY UNBEATEN TEAM IN DIVISION THREE SOUTH EAST.

With both teams starting with a one hundred per cent record this clash of the top two teams was always going to be a tough and hard fought encounter.

The first thirty minutes were played between the two twenty twos with both teams testing each other out and trading a yellow card each and a few penalties in the icey wind, only one of which placed between the posts, one from the boot of Fardre's Carl Thomas.

Llantwit felt that they were getting the edge of the competition and in a period of high attacking pressure started kicking their penalties to touch, gaining the territorial advantage that ended in a backs move where centre James Allen made the final pass to wing Andrew Webb whose dive took him over the try line for the first of Fardre's tries.

The Fardre pressure was kept up for the rest of the half and the Treorchy frustrations saw them pick up a further two yellow cards only two minutes apart from each other to which the refferee announced, to both teams, that the next card would be a straight red - the game calmed down immediately and more open rugby was played to entertain Fardre's biggest crowd in four seasons.

In Fardre's last league game lock Tony Davies had scored a try and took stick from his colleagues for claiming it was a 20m run in. Today Davies picked up outside the 22m line and ran through two tackles and side stepped the fullback before placing the ball between the posts to give Fardre a second half try that Carl Thomas duly converted to give the home side a fifteen point lead.

With thirty seven minutes of the match remaining the game was far from over as the teams are so close in the league that Fardre threw everything they had in their defensive arsenal to stop Treorchy gaining a losing bonus point.

Hooker Andrew Evans suffered a fractured elbow in the encounter and will now miss the Aberavon match on 21st February where Fardre alone represent divisions two and three in the last sixteen of the SWALEC Cup, but more importantly the squad is now focussed on their next league enclounter against St. Peters on 7th February when they will attempt to continue their unbeaten league form.

24th January 2009     LLANTWIT FARDRE 26      WHITLAND 18      SWALEC Cup Round 5.

The Fardre squad put one hundred per cent effort into beating a strong Division 1 Whitland side to see the division 3 side secure a place in the last sixteen of the SWALEC Cup.

The first quarter of the game seemed to be played around the half way line with very little territory being given up by either side, two missed penalties, one from each side, showing exposed nerves as neither side wanted to play catchup.

Llantwit had the first bout of pressure which resulted in a Carl Thomas penalty but when Whitland had two penalty oppurtunities they kicked both to touch believing the try attempt was a more realistic option.

It was from a lineout from one of these touch finders that Whitland strted to throw the ball about in the backs and Fardre outside half Geraint Walsh intercepted to run almost the length of the pitch to perform a swallow dive under the posts, Thomas converting to take the home side into a 10-0 lead.

Whitland woke up and realised that they were in a game and the next ten minutes was all Whitland pressure through their running backs.

Wing Aled Jones scored the visitors first try in the corner, converted by outside half Carwyn Jones and shortly after fullback Will Davies ran in another try in a similar spot, this time unconverted but giving Whitland a 12-10 lead.

On the fourty minute mark Carl Thomas was deemed to be pinned to the floor by the nack and the penalty given, which Thomas got up and took himself, gave Llantwit the half time lead at 13-12.

Just to keep the scores close Whitland had the first penalty of the second half to regain the lead and this seemed to inject a level of urgency into the Fardre forwards who kept the ball to themselves, moving slowly up the pitch, until Dominic Masters reached over the line to give Fardre their second try which Thomas converted to regain the lead 20-15.

Fardre fullback Ryan Morgan broke his arm in two places and was taken to hospital where he underwent an operation and all his team mates wish him a speedy recovery.

Things tightened up in the last fifteen minutes when everyone expected the first division team to have the edge on fitness but that didn't materialise. Instead the outside halves traded penalties in front of the posts, Thomas slotting two and visitor Jones getting one before half of the occupants of Llantwit Village retired to the Rugby Club in the Parade to celebrate.

As the other scores were released it slowly dawned on players and fans that the last sixteen in the competition, to be played on 21st February, are (with one place still to be decided) Swansea, Aberavon, Caerphilly, Cross Keys, Ebbw Vale, Llanelli, Neath, Glam Wanderers, Llandovery, Llantwit Fardre, Cardiff, Newport, Pontypridd, Rumney and Carmarthen Quins.

All this has to be put behind the Llantwit squad as they concentract on this weekends top of the table clash in the league with ten out of ten Llantwit taking on nine out of nine Treorchy at Parc Canol followed by Gold Card sponsors evening in the lounge.

17th January 2009   TYLORSTOWN 11    LLANTWIT FARDRE 28   League Division 3 South East.

Ten out of ten for Fardre

Fardre made it ten out of ten wins on Saturday and with half of these wins producing try bonus points they remain top of division three south east.

The last time these teams met at Penrhys Park, in the last clash of last season, Fardre needed a try scoring bonus point for promotion and the pressure was just a bit too much for them, but this meeting, with the pressure off, Llantwit took hold of the game in the first half and killed the game off in the second.

Fardre chose to play into the wind in the first half and managed tries by hooker Matthew Howells in the first three minutes and by number eight Greg Williams at the close of the half, both tries converted by Carl Thomas.

Tylorstown's first half reply was a number eight try from Dave Hefford and a conversion and penalty from outside half and captain, Pike.

Fardre's three point advantage along with the wind behind their backs saw tham with more territorial advantage throughout the second half and they then started to dominate the game.

Passing the ball from side to side on the Tylorstown twenty two left a gap in the middle of the field that lock Tony Davies exploited by sprinting twenty metres to place the ball under the posts to make the conversion easier for Thomas who moved Fardre on to 21 - 11.

Another attacking move from Llantwit, towards the end of the game, had most of Tylorstown defending a ruck and maul and the Fardre backs screaming for the ball out wide. It was wing Andrew Webb that screamed loudest and received the ball to go over in the corner for the bonus point, the conversion taking Fardre on to twenty eight points.

The final ten minutes was hard for Tylorstown whose heads went down when their vociferous thirty seater stand emptied of spectators who left early, they did however battle to the end and deserved better from their fans.

Fardre's rivals Treorchy also have an unbroken win record this season with eight out of eight after beating lowly Aberdare but must be feeling the pressure of catchup rugby as they failed to put together a second team, leaving the Fardre seconds without a game yet again.

This Saturday sees a break from league pressures as the whole Llantwit village is poised to turn out and welcome Whitland, who are sixth in division one, to Parc Canol in the SWALEC Cup Round 5, the winners prize is another cup game that, if won, would take them then into the quarter finals.

20th December 2008 Llantwit Fardre 22 - Aberavon Quins 14 SWALEC Cup round 4

Top of division 3 SE meets second place in division 3 SW - it was always going to be a tough one and ,although seemingly not a dirty match, the refferee had his work cut out with four or five yellow cards being issued through the game.

The first twenty five minutes were all Fardre attack but without a score. Quins tactic seemed to be to defend to the hilt and then break out with a surprise counter.

Dean Thomas was the first over the whitewash to take him into top try scorer position for Llnatwit this year, with others close behind him. Meanwhile brother Carl's conversion took him over the 100 points mark for this season in cup and league.

Two minutes later a break out of defence saw Quins over the line in the opposite corner and the conversion evened up the scores.

Just before half time another expected breakaway out of defence paid dividends for the Quins who converted the points to go into the interval with a 7 point lead.

In the second half it was Llantwit who broke out of defence with a magnificent solo effort from Geraint Walsh, side stepping two on his way to the line.

Mark Dolman and Greg Williams have to be singled out for their workrate in the pack and it was Williams' ball carrying that reached a good territorial position where Quins went off side and Carl Thomas slotted the penalty to give Llantwit the lead back.

The try that finished Quins off came from a quick tap penalty and quick hands through the backs to find Geraint George lurking in attack to dive over the line. Carl Thomas converted to finish the move he had started and at two scores ahead, and despite the continuing Quins efforts, it was through to the next round for Fardre.

The draw for round 5 takes place on Tuesday 23rd December and Fardre will be aware that if they beat their next opponents they will then be only one game away from the quarter finals !!

13th December 2008 Llantwit Fardre 14 Fairwater 8    SWALEC League Division 3 South East.

A dower game to match the grey skies over Central Park where mistakes and wrong options seemed to rule as Llantwit held on to a win, but only just.

Games against Fairwater, in the league, are usually tough with the visitors wanting to rough things out rather than play open rugby and this time Fardre followed suit and decided to play on Fairwaters terms rather than the game they know and love.

Carl (new boots) Thomas missed an opening penalty but his opposit number didn't and suddenly Fardre were on the back foot. It was twenty minutes before Llantwit broke down the visitors defence when flanker Lewis James broke through the line for a fine try that was converted by the new boot of Carl Thomas to give the home side the lead for the first time.

The half time talk from the coaches was not a quiet affair and none of it is repeatable here.

The second half seemed to be a long string of situations where Fardre got themselves into positions with men over, only to take the wrong option - or getting into a scoring position to have the game halted by a penalty offence that took the sting out of the attack. On one occassion a try looked on (but not certain) and was stopped with a blatant trip that earned a scrum!

The try of the game came from Fairwater who were breaking out of defence when their outside half walloped the ball down field towards the corner. The left wing had stayed on side, chased with ferocity and managed to beat the defence to the ball to touch down in the corner.

At 8-7 down and 15 minutes to go Fardre started to panic a bit and forced moves to knock on at the last. A ten minute bout of pressure however saw most of the Fairwater backs drawn into the defensive huddle when Fardre quickly got the ball out wide for kevin Russell to touch down under the posts and Michael (old boots) Thomas to convert for the win.

At least it was a win but the non bonus point sees Treorchy (who were always going to beat Old Illts at home) creeping nearer to our top spot. The game was discussed very briefly during the Goldcard Sponsors night where a good night was had by all and, did I mention, I won the International tickets  in the raffle!! During the raffle secretary Jeff Lewis explained that after the Autumn Internationals we always have a bad game, usually the first game back but this time the second game back - it is out of our system and next game up will be a good one. We entertain Aberavon Quins in the SWALEC Cup on Saturday Div 3 SE v Div 3 SW.

The highlight of the day was the passing around of a match report from The Penarth Times where it would seem that our 18-0 whitewash of the seasiders was down to luck and scullduggery (Cardiff term I had to look it up in the dictionary). Fair does to the bloke for trying to see the positive side to boost his team but the fact that we had 80% posession and territory seemed to have escaped him.

6th December 2008 PENARTH  0     LLANTWIT FARDRE 18    SWALEC League Division 3 South East.

A cold but sunny day at the Athletic Field, Penarth promised some fast and open running and although the open running came mainly from Fardre they were, on many occassions, frustrated that they could not increase the score further than they did.

For most of the match Llantwit were dominant, especially in the pack but a combination of good solid Penarth defence and some fumbling with cold hands, kept the score down at eighteen and denied Fardre the bonus point that they were searching for.

The teams had not met each other this season and it was evident from the starting whistle that for the first and fourth teams in the league to clash, then discipline and composure would be paramount. With this in mind, and after the first five minutes of Fardre pressure, a penalty decision to Penarth was followed by a Penarth punch that brought a yellow card, a reversal of the penalty and three points for Fardre's Carl Thomas to open the scoring.

Incredibly, Fardre camped in the Penarth twenty-two for the rest of the half, almost without scoring but with only two minutes to the half time whistle Thomas added another penalty to bring the score up to six points.

The pressure placed on Penarth all through the half had come courtesy of the Llantwit forwards with Tony Davies and Mark Dolman in the power house and number eight Greg Williams picking up from the base of the scrum and ball carrying before releasing the backs.

There has been a battle amongst the backs this season with Kieron Evans, Kevin Russell and Dean Thomas all on five tries a piece in league and cup. Unselfishly Kieron's run from defence to within metres of the try line saw him pass to Dean Thomas at the last minute to take Dean's tally to six tries and Fardre's score up to eleven in this match.

Dean's try was in the very corner of the pitch allowing his brother Carl the hardest possible kick to add the extras, which he achieved, taking Fardre in at half time with a thirteen points to nil lead.

The second half was similar to the first with the Llantwit forwards in total control and the only thing missing from the mix being points.

Fardre's territorial advantage was interspersed with bouts of Penarth counter attack which reminded the Llantwit fans that the deifference in their team this season is that they are that much fitter and able to get back and defend the sudden break that would have resulted in leaked tries in previous seasons.

It wasn't until five minutes before the final whistle that Fardre crossed their opponents try line when James Allen appeared to touch down but outside the referee's field of view so no try could be awarded.

Minutes later and with the same bout of Llantwit pressure the Penarth flanker Pearce found the limit of the referee's patience and received a yellow card and the resulting penalty was opted by Fardre as a scrum.

Greg Williams picked up from the base yet again and after making ground passed to his scrum half Carl Thomas who dummied a further pass down the line before cutting inside to score and take the final score to eighteen.

With rivals Treorchy travelling to Brecon and having their game abandoned due to bad light, Fardre's 100% record now sees them eight clear points in front of both Brecon and Treorchy but Llantwit will be mindful of their opponents games in hand when they take on Fairwater this coming Saturday, to be followed by the Gold Card Sponsors evening at the clubhouse.

RUGBY - 1st November 2008   LLANTWIT FARDRE 10   LLANISHEN 3    SWALEC League Division 3 South East.

As with most matches played on Saturday, the wind was the ultimate winner, neutralising both teams efforts and making kicking for touch difficult and kicking for the posts almost impossible.

Pre match practice kicking showed the difficulties that would be encountered and, from that, Fardre took the initiative and kicked up the touch line for territorial advantage whenever awarded a penalty whereas Llanishen attepted goals which failed on all but one occassion.

As the blustery wind was from side to side there was clearly no advantage to either team and Llantwits running pressure and territorial kicking left the Llanishen fullback behind his posts and kicking into the wind to reach touch but as his kick didn't reach the tryline Fardre centre Kevin Russell fell on the ball to open the scoring.

A lot of Fardre's first half pressure was coming through the forwards and at a breakdown in front of the posts the Llanishen second row Dave Jones was alleged to be stopping play, not for the first time, and was yellow carded. The penalty gained was requested as a scrum to add to Llantwit's advantage and the pack drove over for number eight Greg Williams to pick up his second try of the season.

With a half time score at 10 - 3 Fardre looked comfortable and had dominated the half but the second half was not to be a repeat performance.

Llanishen tightened up their defence which gave them an attacking platform forcing Fardre into defensive mode and thus it was that for fourty minutes the two teams drove each other up and down the field with neither able to broach their opponents twent two and no score coming from the rest of the game.

For those that relish the thrill of the try it was a poor half to watch while others that thrive on the tactical efforts of both teams and coaches it was a tactical battle that not even carefully structured substitutions could break.

Llanishen were given only their second defeat of the season while, in the Fardre dressing room, the talk was of a dropped bonus point - such is the expectation of the side at present.

All the upcoming Wales international matches will be enjoyed in the atmosphere of the clubhouse but Llantwit are now spared the agony of not being able to play during these Autumn Internationals by virtue of having claimed a spot in the third round of the SWALEC Cup where, on Saturday 15th November, they entertain Division 2 West side Waunarlwydd at Parc Canol.

RUGBY - 25th October 2008 FAIRWATER 5 LLANTWIT FARDRE 50 SWALEC Cup Round 2.

(or if you prefer the Wales on Sunday we lost 49-5 !! )

Fardre are yet to play Fairwater in the league this year and with a difference in league positions of 10 places the coaches were stern with their warning to the players that league form counts for nothing in cup competition.

With new Llantwit combinations being played the side was quite experimantal and it was Michael Thomas, who has been playing at fullback lately, at outside half, that opened the scoring for Carl Thomas to convert.

Carl had been switched to wing to join his brother Dean with the Thomas's covering both extremities.

Through constant forwards pressure number eight Greg Williams forced his way over for a try and prop Geraint George did likewise some minutes later with both tries being converted by Carl Thomas.

At 21 - 0 and only seventeen minutes played Fardre started to become confident and ran everything but while running a ball out of defence the Fairwater wing moved up for the interception pass that gave his side their only points of the afternoon.

With five minutes to the interval there was still time for two Fardre tries, the first from centre Kevin Russell as he burst through two tackles to reach out for the whitewash, the second from a defensive run by Greg Williams with the ball floating out to wing Carl Thomas who passed back in to fullback Kieran Evans to touch down, with Carl Thomas converting both tries.

The girls from Fardre took a bucket around at half time to collect for Breast Cancer Awareness Week before leaving for the other two Fardre matches and then preparing for the fund raising event back at the clubhouse.

The starting front row of Geraint George, Phillip Rees and Gareth Morgan was changed at half time for Lee Fuge, Andrew Evans and Ben Lee while Mark Dolman came on later to complete the substitutions.

It was fifteen minutes into the half before wing Carl Thomas gave a fine solo run from half way to touch down and then convert the extras for his twentieth conversion of the season.

The forwards nearly mauled over but were stopped and awarded a penalty that was taken quickly allowing flanker James Goodman his first try for the first team and to take Fardre on to 45 points.

In the closing moments Carl Thomas chipped over the defence from half way and it was a case of which of the three attacking Fardre players would reach the ball first, the footrace being won by Kieran Evans who tapped on and fell on the ball for his brace and a fine end to the afternoon.

Kieran now joins Dean Thomas in joint top try scoring position for Fardre a point that will not be lost as they play Llanishen at home in the league this Saturday.

For details of the evening "Do" in aid of Breast Cancer Awareness Week please click on "Functions" button above.

18th October 2008       NANT-Y-MOEL 0     LLANTWIT FARDRE 44      League Division 3 South East.

Fardre made it five out of five wins on Saturday and with only the one try scoring bonus point dropped this season, remain top of division three south east.

The two teams last met two seasons ago when they both played in division two, Nant remaining up at the expense of Fardre by winning their last game of the season.

With a team depleted by injury, and no front row cover, Nant requested passive scrums from the starting whistle and, by doing so, confined themselves to the position of not being allowed any substitutes throughout the game.

Fardre sensed a victory from the off and their first penalty went from fullback Michael Thomas to the touchline where a ball to the front of the lineout was picked out of the air by James Goodman who forced his way through the defending pack before releasing to scrum half Carl Thomas to go over in the corner.

Constant Llantwit attack meant that much of the time was spent in the Nant twenty two and it was from this line that prop Geraint George eventually smashed through the defensive line to place the ball under the posts for Carl Thomas to take the easy conversion to take the score on to twelve.

Another attacking phase saw Nant standing off side on a number of occassions and the refferee eventually awarding the penalty that Carl Thomas slotted to take the score to fifteen.

Just before the half time whistle the Fardre pack tied in most of the Nant defenders on the right hand side before releasing the ball across the backs to the left where Ian Goldsworthy ran the ball in to take the half time score up to twenty.

A young Nant side were obviously tired during the second half and although the 'no substitutes' rule is fair to the team who have fielded a full side, it did mean that any Nant player that picked up an early injury had to play the whole game carrying that injury if his team was to retain fifteen players on the pitch.

The Fardre backs started to enjoy the running and interpassing in the second half and good ball skills were rewarded when fullback Michael Thomas joined the line to give the final pass to Carl Thomas to cross for the bonus point try which he self converted.

The Fardre forwards were a bit bored with this action so decided to keep the ball themselves and exclude the backs and show them that they too had ball passing skills, hooker Andrew Evans laying off the final pass to Geraint George to pick up his second try of the afternoon.

Outside half Dan Povey found a way through the defensive line and gave a long pass out to Ian Goldsworthy for him to collect his brace of tries and Carl Thomas converted from the touchline and then, with three minutes to go Dean Thomas made a fine solo effort down the wing to score in the corner for Llantwit's seventh try.

The hungary Fardre home crowd and increasing away support will have to wait until 1st November to see their team in action again at home to Llanishen.

Then comes the autumn internationals that regularly upset the Llantwit rhythm year after year but Fardre will be looking to squeeze in a rearranged match, either Treorchy away or Old Illtydians at home, during this period, rather than waiting until 6th December for a game.

RUGBY - 11th October 2008 LLANDAFF NORTH 23 LLANTWIT FARDRE 41 League Division 3 South East.

Llandaff North were easy winners of their league last year but are finding it difficult to hold a mid table position this season in division 3.

Within the first couple of minutes it was evident that Fardre's forwards would dominate this game and that the main threat from Llandaff was going to be their centre Richard Jones who was a fast runner and could kick penalties from anywhere within his own half.

It was Jones that opened the scoring with a centre spot penalty kick but the immediate reply was a series of pick and drives from the Fardre forwards with Andrew Evans eventually touching down over the line and Carl Thomas adding the extra two points.

Another Jones penalty kept the game close at 7-6 and then a run out of defence by the North backs down the right hand side was quickly switched to the left with Jones looping around and off-loading to wing Isles to touch down in the corner to give North an 11-7 lead.

Fardre were dominating the scrums and the front row of Geraint George, Andrew Evans and Ben Lee were reigning supreme and then the forwards power switched to the lineout where a fine catch by Greg Williams went straight to the backs and, moving forward at pace, Kieran Evans joined the line from fullback, cut in at an angle to split the defence and placed the ball at the centre of the posts for Thomas' conversion to give Fardre back the lead 14-11.

If Fardre thought they were going into the break with the lead they were misled as North's Borde kicked on and chased and as six hands reached for the ball, none seeming to ground it, the try was awarded, Jones converted and it was North that went into the half time break 18-14 up.

Early in the second half Llandaff lineout ball was tapped down and a substitute picked up, found a gap in the line and scored the first try of the half and took Llandaff two scores ahead but a Carl Thomas penalty brought the score back to 23-17.

Fardre's Mark Dolman had been causing havoc in the loose all afternoon and always scavenges for the ball and is a good ball carrier but when he went up in the air to take the kick-off his legs were unceremoniously hacked away from under him and the refferee had no hesitation in red carding the offending North player.

A Fardre attack down the right hand side sucked in the North defence and when the ball was spread to the left the defence followed to see the ball come right again to a three man overlap and Dean Thomas going over in the corner leaving his brother Carl to add the extras and give Fardre back the lead 24-23.

The brother act continued a few minutes later when Carl launched a cross kick into the corner where the North fullback failed to gather and Dean Thomas dropped on to the ball to further Fardre's score and to give them the try scoring bonus point that they deserved.

North had now tired and Fardre were running everything including a jinking run out of defence from Kieran Evans through many hands for the substitute hooker Phil Rees to place the ball under the posts for his first points for the senior team.

Carl Thomas' conversion took Fardre to a comfortable 36-23 but was also memorble for being his 50th league point for his club this season with this game being only his fourth appearance.

Towards the end of the game Fardre were reigning supreme with North reduced to giving away penalties to stem the flow of tries but when their backs all moved up off side and the refferee was about to signal yet another penalty advantage, outside half Dan Povey chipped over their heads for centre James Allen to cut through the defence and run in Fardre's sixth try to round off the afternoon.

Fardre are taking with them a growing away match fan base who will travel to Nantymoel this Saturday in hope of seeing the unbeatun run extended even further - more details at www.llantwit-rugby.co.uk

4th October 2008 LLANTWIT FARDRE 39 ABERDARE 5 League Division 3 South East & Mid District Cup.

With the Fardre squad system still rolling, a number of second team menbers from last weeks fine victory made the first team this week for a combined league game and Mid District Cup game.

The wind and rain did not abate for the whole of the match and the first half was one of no score for the first 42 minutes but with constant pressure from the home side wearing down a young Aberdare team that has lost a number of players to higher clubs during the close season.

Carl Thomas opened the scoring with a penalty kick directly between the posts and from the return kick off the ball was moved swiftly out to the right wing where Fardre fullback Kieran Evans had joined the line to score the first try of the afternoon.

With a half time interval score of 8-0 it was only two minutes into the second half when wing Dean Thomas went over in the corner leaving no easy kick for his brother Carl who slotted the kick to take Fardre into a more comfortable 15-0 lead.

Two minutes later the Fardre forwards released quick ball to the backs who carved through the defence with centre Paul Davies taking the last pass and touching down near the posts for another try and another Thomas conversion.

Ten minutes into the half the Llantwit forwards looked like mauling over and succeeded in pulling in more and more Aberdare defenders before releasing the ball to a backline with a huge overlap allowing fullback Kieran Evans to get his brace and Fardre's bonus point try that Thomas converted to give a 29-0 lead.

The try of the afternoon was a more or less solo effort from Fardre centre James Allen who found a half gap and then handed off three different defenders on his way to the line.

Aberdare worked a good passing move down the right wing for a consolation try while in the last minute of the game Fardre outside half dan Povey broke through and had a clear run down the middle of the pitch until forced to pass at the last minute to wing Dean Thomas who went over for his second try of the game and a final score of 39-5.

RUGBY - 27th September 2008 LLANTWIT FARDRE SECONDS 67 DOWLAIS SECONDS 0

Fardre have a strong squad system this season which should get them through the injury prone periods that they have suffered over the last two seasons and with the first team coaches as spectators it was time for the second team players to impress.

Wing Dean Thomas scored sixty points for the first team last season but is finding it hard to push his way into the top flight this year but showed that he still has both the speed and stamina with three first half tries and another ten minutes before the final whistle.

Flanker James Goodman impressed throughout and scored the opening try from a pass from full back Kieran Evans who showed he would like his first team place back with two tries of his own in the first half, one of which was a fine jinking try leaving the opposition mesmerised.

Youngster James Allen left the first team centres in no doubt that they would have to fight to keep their places with a fine display and a try in each half.

Other tries came from last years fulll time first tem wing Andrew Webb and veteran player coach Richard Andrews.

Forwards that impressed were Paul Rees at hooker and a good ball carrying performance from a strong Greg Williams at number eight.

It is not in every season that coach Goddard has the problem of who to choose with competition for all positions and a youth team knocking on the door of both first and second teams but it looks as though this season Fardre are in a very healthy position indeed.

Photos at llantsec.html

20th September 2008 LLANTWIT FARDRE 23 TYLORSTOWN 20 In League division 3 South East.

Fardre seemed in control of ninety per cent of this game but a lack of concentration in the final ten minutes nearly cost them the points.

Scrum half Carl Thomas started where he left off last week and slotted an early penalty to get Fardre on the scoreboard.

On the ten minute mark Tylorstown's Pike answered with a penalty of his own but within a minute had stopped Thomas from taking a quick penalty so the infringement was moved on ten metres and Thomas slotted to regain the lead.

It was left to the fourty minute mark before a try was produced but it was well worth waiting for as Fardre back row Mark Dolman picked up from the base of a ruck and from thirty metres out went on a zig-zagging run that split open the Tiley defence and left an easy conversion for Thomas to give Llantwit a 13 - 3 lead at half time.

In the first twenty minutes of the second half the luck of the bounce off the posts was aptly demonstrated when Pike's penalty attempt bounced in for a score and then Thomas' attempt bounced the wrong way and didn't count.

Shortly after, an attacking Llantwit scrum in front of the posts saw very quick ball moved through hands in a matter of seconds, completely taking Tiley by surprise as the ball reached Kevin Russell on the right wing who had time to move the try scoring position nearer the posts for Thomas to convert and give Fardre what looked like a comfortable twenty points to six lead.

Tylorstown were not finished however and realised that a converted try would bring the within seven points of their rivals which would give them a losing bonus point.

Concerted effort from the Tiley forwards saw just rewards as the pack went over for a converted try and the bonus point.

Time seemed to slow down as more and more injury time appeared taking the match to an incredible 4.16pm finish but it was an exciting if nail biting time.

Tiley decided that if they could get one try back then perhaps another one was in site and a solid move through the backs saw centre Harrison over the line with Pike adding the extras for the draw.

The rest of the game was all Fardre as the effort put into the two Tiley tries took its toll while the effort put in by the Fardre forwards gained a difficult penalty for Thomas to take as the hushed crowd saw the ball float through the centre of the posts for the win and four league points.

Llantwit's eagerly awaited game against top of the table Treorchy, scheduled for this Saturday, will have to be rescheduled as Treorchy have a cup game. Fardre's next game therefore is at home to Aberdare on Saturday 4th October.

13th September 2008 ST. PETERS 21 LLANTWIT FARDRE 32 In League division 3 South East.

Games between these two sides are always close and the deciding factor today was Llantwit's grit, determination, discipline and fitness levels in the final quarter.

For the first thirty minutes the teams felt each other out and it was St Peter's James Mullane who started the scoring off with a penalty for The Rocks.

Mullane then immediately blotted his copy book by preventing a quick tap penalty five metres from the posts and was yellow carded while Carl Thomas slotted the penalty and got Fardre onto the score board.

Llantwit then had a period of constant attack and were five metres out when a green jerseyed hand was seen preventing the release from a ruck and refferee David Swain was about to blow when scrum half Carl Davies snatched the ball and went over the top to score his first try of the season and then converted to add the extras.

Mullane scored another penalty, this time from near the touchline, to bring St Peters back to 10-6 and to a position where a try would see them take back the lead.

Rocks prop Luke Powell found himself in the backs line and passed out to fullback Paul Davies but the ball was too low so Davies fly hacked down the pitch, followed up and gathered before laying the ball off neatly to Richard Kemble in the centre who scored under the posts with Mullane converting to take St Peters into a 13-10 lead at the interval.

Mullane added a further penalty just after the break and then started a run from defence that saw Rocks wing John Patterson loop across the pitch and score in the corner to give his side a more comfortable 21-10 lead.

Fardre didn't panick and decided to take the direct route down the middle of the pitch using their forwards as a battering ram which lead to a fine Marcus Caudle try that Thomas again converted to bring Llantwit within four points of their rivals.

St Peters had no answer to the Fardre forwards and a ruck in front of the posts saw the Rocks go over the top of the ball and Thomas slotted the penalty to take the score to a nail biting 21-20 to St Peters.

Excitement in the Fardre backs was coming mainly from a wing and centre combination of Kevin Russell and Paul Davies and it was this combination that took advantage of a Carl Thomas penalty attempt bouncing back off the posts with Russell passing the ball inside to Davies to score the try.

With a couple of minutes to go Fardre fullback Keiran Evans ran the ball out of defence and passed to Kevin Russell who kicked on at the half way line and followed up, gathered and scored Fardre's bonus point try with Carl Thomas adding the conversion to take his personal tally to seventeen points.

Fardre took a good following to this away match which bodes well for this Saturdays home game against Tylorstown which is followed by the first of four Goldcard evenings.

Llantwit seconds had a fine win aginst Porth Quinns to show that Fardre have strength in depth to their squad this year.

In a 58 - 0 rout the Fardre tries came from Oliver Davies, Andrew Evans, Jonathan Hughes, Andrew Webb, James Goodman, Lyndsey Harvey, James Allen and man of the match Matthew Gronnow who picked up three tries.

Michael walsh scored four conversions and no penalty attempts were made.

A very young youth side lost their first league game to Ystrad Rhondda by 27-14 with the Fardre points coming from tries from Karl Jones and Ian Cooper with Lee Whitfield converting both.

Man of the match award was presented jointly to skipper Rhys Edwards and his fellow flanker Chris Palmer.

Tylorstown 22 Llantwit Fardre 19 on 1st May 2008 in the Welsh National League Division 3 South East

Fardre entered this match knowing that to stand any chance of a playoff place they had to win the game by securing a bonus point for four tries and hope that Old Illtydians could beat Gilfach Goch at Gilfach - a tall order indeed.

Because of the need for the try bonus point all Fardre's penalty kicks went to attacking lineouts instead of towards the posts and if this had been a normal match then Llantwit could well have notched up eighteen points in the first twenty minutes.

Instead it was Tylorstown that scored first through the boot of their outside half and it wasn't until one of the attacking lineouts went well for Fardre that the maul went over the line for Ben Lee to fall on it and give Fardre their first try.

The pattern continued with Fardre penalties to touch and Tylorstown penalties heading towards the posts taking the score to 6-5 and then 9-5.

Fardre took the lead again from yet another attacking lineout and maul this time with Andrew Evans coming up with the ball and Michael Thomas converting to give his team a 12-9 lead.

A penalty just before half time to Tylorstown saw the ball placed on the half way line and travelling between the posts to make the scores all square at half time.

Tylorstown scored their only try of the game in the second half and followed the conversion with yet another penalty kick shortly after and it was left to Fardre to score two tries while their opponents wound the clock down.

Fardre's third and the try of the game came from scrum half Carl Thomas who picked up around half way and saw off three attempted tackles before crossing the line under the posts to make the conversion an easy task for Mike Thomas.

Time ran out for Fardre and the fourth try didn't come and news reached them later that Gilfach at beaten Old Illtydians 31-0 to claim the spot in the playoffs.

The general opinion at Fardre is that another season in division 3 will do them no harm a the youngsters that have been blooded this season have improved immensely and look to improve more next season when Fardre will look to reclaim their division 2 status again. Averaging over three points a game this season is a feat that all the Fardre players can be well proud of.

Fairwater 0 Llantwit Fardre 26 on Saturday 26th April 2008, Welsh National League Division 3 South East

Fardre took over fifty of their supporters to the Fairwater Leisure Centre and were well rewarded with sunshine and tries. Some of these supporters had watched Bedlinog lose at home in midweek so the champions had not finished the season unbeaten - Fardre alone have moved from Division 3 to 2 unbeaten in 2001/02.

Fairwater has proved to be Llantwit's bogey side of late, winning the tie at Parc Canol 22-10 and Fardre were determined not to see a repeat of that score.

Fardre started with all guns blazing and to stop their onslaught Fairwater were forced to repeatedly give away penalties, each one kicked by Fardre to the corner rather than taking the points and it soon became clear to the complaining crowd that the team instructions were to go for the bonus try point from the very start.

It took ten minutes before Fardre broke the defensive line, Dean Thomas with an expert jinking run down the right hand touch line to score wide out making it difficult for Mike Thomas who, nevertheless, added the extras.

The rest of the first half consisted of Fairwater spoiling and slowing down play with scrum after scrum being reset by the referee and the players and supporters of both sides becoming frustrated.

The second half was far quicker and more exciting with Fardre attacking for most of the time and Fairwater's defence looking as if it could crack at any moment, the home side never looking like turning defence into an attack.

Three minutes into the half Fardre's Michael Thomas hoisted a huge kick up field where a waiting Fairwater full back watched as the ball bounced twice, awkwardly in front of him. Dean Thomas picked up and crossed to get his brace, unfortunately picking up at the same time a reputation as a scorer and being hounded for the rest of the match until his patience broke and he was to be given his marching orders late-on.

Mike Thomas added the extras to take the score to 14-0 and from then on it was a case of whether Fairwater could spoil enough to stop Fardre getting the four tries, the winners of the game being without doubt as any Fairwater attack was immediately dealt with by the phenomenal Fardre defence which is now sometimes taken for granted.

Half way through the second half Fairwater were down to twelve players having three players and their coach in the sin bin and taking advantage of the home sides panic in trying to cover all the Fardre backs at the same time, scrum half Carl Thomas picked up from the base of the scrum and jinked over to score under the posts and then watched as Mike Thomas converted to take the score to 21.

The crowd cheered their team on hoping for the fourth try and it came in great style when youngster Greg Williams burst through three tackles and offloaded to the backs who got it out to the wing position where Mike Thomas dived over and touched down before rolling into touch.

With the five points in the bag Llantwit hope to take the same number of supporters up to Tylorstown on Thursday 1st May for their last game of the season which will decide who will play in the division playoff, Fardre needing to win with a bonus point and see Gilfach win without one, or lose.

Llantwit Fardre 20 Tylorstown 16 on Saturday 19th April 2008

Welsh National League Division 3 South East

The season could not be ending on a more exciting note as these two teams play each other twice in the battle for second place in division 3 East and a chance of a playoff game for one of them to secure promotion to division 2.

A comfortable midweek win at home to Tonyrefail saw Fardre in third place just behind today's opponents in what was going to be a crucial match for both teams.

The first twenty minutes of each half were obviously targeted by both teams as that was where most of the action came from and in the first ten minutes of the game Fardre mauled over a try by Geraint George converted by Michael Thomas while Tylorstown ran in a try through centre John Harrison converted by Julian Pike.

Thomas and Pike traded penalties in the rest of the half to keep the score even but it was Fardre that came up with the try of the afternoon when Andrew Webb chipped through the defence for Rob Kotyla to run on to and tap the ball upwards into his hands before performing a spectacular dive over the line.

The official's man of the match Michael Thomas slotted the extras to leave Fardre 17-10 up at the half time whistle.

With the wind behind them in the second half Tylorstown tried long kicks up field but full back Rob Kotyla always seemed to be under the ball to either kick back up field or run the ball back at the defence.

It was on one of these occasions Kotyla kicked on and followed up to tackle the ball receiver and for the third time in the half Tylorstown killed the attack by diving over the ball, this time the reserve prop being yellow carded and offering Thomas another penalty attempt which he took willingly to increase the lead.

Tylorstown came back with a penalty late on to bring them within a converted try of a draw but when they were awarded a further penalty with minutes to go they went for the points rather than the touchline to secure a valuable losing bonus point.

Fardre have two games left, both away games at Fairwater on 26th April and to meet Tylorstown again on Thursday 1st May.

Tylorstown,on the other hand, have two home games, against Fardre and, this Saturday, against division leaders Bedlinog who will be looking to end the season undefeated - a feat not accomplished by any Division 3 side since Fardre first did it in 2001-2.

Lets not forget Gilfach Goch who have a mathematical chance of gaining the second spot having three games left, at home to Treorchy and Old Illtydians as well as travelling to Bedlinog.

For those interested in the intricacies of the promotion and relegation features of this league, the following is a précis;-

There are two Division 2 sides and four Division 3 sides. The bottom three of each Division 2 side will be relegated. This leaves six division 3 sides to be promoted. The winners of each of the third divisions will be promoted and the runners up of each of the division threes will face a playoff. The playoff will see the four teams drawn to make two matches and the winners of those two matches will be promoted.

St Peters 5 Llantwit Fardre 6 on Saturday 5th March 2008 in Welsh National League Division 3 South East

The real winner of this close encounter was the wind that was persistent throughout the game and from one side of the Harlequins Playing Field to the other making passing difficult.

Fardre took an early lead through the boot of Geraint Walsh from a penalty for off side and the score stayed at 3-0 until half time.

Passes went astray throughout the half and kicks to touch went in direct as the wind dictated and strangely, it was Fardre that seemed to adapt to the conditions better than the home side.

The return fixture had been a close affair with Fardre winning 8-0 on the day due mainly to ill discipline from the St Peters side and the Fardre's recent collection of wins had come mainly from their composure, discipline and patience and so it was also going to be today.

Neither team looked much like scoring in the opening exchanges of the second half as two good defensive sides cancelled each other out, the teams being evenly matched with St Peter's being only two places below Fardre in the league.

It took a mistake and a mix up in Fardre's back line for a second half score to come when John Patterson the St Peter's wing intercepted and ran half the length of the pitch to score with, luckily for Fardre, Michael Thomas pushing the attack out to the corner to make the conversion difficult and not achieved.

At 5-3 down and a few minutes to go Fardre were attacking but St Peter's were awarded a defensive penalty that would allow them to clear to touch up field but there followed an incident that the WRU could well have used in an advertising campaign against the abuse of referees.

As the St Peter's full back was about to clear to touch the St Peter's fans were, for some reason, incensed with the referee and shouting at him from close quarters which incensed the St Peter's players, some of who seemed to join in and the referee had no choice other than to reverse the penalty which Geraint Walsh slotted to give his side the lead by one point.

If the cross wind had dictated the game it was the St Peter's supporters that lost the game for their side and Fardre, who have now won their last four league games, will be looking for a fifth win away at Old Illtydians atthe Llanrumney Recreation Field on Saturday.

Llantwit Fardre v Gilfach Goch on Saturday 29th March 2008 in the Welsh National League Division 3 South East

A full eighty minutes of hard graft from both teams gave the crowd an entertaining game to watch with shrewd tactics and preparation work by background staff also contributing to the result on the afternoon.

With games at neighbouring grounds washed out the crowd was swelled with supporters looking for a game to watch and they were not disappointed, two hours of pitch preparation by the forking committee as they are affectionately known allowing the Parc Canol game to be played.

Gilfach chose to play into the wind in the first half so Mike Thomas kicked off to his left where Mark Dolman rose above the rest to tap down to scrum half Keiran Evans who returned the ball to Mike Thomas who dropped a goal to record Fardre's fastest points of the season.

Analysis of recent Gilfach matches had shown that most of the team's points, to get them to a position second in the league table, had come from their forwards so the Fardre tactics were to throw the ball about in a fast game to wear the opposing forwards out and to amass as many points as possible with the first half wind.

With this in mind, on the three-minute mark, Mike Thomas dropped another goal and Gilfach were wondering what was happening.

As the pitch got muddier there were more stoppages and the referee was particularly minded to give penalties for off side with a number of attempts going to each side, Gilfach slotting one and missing two into a swirling wind, Geraint Walsh adding two to his total for the season and leaving the half time score at 12 - 3.

As the half time score and full time score were the same, readers could be forgiven for assuming that the second half contained no interest for the spectators when the reality was far from that.

Gilfach, with the wind advantage, kicked for territory and even broke Fardre's first line of defence on a couple of occasions but the overall Llantwit defence was awesome and held out for every one of the forty minutes.

All substitutes were used by both teams and every player came off the pitch panting and even though the half was played practically between the two twenty twos, it was played at a fast pace considering the conditions and the performance was a credit to both teams.

Fardre have now jumped above Treorchy into fourth place and travel to St Peter's in Cardiff on Saturday to try and consolidate their league position.

Fardre fans are reminded that the Mid District Cup final against Beddau on Tuesday 8th April has been changed to Virginia Park Caerphilly.

Brecon 12 Llantwit Fardre 39 on Saturday 22nd March 2008

Welsh National League Division 3 South East

As the nation has been wrapped up in Grand Slam fever Llantwit have been slowly catching up on lost fixtures via midweek matches and have now woken up to the fact that they are joint fourth in their league and Mid District Cup semi finalists.

This away game to Brecon was to be Fardre's second in four days and they could have been forgiven for being tired but instead looked full of confidence after beating Division One leaders Caerphilly 18 - 15 with fourteen men and tries from Mark Dollman and Keiron Evans - Rob Kotyla getting two penalties and a conversion. (match report below this one)

Fardre will go on to face Beddau in the semi finals on Tuesday 8th April at Mountain Ash's ground with a 7.15 kick off.

Fardre attacked Brecon from the opening whistle and it only took until the sixth minute, when an attack was illegally halted, Geraint Walsh slotting a penalty to open the scoring.

On the twenty-minute mark Brecon had a defensive lineout and tapped the ball down away from their scrum half but within the diving reach of Llantwit's Dominick Masters who reached the ball after it had crossed the try line.

Two minutes later and this time an attacking Fardre lineout turned into a rolling maul that steamed over the try line and after the try was awarded it was Greg Williams that rose last with ball in hand.

Just before half time the confidence level reached a higher platform as Fardre threw the ball from side to side until Ryan Morgan joined the line from fullback and scored under the posts for Geraint Walsh to convert and give the visitors a twenty-point lead at the interval.

Brecon came out from the break with all guns blazing and mauled over a try in the corner with a difficult conversion achieved by outside half Rob Jones to bring Brecon back to 20 - 7.

This was answered by Fardre's Carl Thomas who broke from defence to run the length of the pitch and finish his try with a fine swallow dive, the try securing the try bonus point for his team.

This fast flowing game was getting even more intense and Brecon replied with a display of passing from a free kick that ended with prop Alan Taylor going over to give the side that he captains a respectable twelve points.

It was Fardre that had the last word though with two fine tries before the final whistle.

Both tries came from breaks down the right wing, the first break from Ryan Morgan let wing Dean Thomas in for his ninth of the season, the next try coming from a 3 on 2 overlap with Dean's brother Carl going over for his second of the game.

Geraint Walsh converted both tries and the final whistle came two minutes later after a thrilling eighty minute display.

Fardre seconds played alongside the senior team and beat Brecon seconds 20 points to nil and it was quite a while before the team coach left the Brecon Rugby Club.

Llantwit Fardre 16 Old Illtydians 8 on 7th March 2008 and also

Llantwit Fardre v Caerphilly on 18th March 2008

Bit of a strange fixture the Old Illtydians game as it was our away game, played at home as they do not have floodlights. Added to this, Pat and I were in Dublin cheering on the lads  to a triple crown victory and living on Guinness / Cider so have had to go by third party details of the Fardre game.

Luckily, at the Wales France game, we were sat next to Andrew Evans and Marcus Caudle who were able to give some details.

Apparently Andrew scored our only try of the game after joining the backs, taking the ball at an angle, splitting the opposing centres and side stepping the fullback before touching down. Marcus confirms this story but may not be reliable as  after only 30 seconds of the Wales France game he was screaming "every time referee."

Andrew & Marcus agree that Rob Kotyla got the rest of the points - either through penalties, drop goals or a combination of the two.

Any ammendments / corrections to the above greatly appreciated.

On to the mid district cup which we did attend. A quick look at the WRU website showed us that Caerphilly were clear at the top of Division One East so should have easily dispatched the Division Three side.

Indeed it was Caerphilly who opened the scoring with a penalty shortly followed by a red card incident right in front of us. Dean Thomas took an elbow to the face, his opponent falling to the floor and Dean unfortunately kicked out and made contact with his attacker. Another Caerphilly player punched Dean in the face and refferee intervened and added to Deans two whacks to the face with a red card - no other incident being seen by him. A mistake in what was otherwise a very good reffereeing effort.

With 68 minutes to go the Division 3 side were playing with 14 players and the greater efforet required from the players resulted in a penalty that Rob Kotyla slotted over to bring the scores back to 3-3.

Approaching 30 minutes and Llantwit were awarded another penalty, just out of Rob's range. Luckily, talking from the Caerphilly players made the ref move the kick on 10 metres and, now within Kotyla's range the score was moved on to 6-3. From that point onward, Caerphilly were playing catchup rugby.

Before half time a long kick up field by Mike Thomas trailed along the touchline and the follow up by Keiron Evans was successful with the try being awarded in the corner.

Early in the second half Caerphilly's scrum half dived over from a scrum to score an unconverted try to bring the Division 1 side back to 11-8 but the try of the half came from an attacking move from Llantwit with Mike Thomas chipping over the defensive line and Mark Dolman running on to dive onto the ball which had crossed the try line. Rob Kotyla converted to take Fardre into an 18-8 lead.

Caerphilly did score one more converted try to bring them to within 3 points of Fardre's score but never looked like overwhelming the hard working fourteen men from Division 3.

Llantwit Fardre 9 Penarth 7 on Saturday 1st March 2008

Welsh National League Division 3 South East

A ferocious and gusting wind played a huge part in the outcome of this game with neither side being able to effectively use the winds strength in attack but using it admirably to clear defensive lines.

Penarth were unable to field any props so requested passive scrums from the starting whistle which meant that they were then not allowed any substitutions throughout the game.

Although Penarth had the advantage of the wind in the first half it was Llantwit that had the majority of possession and territory, wisely keeping ball in hand and wearing down the Penarth defence.

With Penarth repeatedly kicking out of defence Fardre could not penetrate the visitor's line and were forced to take kicks at the post into the wind, two penalty attempts and a drop goal attempt going wide and leaving the half time score at 0-0.

These two teams were close at the return fixture where Penarth had won by three points but the expectation of the crowd that with the wind behind them in the second half, Fardre could pile on the points.

This time it was Penarth's turn to keep ball in hand which they did admirably forcing a try under the posts five minutes into the half, the conversion giving them a seven point lead.

Fardre kept pegging away and defensive kicks gave good position for attacking mauls but without reward.

Geraint Walsh opened the scoring for Fardre with the inevitable penalty from longish range being helped over the crossbar by the wind but at this stage, sixty minutes in, a try did not look like coming.

With three minutes to go an attack by Llantwit was breaking down until a long ball back to Michael Thomas saw a drop goal sail between the posts with joy suddenly turning to the reality that Fardre were still one point behind.

From the return kick off Fardre attacked and pinned Penarth down in defence until, on my watch with thirty seconds to go, another long ball back to Thomas saw his second drop go over and a victory to Fardre signalled by the final whistle two minutes later.

As is customary now through the six nations competition, Fardre are playing catch up with the fixture list and entertain Old Illtydians this Friday with a 7.15 kick off at Parc Canol, many fans using this as a taster for the weekend feast of rugby.

Llantwit Fardre 10 Fairwater 22 on Friday 22nd February 2008

Welsh National League Division 3 South East

With so many of their games having been postponed due to a waterlogged Parc Canol this season, Llantwit were keen to squeeze in this Friday evening match ahead of international weekend.

For the past four or five seasons Llantwit have received a reputation for beating sides high above them in the league and losing to those struggling at the bottom - this season being no exception.

Coaches and players are convinced that it is not complacency dictating these strange results but cannot put their finger on a reason and as that had almost toppled 'top of the table' Bedlinog last week, it was obviously time for them to struggle against lowly Fairwater.

Although it was Fairwater that opened the scoring in the first five minutes with a try in the corner, too far out to be converted, it was Fardre that put their stamp on the game, dominating most aspects of play but especially in the forwards.

It was the forwards that showed the way to the try line with a rolling maul that travelled from the 22 metre line to the try line to see Matthew Howells come up with the ball to level the scores.

Fairwaters reply was a penalty kick to take them into the lead and when Fardre kicked a penalty to touch the rolling maul took effect again with this time captain Geraint George emerging victoriously with ball in hand to take Fardre into a two point lead.

Before half time centre Daryl Thomas came off injured with a suspected broken collar bone and this allowed Fairwater extra penetration in the backs which they took advantage of with a converted try that regained the lead at 15-10 at the break.

The second half was a hard slog for both teams and with the score so tight tempers frayed with Llantwit picking up a yellow card and Fairwater picking up two.

Fardre's third rolling maul attempt looked successful but the referee was unsighted and couldn't give it and as he explained after the match, as we do not have neutral linesman or the luxury of camera replay in division three, we have to abide by the fact that all decisions are based solely on what the referee sees.

The scores stayed tight throughout the rest of the half but it was Fairwater that broke the ice in the eightieth minute with a converted try that saw them wrap up the result.

Six Nations Update.

For a lot of us last weekend it was a case of a trip to Cardiff to watch the Wales Italy game, listening to the Ireland Scotland game on the radio on the way home and getting home in time to watch the France England game.

We all have our own takes on the games but mine in a nutshell were;-

Wales v Italy - the game plan was to ignore what other teams do against Italy, blast them in the first half and try to contain them in the second, instead we contained them in the first and ran amuck in the second even to the point where, dare I say it, we could be developing a killer instinct.

Ireland v Scotland - first half radio commentary and second half on the telly gave me the impression that I was watching two fairly average teams with not that much to offer but that could be unfair as rugby is difficult to follow on the radio.

France v England - England have returned to what they know best and the style that got them to a World Cup winners medal and a losing finalists medal, namely kick to touch, fight it out in the forwards and wait for the penalty, give the ball to "kick and clap Jonny" Boring but effective.

How many of us were stunned by John Inverdale's announcement that the first two matches were merely a warm up to the crucial France v England game?

Had we realised as stated that the Championship was getting boring and had been brought back to life by England throwing the whole competition open with England or France to win it !!

You could almost hear the producer shouting into Inverdale's earpiece that he was alienating a whole country so he quickly reminded his studio guests that Wales were still in it and, in fact, topped the table.

Gatland should tape Inverdale's question to Guscott "Could Wales win the Grand Slam" and Guscott shaking his head and laughing in derision and play it back in the changing room at training sessions - if that doesn't inspire the lads when they travel to Dublin then nothing ever will.

Bedlinog 12 v Llantwit Fardre 11 on Friday 15th February 2008 National League Division 3 South East

Sorry about the late report and late results page and late league update - while the lads were flying the flag of Llantwit in Bedlinog I was fast asleep in bed with what some would call a 48 hour bug and I would call ***tting through the eye of a needle without the aid of alcohol.

From what I can gather, we deserved to win but was robbed by a late penalty.

Promise to be at the next game with camera - league and results sheet are now updated.

Llantwit Fardre 8 St. Peters 0 on Friday 8th February 2008 in the Welsh National League Division 3 South East

With so many of their games having been postponed due to a waterlogged Parc Canol this season, Llantwit were keen to squeeze in this Friday evening match ahead of international weekend.

Llantwit had most of the territory and possession in the first twenty minutes, frustrating St Peters to the point where there was a half way line scuffle involving all members of both teams.

It was Llantwit that kept their discipline after the skirmish and their long range penalty kick was followed up well putting pressure on the visiting fullback who kicked to touch eight metres out from his try line.

The resulting lineout and rolling maul broke the deadlock with the Fardre forwards going over and Andrew Evans coming up with the ball.

The rest of the first half was scoreless but exciting as the game swung from end to end and Fardre put in two spells of excellent defence.

Outside half Michael Thomas had been worrying the St Peters defence throughout the game and it was Thomas that broke the defensive line ten minutes into the second half when he was unfairly stopped, the resulting penalty being slotted by youngster Daryl Thomas.

Ten minutes later Michael Thomas came in at an angle and seemed certain to score but a vicious high tackle saw him felled and dazed for a good ten minutes, the referee having no hesitation in awarding a red card to the visiting substitute.

Llantwit being two scores ahead, closed down the game in the final ten minutes, further frustrating the visitors who gave away silly penalties and from the touchline it was pleasant to see Fardre retaining composure and discipline and benefiting from most of the referees decisions.

Treorchy 28 Llantwit Fardre 3 on Saturday 26th January 2008

Welsh National League Division 3 South East

Fardre will be disappointed and frustrated that for the second away game in a row they have failed to score more than three points but will have to learn to leave their frustration off the pitch and not let ill discipline convert into points for the opposition.

Dropping to seventh place in the league does not signal a point of panic, far from it, with three games in hand and each win worth at least four points this season, a series of wins could see Fardre in second place and having played the same number of games as their rivals.

Saturdays game started well for Llantwit as they dominated possession and territory for the first twenty minutes but were frustrated by opposition players laying over the ball at breakdowns, not allowing quick second phase ball and giving Fardre three points from a Michael Thomas penalty as the only compensation.

The frustration was deepened when all of that effort was cancelled out immediately by a Lee Stone penalty at the other end.

A few minutes later the Zebras were awarded a further penalty and the Fardre frustration came out as verbal backchat to the referee who had no hesitation in moving the kick on ten metres to a more kickable position for Stone to slot his second of the day.

Fardre were learning that any ill discipline in their own half would be punished by Stone's boot and when they gave away a further penalty on the half way line learned that winger Jay Power had an even longer range as he took his team into a 9-3 lead.

Stone showed that he was not just a kicking machine when he made a break from the half way line and was not tackled until just before the try line where he off loaded to flanker Ben Hughes for the score and then converted the try to take Treorchy in at 16-3 at half time.

The third quarter of the game was dire from both sides with both teams seemingly incapable of moving forward and most of the play being around the half way line.

It was from the half way line that the next Zebras break came with a mistake in the Fardre backs devoting two defenders to the same wing allowing the fullback Peter Hutchings into the corner, unopposed, for Treorchy's second try.

Fardre's afternoon was summed up in the latter stages of the game when an attacking Llantwit scrum was reversed into a Treorchy penalty for talking and then moved on another ten metres for further talking.

The resulting quick tap penalty saw the Fardre defence ill prepared and most of the forwards still behind the ball at the scrum.

Three phases of play later and the quick tap had been cashed in for a try under the posts for prop Nathan Huish who saw Stone convert to finish the game at 28-3.

Fardre will have to improve their discipline if they wish to proceed in the Mid District Cup where they entertain Gwernyfed at Parc Canol on Thursday 31st at 7.15pm

Heol y Cyw 16 Llantwit Fardre 3 on Saturday 12th January 2008

Welsh National League Division 3 South East

TWO MONTH BREAK NO HELP TO FARDRE

Fardre looked like shaking off the effects of a two month forced break when they had all the possession and territory in the first seven minutes of the game, their reward being a penalty in front of the posts, slotted over by Robert Kotyla to give him a personal tally of four hundred points in four seasons.

Two minutes later Cyw replied with an attacking scrum with number eight, Adam O'Driscoll picking up from the base and driving over for a try that was too far out for the successful conversion.

Home team fullback Richard Howells caught a defensive kick on the twenty-minute mark and ran three quarters of the pitch to score the try of the afternoon and take his side into a 10-3 lead.

The final twenty of the first half saw Fardre attacking but frustrated not to be able to convert that pressure into points while Cyw had two attacking chances and finished with drop goals on each occasion, the first from Centre Chris Howe followed by one from outside half Gareth Howe.

At half time, facing a thirteen point deficit, Fardre knew they had to come out with all guns blazing in the second half if they were to rescue the game, knowing that they were playing a team that they had beaten by twenty five points at home earlier in the season.

Heol y Cyw on the other hand could have been expected to panic, being in a strange position for them of defending a lead, having previously only won two games this season.

Predictably, this was a half of Fardre attack and Cyw defence and to be fair to Cyw, especially in the last ten minutes, awesome Cyw defence that stopped any score from either side for fourty minutes.

The home side knew that they had to contain the game without giving away penalties in kickable positions so gave away penalties in non kickable positions and suffered four yellow cards during their defensive struggle.

As onslaught after onslaught came from the Fardre attack, the defensive cries of Cyw flanker Justin Short rallied his men in a Rawkes drift manner and when a definite Fardre try looked on the cards Short sacrificed himself with a yellow for a deliberate knock on which he was happy to take with only two minutes of the game remaining.

After food and a chat in the Heol y Cyw clubhouse it was back to The Parade for the Fardre team where they helped say goodbye to retiring steward Tony Handley who will be sorely missed and to contemplate next Saturday's home game against Tonyrefail, details of which can be found at www.llantwit-rugby.co.uk

Llantwit Fardre 18 Old Illtydians 22 on Saturday 17th November 2007.

Konica Cup game - saw match but had to go away so no report to website or Observer. Close game all the way through - see archive of past results for scorers.

Gilfach Goch 8 Llantwit Fardre 10 on Saturday 10th November 2007

Welsh National League Division 3 South East

Fardre scrape a win to take them into third place.

After the excitement of last weeks game of free flowing rugby it was back to the dower stop-start affair with both teams frustrated by the amount of use of the whistle.

The first set of penalties went Fardre's way and after the first tactical kick to touch, the second was in front of the posts and Michael Thomas opened the scoring to take Llantwit into a 3-0 lead.

The rest of the first half was played between the two twenty-twos with neither team able to get past second phase ball until, two minutes before the whistle, the Gilfach forwards manoeuvred themselves towards the Fardre try line and scrambled over for a try but it was difficult to see who had scored.

Fardre came to the second half chasing the lead and looked like scoring when quick ball gave them a five on one overlap, which slowed and became a two on one and the cut inside the field saw the tackle and the opportunity lost.

Confusion reigns over a decision at the beginning of the world cup that referees were to talk less and this has led to some refusing to speak on any action and others completely ignoring the ruling and carrying on as before.

To the frustration of both sides penalties were given without explanation and consistency was shown when both captains had throw-ins to their teams changed to penalties to the opposition when asking for clarification.

The Llantwit break through came eventually to scrum half Kieran Evans who charged down the opposition fullbacks defensive kick and followed on to score his first try for the first team since coming up from youth rugby.

Michael Thomas converted to take Fardre into a 10-5 lead.

The Gilfach fullback chipped on and ran straight at a Llantwit forward who turned to protect himself but didn't need to get out of the way.

In the way of things these days the fullback ran at the forwards shoulder and managed to catch it resulting in a penalty to bring the score back to 10-8.

You would think that the last ten minutes with two points in it would be exciting but it got more stop-start and two penalties awarded to Gil were missed giving Llantwit the final victory and third position in the league.

Llantwit Fardre 27 Brecon 20 on Saturday 3rd November 2007

Welsh National League Division 3 South East

With both teams wanting to play rugby and a referee that allowed a flowing game this was one of the best and fastest games seen at Parc Canol this season with a total of six league points coming from the game, justifying the bonus points system.

Llantwit had the early attacking pressure and Mike Thomas kicked on for scrum half Keiran Evans to collect and pass back to Thomas who quickly passed inside to centre Paul Davies whose angle took him across the line for the first points of the afternoon.

Brecon's first attempt at a penalty was a long range affair from near the centre spot that Dean Edwards slotted over, followed by another just minutes later that took Brecon into the lead and warned Fardre that ill discipline could be punished from anywhere within their own half.

On the twenty minute mark, outside half Thomas again kicked through the defensive line and in the foot race to the ball as it bobbed over the try line it was Paul Davies who celebrated the tap down for his afternoon brace.

Having gained the lead Fardre looked more confident going forward and pressure on the Brecon defence lead to a number of penalties, the last of which was under the posts and an easy tap for Mike Thomas to take the score to 13 - 6.

Still only one score away from the opposition Fardre looked for another score before half time and it came in the guise of a solo effort from captain Geraint George who broke tackle after tackle to score under the posts making Thomas' conversion an easy effort and the half time score twenty points to six.

The half time spectator talk was of the possible Llantwit try bonus point but it was Brecon who came out on fire with the ball passing through seven pairs of hands before flanker James Douglas scored under the posts for Dean Edwards to convert and bring his side back to just one converted try away from the possible draw.

The Fardre forwards took increasing control of the game and in one mauling skirmish it was number eight Dominic Masters who crossed for the try bonus point and when Thomas converted, Fardre were in a comfortable 27-13 lead.

Llantwit were now confident of picking up four points for the win and another for scoring four tries but Brecon were aware that if they scored a converted try then they would pick up a losing bonus point for being within seven points of the winners.

The reward to Brecon came in the shape of their centre Paul Williams who evaded tackles to score under the posts and Edwards converted for the bonus point.

The last ten minutes of the game were tense with the draw being a possibility.

With Brecon holding 100% of possession over those ten minutes, the Fardre coaches must be pleased that Llantwit's defence and discipline held out to bring the victory.

Pentyrch 10 Llantwit Fardre 20 on Saturday 27th October 2007 in the Konica Cup

Handling was difficult on this wet afternoon with almost constant showers and, at times, low mist or cloud which required the floodlights to be switched on from very early on.

Fardre took the initiative with an early free kick from Michael Thomas going to touch and the touch being taken quickly by Pentyrch who became pinned down by Fardre forwards and penalised for not releasing the ball in the tackle.

Michael Thomas kicked the penalty to touch and the throw in gave the Fardre forwards the opportunity to test their rolling maul for the first time in the game and the push over saw hooker Matthew Howells emerge with the ball and Thomas converting to give the visitors a seven point lead.

Berian Davies, the Pentyrch outside half, kicked his side into some good positions and on the twenty minute mark gave them hope with a penalty to bring the gap back to four points.

Throughout the first half Mark Dollman and John Burke caused headaches for the Pentyrch forwards while nippy winger Gareth Howells for Pentyrch caused equal headaches for the Llantwit defence with his speed and unusual two footed sidestep.

It wasn't until just before half time that Michael Thomas slotted a penalty for Fardre to reclaim the seven-point difference.

The first ten minutes of the second half saw Fardre being given three penalties in quick succession, the third being in front of the posts and an easy tap for Michael Thomas to take the score to 13 - 3.

On sixty five minutes the crowd witnessed the try of the game when Dean Thomas broke two tackles on the right wing and, finding himself isolated, broke another two tackles to score in the corner to leave his outside half Mike Thomas a difficult but achieved conversion to wrap the Fardre score up at twenty points.

Towards the end of the game a momentart lapse in Fardre concentration allowed flanker David Ince through the defensive line to score under the posts allowing Davies the conversion to bring their score back to a respectable ten points.

Fardre have another tough game this Saturday when they entertain Brecon at parc Canol in Division 3 South East

Penarth 15 Llantwit Fardre 12 on Saturday 20th October 2007

Welsh National League Division 3 South East

With Penarth lying second in the table and Fardre one place behind them this game had all the hallmarks of being a great top of the table clash.

The first ten minutes of the game were frantic with Fardre camped out inside the Penarth twenty two and trying all ways to cross the line but failing on each occasion until the ball was thrown out wide to Dean Thomas on the right wing who crossed for the first try of the afternoon.

The rest of the half saw frustration from both teams as second or third phase ball was stopped by infringement and numerous scrums stopped Llantwit playing their usual open running game.

The stop start rugby suited Penarth whose strength was in the forwards, Mike Clare standing out for them, a push over try was their reward just before half time, Rhys Blake coming up with the ball and the teams went into the break drawing 5 - 5.

The refereeing got even stricter in the second half and a number of yellow cards were dished out to both sides for apparently killing the ball and most penalties were either moved on ten, or reversed.

Again the stop start action suited Penarth who took advantage of one penalty to move three points ahead of their opponents.

It wasn't until ten minutes before official time was up that Llantwit produced a running move without any fault and Robert Kotyla crossed over on the left wing and then converted his own try to take Fardre into a well deserved 12-8 lead.

A late penalty to Penarth saw them kick to touch as three points was no good to them and the resulting maul was moved over the line for a converted try and a three point lead.

Fardre did have one chance of claiming the draw with a long range penalty in the dying moments but the ball sailed to the side of the posts and referee Hale blew up for the end of the game.

Fardre have another tough game this Saturday when they travel to local rivals Pentyrch to compete in the next round of the Konica Cup.

Llantwit Fardre 18 Bedlinog 18 on Saturday 13th October 2007

Welsh National League Division 3 South East

Newly promoted form division 4 and top of the table in Division 3 South East, it was Bedlinog who opened the game full of confidence especially as they had beaten Fardre at Parc Canol, last year when Fardre had been two divisions above them.

Early Bedlinog pressure saw them win a penalty quickly followed by a try when their outside centre Hiscock cut through the Llantwit defence to place the ball under the posts for an easily converted try to give them a ten point lead.

Llantwit pressure on the Bedlinog 22 found them unable to break the defence so Michael Thomas settled for the first of his drop goals to keep his side in the game.

The referee was having trouble keeping the scrums legal throughout the first half and penalised the Bedlinog tight head for Fardre's Robert Kotyla to slot the three points and keep the score board ticking over slowly.

The try of the game came when the Bedlinog backs threw the ball wide and some deft inter-passing between Hiscock and his wing Jenkins saw Jenkins over in the corner to increase the Bedlinog lead to 15-6.

Fardre gained a penalty but had the decision reversed for talking and the quick tap from Bedlinog ended in a ruck where they got over excited and fell foul of the new rucking laws.

The penalty, now to Llantwit, gave Michael Thomas the opportunity to peg back another three points which he added to three minutes later with his second drop goal to keep Fardre in the game at half time with the score at 15-12 to Bedlinog.

As the light dimmed to an autumn grey, everyone agreed that the game had gone the same way and gone off the boil.

Robert Kotyla added a spark with a high up-and-under but was shoulder charged and had a penalty from where the ball landed.

The kick was within range of the posts and Kotyla duly slotted the points, followed by another penalty from a similar spot two minutes later to take Fardre into the lead for the first time in the match.

Bedlinog had the opportunity to level the scores with a penalty late on in the game which they duly took and I think most of the crowd would agree that the draw, and two points apiece was probably a fair result.

Fardre have another tough game this Saturday when they travel to Penarth for a second and third place clash that should be more exciting than the cup final later that day and then, on the 27th, travel to local rivals Pentyrch to compete in the next round of the Konica Cup.

Llantwit Fardre 75 Oakdale 5 on Thursday 27th September 2007 in the Konica Cup Preliminary Round

The difference between division three and division five was too wide a gulf for the Oakdale visitors who found it hard to compete with the speed of the Llantwit backs and the power of their rolling maul.

Andrew Webb returned to the first team to score his first try of the season in the opening ten minutes when a backs move from the half way line saw the ball pass through hands across two widths of the pitch before Webb touched down and watched Michael Thomas add the extras.

A well-rehearsed lineout move saw number eight Dominic Masters over the line a few minutes later for his first try for the first team to much congratulations from his team mates, the kicking form of Thomas saw the conversion take the tally on to fourteen.

Fullback Ryan Morgan, mainly playing for the second team now but top points scorer for the firsts in 2004/05, joined the midfield and was brought down just before the try line but the referee shouted "not held" so he carried on to score and to see the pendulum of Thomas' boot notch up another conversion.

Fardre were not kicking penalties towards goal but gaining lineouts in attacking positions instead and it was from one of these, that the forwards mauled the ball over the line and John Burke emerged with the ball in his hands.

As half time approached and the queue gathered at the snack wagon, some fans missed wing Jonathan Hughes going over in the corner and Mike Thomas' best kick of the night taking the half time score to 33-0.

Shortly after the interval came the best try of the evening when Dean Thomas, playing at Centre tonight, found himself with a "man over" situation with every indication that he was going to pass out to his unmarked wing.The Oakdale drift defence, however, was quick to respond but Dean cut inside two defenders with a searing side step to score under the posts and give Mike Thomas his easiest conversion of the night.

Craig Parlour at flanker found himself free to run half the length of the pitch to score a converted try, quickly followed by Andrew Webb's second of the night, again converted by Thomas to take the score to 54-0.

Kevin Russell has been playing well for the second team of late and was brought in to tonight's game rewarding his coach with a fine try with Mike Thomas again adding the two extra points to keep the scoreboard ascending.

Although the score board was only moving in one direction, Oakdale had fought hard throughout the game and had severely tested the Fardre defence on more than one occasion and they were eventually rewarded with a break away try in the corner to deservedly avoid the whitewash.

Dean Thomas scored a further try to gain his brace alongside Andrew Webb and again the conversion was slotted over by Mike Thomas.

Just before the full time whistle a penalty was kicked to touch and mauled over to see Dominic Masters become the third Llantwit player to score two tries in the game and for Mike Thomas to score his tenth conversion.

Llantwit have a further non league game this Saturday 6th when they entertain Treherbert at Parc Canol in the Mid District Cup before returning to league duties on Saturday 13th when the visitors to Parc Canol will be top of the table Bedlinog.

Llantwit Fardre 25 Treorchy 29 on Saturday 22nd September 2007

It's a well worn cliché but this was definitely a game of two halves, the first of which Fardre dominated in every department, the second half being played on Treorchy's terms, terms that Fardre were not used to and couldn't compete with.

Llantwit had two games behind them in division three southeast, both of which had seen them win comfortably, with a try bonus point in both games and the team ethos in today's game seemed to be geared toward throwing the ball around and gaining more than four tries for another bonus point.

From the start Fardre kicked every penalty kick to the attacking lineout, not once going for the posts in the whole of the half and this produced three fine tries the first of which came from a penalty kick to touch, a lineout won, passing through seven pairs of hands and wing Dean Thomas going over in the corner.

The second try came from the forwards with Andrew Evans coming up from the successful maul with the ball in his hands.

Fardre's third try saw the interpassing that the Llantwit faithful enjoyed at the beginning of last season with the ball crossing the width of the pitch twice before Dean Thomas dived over for his second try of the afternoon (Photo).

The second and third tries were converted by Mike Thomas and during the whole of the first half Treorchy were living off scraps provided by Fardre mistakes and kicking every penalty toward goal where Ashton scored three penalties, one of which brought applause from both sets of fans as it was from well within his own half.

The story of the first half was, therefore, three tries against three penalties for a score of 19-9, with Fardre in total control and the crowd wondering how long into the second half they would have to wait before the try bonus point would come for the fourth try.

The turning point of the game seemed to be an incident just before half time when Tony Davies, a ball carrying Fardre forward, was attacking the wing with his own wing outside him and a two on one situation when the referee saw fighting behind him and stopped the game.

The try was lost, the try bonus lost and, for some reason, the Llantwit momentum lost as the ref sorted out the skirmish and then immediately blew up for half time.

Despite having dominated the first half, Fardre came out into the second with a wish to play Treorchy on their own terms and within the first ten minutes Treorchy had scored another two penalties through Ashton to bring them up to 19-15.

This second half being a lot scrappier than the first, with penalties going to both sides, it was a Mike Thomas penalty that moved Fardre on to 22-15 and a seven point cushion.

On the seventeen minute mark Fardre were again attacking when the referee spotted fighting behind him and had to stop the game, this time it resulted in the Treorchy lock being red carded.

Mike Thomas converted the resulting penalty, the thinking being that Fardre needed to get two scores ahead at 25-15 but the try bonus had still not been reached.

The last twenty minutes of the game became even scrappier with mistakes on both sides and Treorchy better able to capitalise on those mistakes.

On twenty five minutes a good move gave Treorchy a try made down the left wing, converted by Ashton and on thirty five minutes a midfield mixup left centre Lazarous with a free run at the line for another Treorchy try under the posts that Ashton found easy to convert.

This blitz of fourteen points in ten minutes stunned Fardre who did not recover in the dying moments despite a valiant effort but with their first loss of the season behind them they now look forward to facing Oakdale from Division 5 East in the Konica Cup this Thursday 27th at Parc Canol.

Llantwit Fardre 35 Heol Y Cyw 10 on Saturday 1st September 2007

WRU League Division Three South East

Llantwit took a gamble last season, asking a new coach to turn the side back into a local village rugby club using local and home-grown players.

Although they dropped from division two, the positive side of the decision was demonstrated in this fast flowing match in which they played in their home change kit of red and white.

A good balance in the side saw four of last years youth players take the field, the most outstanding being the new number eight Greg Williams whose line jumping skills and ball carrying will take him far, his ball carrying making the second of Llantwit's tries.

From the starting whistle Fardre made it clear that they will play each game at a furious pace and rely on fitness levels to get them to the eightieth minute but it was the second minute that saw a good backs move and a long pass from Michael Thomas to the young centre David Smith who finished in the corner.

In the tenth minute, scrum half Carl Thomas moved blind side from the scrum leaving his number eight Greg Williams to pick up from the base and charge the defence, releasing the ball to Thomas at just the right moment to allow him an easy route to the try line.

Rob Kotyla, playing at left wing to allow ex youth player Geraint Walsh in at full back, kicked the extras to take Fardre into a 12-0 lead.

It was only ten minutes later that the other wing, Dean Thomas, showed that anything his brother can do, he is equal to as he crossed over the try line into the corner.

The Heol-y-Cyw outside half and captain Gareth Howie, slotted a penalty before half time but this was answered with a pressure try from Llantwit.

Fullback Geraint Walsh joined the line and, on receiving the ball, kicked forward into space for his wing to run on to but as ttacker and defender both missed the ball, Walsh was on hand to collect and run in the try.

The Fardre flankers were proving difficult for the opposition to contain with a good mix of youth in the form of Lewis James and experience with the veteran Stephen Jones and it was Jones that broke and was held back allowing Kotyla another penalty on the stroke of half time to take them into the interval at 28-3.

Heol decided to try and keep the ball in the forwards and were rewarded with a mauled over try early on in the second half and for a while, Llantwit played the game Heol dictated but Fardre's power house in the second row of Mark Dolman and John Burke nullified most of their efforts.

Heol were forced to keep changing their front row as Andrew Evans at hooker and the two experienced props of captain Geraint George and veteran Ryan Stephens posed them continual problems.

Centre Peter Burridge who used to play for Llantwit and has returned from out of the wilderness, released man of the match Stephen Jones who dummied a pass out to his wing and jinked inside to ghost under the posts for Kotyla to add the extras and leave the game at 35-10.

Llantwit travel to Tonyrefail next week where they hope to continue their winning ways.

LLANTWIT FARDRE 22 MOUNTAIN ASH 12 on 5th May 2007

Asda league Division 2 East.

Fardre go down fighting.

Llantwit's fate was sealed on the Thursday before this game when Nantymoel beat an already promoted and weakened Rumney team to gain themselves a place in Division 2 next year and relegating Fardre to Division 3 East.

In spite of this a good crowd turned up to Parc Canol to watch an excellent game in bright sunshine and this loyal support will, no doubt, continue next season.

The match plan from coach Steve Goddard was simple;- we have been demoted, there is nothing we can do about it now, so go out and enjoy yourself with some running rugby.

As has so often happened this season Rob Kotyla opened the scoring with a penalty and Llantwit gained in confidence.

The running rugby arrived and Llantwit suddenly burst into the team they had been at the beginning of the season, passing out of contact, running at obscure angles, committing players to the tackle before passing and generally confounding their opponents.

Fardre were the only team that looked like scoring in the first half and ultimately, a run out of defence went through the hands of eight players before reaching wing Andrew Webb who scored in the corner for Kotyla to convert and take Fardre to a fine 10 - 0 lead at half time.

This Fardre style of rugby is exciting to watch but you have to take the rough with the smooth, two interception passes in the second half for Mount ended in tries and could have made the difference between winning and losing.

Either side of these two tries though came two excellent Fardre tries to seal the home win.

The first was made of vintage stuff with short passing among the backs and some forwards, wearing down the Mount defence until centre Paul Davies came crashing through the line on a reverse angle for a converted try.

The second came from a well contested scrum where the retrieved ball went through the hands of every back until it reached Andrew Webb on the wing who passed over his shoulder back into Paul Davies who took the ball at speed and was impossible to stop for a diving try.

Reflections back at the clubhouse centred on the youth and second team players that were forced into first team rugby this year and will now be difficult to dislodge, coupled with the future of the six youth players from the District Youth Cup winning team that will be old enough for senior rugby next season.

This community side that has pledged itself to developing local players through its age group rugby will be a force to reckon with in division 3 next season.

TREHERBERT 31 LLANTWIT FARDRE 15 on the 28th April 2007

Asda League Division 2 East

For most matches lately the Llantwit story has been that they have stayed within a score of winning games, only to lose out in the dying moments.

This game was no exception and whereas Treherbert have completed their season ending in fourth position, the season is far from over for Llantwit.

The arithmetic at the bottom of Asda league Division 2 East was made simple after Nantymoel scored a late winning try at Ynysybwl at the same time that fellow strugglers Llantwit went down to Treherbert.

Only two games remain to be played in this league and if Nantymoel win away at high-flying Rumney during midweek then Llantwit go to Division 3 next season.

If however Nantymoel fail to win their last match then Llantwit are in a cup final situation this Saturday, at home to Mountain Ash, where to win is to stay up and to lose is to go down.

A buoyant looking Fardre side took to the pitch and were soon ahead through a Rob Kotyla penalty after Treherbert were deemed not to have released the ball after a tackle.

Soon after, Treherbert in a similar penalty position, kicked to touch and from the resulting line out mauled the ball over the line with hooker Ian Griffiths coming up with the ball and outside half Gareth Roberts adding the extras.

Llantwit had some good patches of play but far too often they reached third and fourth phase play only to be turned over by a very fast and efficient Treherbert pack.

One such turnover led to the Tre backs attacking with the fullback not quite reaching the line but quick ball through the reformed backs saw prop James Elton Juggernaut his way over the line for another converted try and a half time score of 14-3.

Llantwit came out in the second half as a renewed side who were doing all the attacking and this pressure eventually paid off when backs coach Adrian Evans broke through the defensive line to score and for Rob Kotyla to add the conversion to take Fardre within four points of their opponents.

Cruel fate acted against Fardre in a defensive position when the ball popped out of a ruck into the hands of Treherbert Flanker Dean Phillips to score under the posts, Roberts again converting to take Treherbert back into a 21-10 lead.

With more at stake for Llantwit the team played hard and fast but sometimes came across as panicking and not being patient enough to play their usual game.

A Fardre maul near the five meter line resulted in a turn over to Treherbert that was kicked out of defence but this was quickly followed by an identical situation where the ball was retained, circulated to the backs and wing Dean Thomas beat three defenders to find the try line to take Llantwit within a converted try of winning with only five minutes remaining.

As so often has happened in the latter part of this season, the game was lost in the final five minutes when Tre flanker Phillips gained his second converted try and Fardre hastily started ringing around for other scores that could decide their fate.

All is not bad news however as the youth players and second team players that have played first team rugby this year have given a headache to those that choose the "most improved player" award for the club dinner and have stated their case that those returning from injury next season will have to fight to regain their places.

Another pointer to Fardre's future must be the excellent effort by the youth tem to lift the Taff Rhondda Youth District Cup by beating local rivals Llanharran 26-17 with tries from Greg Williams and Dominic Masters with outside half Geraint Walsh notching up three penalties, two conversions and a drop goal.

Some of these youth players will swell the senior squad next season making Fardre a force to be reckoned with.

LLANTWIT FARDRE 18 TREHERBERT 29 on the 14th April 2007

Asda League Division 2 East.

The first quarter of this game saw sustained pressure from the visitors which forced a try in the corner but, either side of that try, Llantwit kept their composure and discipline which earned them a couple of Rob Kotyla penalties to take the lead 6-5.

Fardre had a weight disadvantage in the scrum with prop Lee Williams stepping up from the seconds and flanker Stephen Jones being joined by 'out of retirement' Jeff Kennelly to fill the second row places against two of the biggest second rowers in division two.

The dried hard pitch was taking its toll of players with subs coming on thick and fast for both teams.

Pinned down on their own twenty-two Fardre outside half Michael Thomas in his second game back from injury, feigned a kick out of defence and ran through the Treherbert line to pass back inside to his scrum half Dan Povey who scored under the posts for Kotyla to add the extras and give Fardre what seemed a comfortable 13-5 lead.

Two severe knocks set Fardre back before the interval.

Treherbert thought they had mauled the ball over the line but the referee deemed the ball to be held up but had been playing a penalty advantage.

The penalty kick was taken as a kick to touch where the Tre forwards mauled the ball over for a definite try, converted by their outside half.

Almost from the kick off Fardre fumbled in defence and the resulting scrum saw their quick openside scoop the ball up and cross in the corner for a converted try that saw Treherbert suddenly in the lead 19-13.

The second half saw Fardre lose more and more players and at one time Coach Goddard, who played hooker until two years ago but had been forced back recently through injuries as a flanker, was lead from the field by substitute physio Owen Pearce !

Treherbert increased their lead with an early second half penalty and then a defensive kick from Fardre's defence saw the ball drop straight into the arms of the Tre outside half.

Taking the ball forward he passed inside to his centre who had his openside on hand to score his second converted try of the afternoon.

At 29-13 down and three minutes to go some could be excused for thinking that Fardre's heads would have bowed in defeat but gritty determination saw second team wing Dean Thomas cross for a final try to bring the total to a respectable 18 points.

Fardre are fourth from the bottom of division two with three to face the drop so are looking at other results as well as concentrating on their next match at home to Ynysybwl this Saturday.

CROESYCEILIOG 29 LLANTWIT FARDRE 18 on the 11th April 2007

On a sun dried pitch with dust flying it was Fardre who kept their cool in the opening stages and gained the penalty for ill discipline against Croes, Kotyla opening the scoring at 3-0.

Before the half time whistle it was Croes who managed the only try of the half, converting this and adding to it with a penalty to take them into the break 10-3 up.

Croes added an early try in the second half but Kotyla kept Fardre in touch with a penalty at 15-6 to the home side.

Trying to hang onto their lead from a long way before the final whistle Croes suffered from the referees whistle for killing the ball and time wasting, gaining two yellow cards in quick succession.

A substitution saw a move around in the backs and Dan Povey move to scrum half where a jinking run saw him score. Shortly after, another run through the backs saw ben Warburton cross for the try, this time converted by Rob Kotyla to see Fardre into the lead at 15-18.

Croes had the finishing power towards the end of the game finishing with two tries, the second of which was converted to give them a final score of 29-18 and to lift them out of the bottom three of the league.

YNYSYBWL 21 LLANTWIT FARDRE 9 on the 7th April 2007

Asda League Division 2 East

The twelve-point difference does not reflect the fact that Fardre were within a score of winning this match until ten minutes before the final whistle.

Llantwit started well, their control of discipline earning them two early penalties that Kotyla placed between the posts but a magnificent kick from Bwl fullback Adam Thomas, from within his own half, brought the home side back to 6-3.

Ynysybwl attacked well throughout the first half, gaining territory through kicking, Adam Thomas using his knowledge of the various slopes of 'The Rec' to bounce the ball to touch.

It wasn't until the first quarter was over however that centre David Waits managed to break through the Fardre defensive line and send a long, looping pass out to Thomas who added to his earlier penalty with a try that took his side into the lead for the first time.

Waits was in action again before the interval when, unable to break through Fardre's strong defence, this time he dropped a goal from a fair way out to take Bwl into half time 11-6 up.

The first twenty of the second half was some of the most frustratingly boring of the season, dominated as it was by mistakes and the referee's whistle, Kotyla trading penalties with outside half Richard Tibbs to keep Fardre within a score.

The last quarter of the game saw much more attacking from both sides with Fardre frustrated at not being able to break the half way line, clearance kicks hitting the sharp slope of The Rec and bouncing back down field towards them.

A gutsy Fardre performance right to the end whistle and near tries from Darren Bool and Daryl Thomas couldn't quite give Fardre the win and in a sustained period of Bwl pressure they eventually got the safety net that they were after with a rolling maul to give them a converted try that sealed the game.

Ynysybwl have now mathematically survived their foray into division 2 whereas Fardre, still fifth from bottom, need points from some of their remaining six league games, starting with their Wednesday night game away to Croesyceiliog or this Saturdays game at home to Treherbert, before facing Ynysybwl again, at home on the 21st April.

LLANTWIT FARDRE 20 ABERGAVENNY 26 on the 31st march 2007

Asda League Division 2 East.

The wind, and how it was used to advantage, was the main factor in this Asda League Division 2 match, the other deciding factor being confidence.

With Fardre playing into the very strong wind in the first half they kept the ball in the forwards and any penalties were kicked to touch to provide a rolling maul from the ensuing lineout.

Twice they did this early on in the game providing a fine try for hooker Andrew Evans and a converted try for number-eight Geraint Leyshon.

Each try was quickly answered by a penalty kick, drifting with the wind, from Abergavenny outside half James Didcott who also slotted a third to keep his team in touch at 12-9.

The visitors were not without their own driving maul and an undefended blind side was spotted by Aber's scrum half Richard Turner who went over in the corner to take his team into the lead for the first time.

Fardre were keen to give themselves a lead to build on and to stretch that lead using the second half wind and a fine run out of defence by Andrew Webb had good support, last man in the line of backs centre Rhys David, scored in the corner to give Llantwit the lead back.

Llantwit's hopes were dashed when a long defensive kick, almost the length of the pitch, saw a scramble that turned into a maul which was rolled over the line by the Aber forwards so that they entered the half time break leading 19-17.

The second half was a strange affair with Fardre pinned down in their own half for much of the time.

Llantwit's kicks out of defence and kicks to touch, using the long awaited wind, seemed to be jinxed and bounced in all the wrong directions, either bouncing away from the touchline or bouncing up, catching the wind and crossing the dead ball line.

Five minutes into the half an Abergavenny attacking scrum was deemed to have been deliberately taken down and the penalty try given meant that at 26-17 Fardre were now looking for two scores to win the match.

The longer the game went on without a score the more Abergavenny grew in confidence.

They had it in their minds that they had won the home encounter and started to confidently move the ball between hands, keeping possession and denying Fardre territory and possession.

A late penalty to Fardre was rightly placed between the posts by Robert Kotyla giving his side a converted try to win but sadly for the home side that try did not materialise.

This was not a case of Fardre playing badly, more a case of bottom club Abergavenny playing above themselves with new found confidence.

Fardre will want to shake this result off when they visit mid table Ynysybwl this Saturday.

NANTYMOEL 15 LLANTWIT FARDRE 22 on 24th March 2007

Asda League Division 2 East

Fardre Leap Away From Drop Zone With Consecutive Wins.

Llantwit thought that they were a dangerous fourth from bottom of Asda Division 2 East until they read in the Nantymoel programme that the home side had been deducted three points for fielding an illegible player, dropping them a position and pushing Llantwit to 5th from the base, with three to go down.

With both teams moving out of a rough patch and Nant having narrowly won the fixture at Parc Canol earlier in the season, this was always going to be a close and physical encounter.

Fardre's composure and discipline helped them through the opening encounters, Rob Kotyla slotting an early penalty quickly followed by another as Tony Davies was tackled without the ball.

Over the next seven minutes Nant won the penalty count by two to one and the score moved on to 9-6 to Fardre.

Yet another penalty to Fardre saw Kotyla fire a long kick down field to give his forwards a lineout on their opponent's five-metre line.

The call from coach Goddard was not heard so was relayed to the forwards by Kotyla who got entangled with the maul, had the ball passed back to him through the maul and, as the forwards dropped over for the try, it was Kotyla who came up with the ball and an astonished expression on his face.

Nant managed two penalties before half time but did not look like broaching the Fardre defence to reach the try line and at the interval Fardre were feeling comfortable but with a slim margin of 14-12.

Early into the second half Steven Clatworthy, Nantymoel flanker was penalised and yellow carded for not rolling away after the tackle.

Kotyla stepped up and slotted the penalty and the points gave him a personal total of 300 over three seasons, showing how consistent he has been for the club over many years. Incredibly, the Wales On Sunday  (bless them) also credited him with scoring all of Llantrisants 22 points againt Treherbert, both matches being played at the same time!!

Nant would not lie down and the seventh scoring penalty of the match went to them to keep them in contention at 17-15.

Towards the end of the game the sunny weather started to take its toll on the players, especially the Nant forwards who went backwards from a lineout maul and conceded the try to Marcus Caudle, giving Fardre their second victory in a row.

Llantwit entertain Abergavenny at home this Saturday, an encounter that they narrowly lost in the away fixture, and will be hoping to retain their winning ways.

LLANTWIT FARDRE 11 CROESYCEILIOG 10 on 3rd March 2007

Asda league Division 2 East.

A win is a win and a win by one point is still a win.

Llantwit, languishing third from bottom of the division, played host to the bottom club Croesyceiliog so this was never gong to be a game of open, flowing, rugby; both teams trying to rid themselves of a losing streak.

Fardre played with a stiff breeze behind them in the first half but could only gain a small advantage in the form of a Robert Kotyla penalty by the time the interval arrived.

Two minutes into the second half, Croes' best player, Matthew Entwistle, used his inside centre position to burst through a gap in the Llantwit defence to score converting his own try to take his team into a 7-3 lead.

The Blues seemed to overplay everything in a panic to get back on terms and it wasn't until the twenty-fifth minute that the forwards managed to maul the ball over the line, Geraint Leyshon coming up with the ball to put Fardre back into the lead 8-7.

There had not been more than four points between the teams throughout the game and so it was to remain until the end.

Croes took the lead again through a long-range penalty from Entwistle but from then on it was all Llantwit attack.

Three of last year's youth team players have supported the seniors throughout the season and Paul Davies played well with Jonathan Hughes now establishing himself as a regular fixture on the wing.

It was the young outside half Darryl Thomas however who stepped up to take the pressure kick of the dying moments to slot a penalty that gave the Blues their first win since before Christmas, by the slenderest of margins.

The Chairman in his programme address has summed up the team position. "The simplest solution may have been to go and recruit a few players and ignore the youngsters coming through the junior and youth system, but this is not a long term strategy. We are a community club and committed to developing our own talent."

The next game at Central Park will be Llantwit Youth v Rhydyfelin Youth this Friday.

RUMNEY 31 LLANTWIT FARDRE 14 on 17th February 2007

Asda League Division 2 East

RUMNEY Cardiff are second in Division 2 and chasing Llantrisant so a hard match was envisaged for a Llantwit Fardre team searching for form and freedom from injury.

Three converted ties and a penalty in the first half for Rumney gave them a convincing 24-0 lead at half time but it wasn't all one-way traffic.

Llantwit battled the opening forty minutes and most of the play was evenly spaced between the two twenty two meter lines but it was Rumney that had the cutting edge that saw three break-aways count.

At half time things changed and in soccer parlance, this was a game of two halves, with the Fardre fans (admittedly half of these were injured players) thrilled at their team's performance.

The Llantwit forwards started to fight for every ball as if their lives depended on it; the backs threw everything about and the wings Dean Thomas and Jonathan Hughes entered the game more and more along with full back Andrew Webb.

Only two minutes into the half, through the efforts of John Burke and Mark Dolman, the forwards managed to get the ball to the try line and a scramble saw Tony Davies touch down for Fardre's first points of the game.

The young outside half Daryl Thomas added the extras and Fardre had a new found confidence that lasted for the rest of the game.

Andrew Evans has been trying to establish himself as the first choice hooker lately and did himself no harm with a performance that saw him battle in the rough like a flanker and the next minute running along with the backs and putting in little grubber kicks for the wings to chase.

Such was the confidence of the second half Fardre pack that a successful maul of some twenty metres, pulled down illegally by Rumney, saw them opt for the scrum rather than take the three points.

The scrum went backwards for Rumney and over their own try line where number eight Richard Andrews was on hand to touch down.

Daryl Thomas again converted and you could see that at 24-14 the Fardre players looked like they believed they could win the game.

Try as they might Llantwit could not get another score but played some excellent rugby, something to definitely build on but it was a momentary loss of concentration that saw a Rumney line out throw to an unmarked flanker who burst over the line to wrap the game up at 31-14.

Fardre are expecting a big crowd this Saturday for their home fixture against Pill Harriers as the action will be followed by two internationals on the big screen at the club house, including France v Wales.

LLANTWIT FARDRE 12 LLANTRISANT 21 on 3rd February 2007

Asda League Division 2 East

Black Army Wobble But Remain Undefeated.

On paper this game should have consisted of one-way traffic with the visitors to Central Park being 24 points ahead of Fardre and undefeated in the league but the home side, confident with the form they brought from the latter stages of their last match, were determined to maintain their momentum going into this local derby.

Llantrisant's success has meant that other teams are analysing them more and coming to the conclusion that there game is based around Worgan's long kicking to touch and the team waiting to capitalise on mistakes from their opponents, a tactic employed by England a few years before they became world champions.

Fardre's answer was to keep both wings deep to pick up the kicks and run them back at Llantrisant, keeping the ball in their opponents half.

These tactics, from both sides meant that the majority of play was between the two twenty-two metre lines for most of the first half with Worgan committing two balls to the pass, the remainder kicked from hand.

The mistake eventually happened and Llantrisant went 3-0 up courtesy of an Ian Worgan penalty but this was answered two minutes later with sustained pressure from the Fardre forwards and a run from the twenty-two from Fardre captain Geraint George for the first try of the game, converted by Kotyla for a 7-3 lead.

Llantrisant understood that their usual tactic was floundering and decided to keep ball in hand with Worgan going on a long, looping run to go over in the corner, too far out for the conversion.

With the scores almost even at 8-7 it was Llantrisant wing Oliver who gave his team the advantage at the interval scoring a try converted by Worgan on the stroke of half time.

The second half saw both teams cancelling out each other's attacks until the fifty-third minute when a Worgan penalty took Llantrisant to 18-7 and, more importantly, kept the scoreboard ticking over.

There followed a gritty ten minutes of sustained Fardre pressure and eventually, with the ball flying through the hands of the backs, the 'man over' appeared in the guise of Geraint George for his second try of the afternoon to put the home side within one score of toppling the league leaders at 18-12.

Unfortunately for the crowd Llantrisant managed to contain the game from that moment up until the full time whistle with Worgan slotting a further penalty on the stroke of eighty minutes to leave Llantrisant victorious but knowing that they had been in a real game.

Rhydyfelin 21 Llantwit Fardre10 on 27th January 2007

Asda League Division 2 East

Fardre's Late Burst Not Good Enough.

Rhydyfelin were keen to extend their home record, only having lost one game at home this season, while Llantwit were keen just to take part in a game, not having played since 9th December last year.

The results of Fardre's forced break first came to light when their front row were penalised at the first scrum for going into the hit too early, other teams having played a month with the new four part scrum law.

An early Rhyd penalty was nullified with one from Fardre's Kotyla but that was to be Fardre's only points of the half as they tried to shake off the rustiness.

Rhydyfelin's first try came from an attacking scrum when the scrum half dealt his number ten a reverse pass that caught the Fardre defence on the wrong foot, the try converted to take Rhyd into a 10-3 lead.

They added to this with a fine penalty from the half way line ten minutes later.

Fardre's Jeremy Lewis got a shock towards the end of the half, protesting that he had in deed entered the ruck from behind the back feet; the referee deemed the tackle dangerous and yellow carded him.

The resulting penalty was quickly fired out to Gavin Close on the wing and he had a straight run in to the try line.

The conversion was missed but practically the last kick of the half saw Rhyd score a penalty that gave them a 21-3 lead at half time.

Fardre played one hundred per cent better in the second half, the rustiness easing itself out of the legs and lungs.

Still they conceded too many turnovers and what little possession they obtained was cheaply kicked away.

As the half continued it became apparent that Fardre had worked out Rhyd's strategies and were able to nullify them, stopping the home team from scoring for the whole forty minutes.

Indeed as the half progressed it was Rhyd that tired and Fardre who had the energy and freshness to continue.

Llantwit started to keep hold of possession and Adrian Evans' straight run up the middle created a two on one and wing Kotyla went around Gavin Close in at the corner.

Kotyla converted his own try to bring the score back to a more respectable 21-10 and left his team knowing that they need to keep the momentum of the second half going forward into their home fixture against division two leaders Llantrisant this Saturday at Parc Canol.

LLANTWIT FARDRE V PILL - Match postponed 13th January 2007

Asda League Division 2 East

Central Park, Llantwit Fardre was again under water last Saturday leaving Llantwit without a match since 9th December.

With all the lucrative home fixtures over the Christmas break postponed, fixtures that through the bar takings help keep the club afloat (no pun intended) the club are wondering when they will see rugby again.

Through a period when the top clubs have been winning and the bottom clubs losing, Llantwit find themselves in the bizarre position of having kept their 6th place in the league without taking to the field.

Hopes are pinned on a match at Central Park this coming Saturday against local rivals Mountain Ash, who always bring a good crowd of supporters with them and for Llantwit fans who do not travel away, this will be the first sight of their team since 2nd December.

Mount are just below Llantwit in Division 2 East although, because of Fardre's postponed games, have played four more games as Llantwit who have the lowest 'games played' in division 2 with eight.

There was activity in the clubhouse this week with the meeting of the Gold Card Sponsors who meet socially and talk about recent rugby games if there have been any.

The sponsors were in the strange position of meeting for one of their four meetings throughout the season to find that no rugby had been played since their last meeting.

Conversation inevitably turned to the merits of 'Summer Rugby' with all its pros and cons, and the fact that global warming meant that summers would get hotter while winters would inevitably become milder and wetter.

Four of the Llantwit members and Gold Card Sponsors, Andrew Phillips, Stephen Higgs, Kevin Hobbs and Anthony Slade are at this moment flying to South Africa, to the Stellenbosch wine region, to represent Wales at over 30's touch rugby, which begs the question - Is touch rugby on an all weather pitch the way forward?

9th December 2006 Abergavenny 28 LLANTWIT FARDRE 22

Asda League Division 2 East

A late return to form during the second half was not enough to see Fardre catch up with their opponents first half total.

The game came alight fifteen minutes in with the battle of the outside halves.

Fardre outside half Mike Thomas had a clearance kick charged down by Aber's Steve Holmes who gathered and charged for the line for a converted try giving the home side a surprise lead.

Mike's determination to pull the score back was evident in his face and a well practiced move from an attacking scrum gave him the opportunity to pull things back to 7 - 5.

The packs were evenly matched throughout but it was the Aber pack that scored first with a push over try on the half hour from lock Gareth Davies to further their lead.

Abergavenny had elected to play 'down hill' during the first half and used this slight advantage well, kicking to the corners and pinning their opponents down, producing a penalty from James Didcot that moved them on to 15 - 5.

Aber had their tails up and were playing with confidence such that an attacking lineout saw Holmes rush down the wing for his second try of the afternoon.

The five minutes before half time saw both packs scoring tries from push overs.

Fardre's try came courtesy of Tony Davies while the Aber push over saw none other than Holmes gaining his hat trick and giving Fardre an uphill task to pull back from 25 - 10 at half time.

Llantwit were a different side in the second half and used the slope well, kicking to the corner that the home side had used so successfully.

Five minutes into the half Fardre blind side Mark Dolman went over the try line and Mike Thomas added the extras so that at 25 - 17 you could see that hope had returned and the side started playing with an air of throwing the ball about and playing attacking rugby.

The attacking continued and Andrew Webb ran a jinking run out of defence beating five tackles before laying the ball off to a 'returned from injury' Rhys David who crossed the line and brought the gap down to three points.

The rest of this nail-biting encounter was a combination of Fardre attack, which frustratingly could not penetrate, coupled with Aber trying to consolidate their lead.

Frustration reached a peak for Fardre when Aber were awarded a late penalty for laying over the ball which was converted by Didcot into three points and eventually, time just ran out for Fardre.

LLANTWIT FARDRE 27 NANTYMOEL 31 December 2nd 2006

Asda League Division 2 East

Nant announced their intentions of lifting themselves from the base of division two with a sterling converted try in the first minute by their best player, wing Chapman.

Fardre took ten minutes to settle and finally got into a rhythm with fine inter-passing out of defence seeing fullback Jamie Roberts the man to touch down.

Ten minutes past until Robert Kotyla, moving between the unfamiliar positions of wing and centre, squeezed into the corner leaving Michael Thomas a difficult but achievable conversion to take Llantwit into a 12-7 lead.

The try of the game came shortly before half time with a brilliant solo effort from scrum half to dive over in the corner (see photos Llantwit Firsts).

Fardre thought they would have a ten-point advantage at half time but Nant outside half Jones had other ideas, slotting a long-range penalty to bring the visitors back to one score behind at the interval.

Nantymoel started the second half with the fervour that they had started the first and their centre Rees got just rewards with a fine converted try to give the visitors a boost at 17-17.

Fardre's reply was in the shape of a solo effort by fullback Roberts, bringing the ball out of defence but being pinned into the corner to leave his try unconverted and the score at 22-17.

Nant's scrum had not had the upper hand all through the match but suddenly sparked into life and gained a push over try which, once converted, gave them the lead again in this see-saw game.

This was closely followed by a converted interception try by Nant centre Morgan and Llantwit's hopes of a win seemed to be fading at 22-31.

Fardre substitute Jeremy Lewis scrambled over the line for a try and to bring the home side back to a four point margin and, even though a portion of the crowd seemed to indicate a late Fardre try, the referee appeared to be unsighted and the score remained at 27-31 with Nant earning a well deserved and much needed three points

· Just across the way on the Cae Fardre pitch the Llantwit second team were entertaining Rhydyfelin where they lost 34-20. Llantwit tries came from Rhys David and Ryan Morgan with Morgan slotting two conversions and two penalties.

28th October 2006 LLANTWIT FARDRE 36 RUMNEY 30

Asda league Division 2 East.

THREE debut tries and a new top points scorer for the season shows how much the faces are changing in Fardre's first team these days.

Last weeks break, through which all the injured Fardre players were supposed to recover and rejoin the squad, never happened; thus the second's game having to be called off and various second team players (some of these newly appointed from the youth team) finding themselves wearing the first team jersey.

These players have to be brought into the first team slowly and in the right matches and Coach Stephen Goddard would have preferred it not to have been on the day that Rumney brought their five out of five record to Parc Canol.

The game started slowly with a drop goal from Michael Thomas for Fardre followed by a trading of penalties between himself and his opposite number Clark to give the small and very wet crowd a 9-3 score line after twenty-five minutes.

On thirty minutes the game lit up, starting with a long defensive kick from a penalty giving Fardre a five-meter attacking lineout.

The cleanly caught ball went through swift hands to Thomas who found his blind side wing Andrew Webb, had looped around and come in on the reverse angle to receive the ball and cross for his first try for the club.

Thomas added the extras and Rumney's only reply was a penalty kick two minutes later when Clark took the score to 16 - 6.

The tactics were becoming clearer and it seemed that Fardre had decided that their usual forwards game, which has seen them with a prop as top try scorer, would today be abandoned in favour of throwing the ball through the backs.

This tactic had taken Rumney by surprise as they defended yet another advance by the Fardre backs with centre Adrian Evans shouting "kick it behind them" and running onto the grubber kick from Thomas.

The kick reached the full back who fumbled a knock on but Evans took advantage and dived on the ball for his first try for the club.

Thomas continued his 100% kicking record to add the two points and then found himself kicking through the defence again only two minutes later.

This time it was young wing Jonathan Hughes whose lightening sprinting got him to the ball first for his first try for the club which was converted for a half time score of 30 - 6.

Although the wind was not strong, and at some times it was non existent, the rain in the faces of Fardre in the second half proved to be a disadvantage.

Rumney scored through a penalty and, later, a penalty try, to give hope and bring the score back to 30-16.

This gave them the incentive they needed and their next attack saw them pin Fardre down in the corner and, having sucked in defenders, they brought the ball out wide to where the overlap gave Clark a try that he converted himself to give his team a fighting chance at 30-23.

On seventy minutes a certain Fardre try was thwarted by a deliberate knock on and a penalty to Fardre.

Although in a good attacking position Fardre elected to take the three points with Michael Thomas adding the three points to take Fardre back into a two score lead and to take Thomas into the position of top scorer for the season.

The decision was a good one as Rumney broke to score another converted try to bring them within three points of the home side at 33-30.

On the stroke of full time, man of the match Thomas retained his 100% record with another penalty to give the small, wet crowd a cheer at having witnessed sixty six points of rugby over a very exciting afternoon.

14th October 2006 - LLANTRISANT 29 LLANTWIT FARDRE 0

Asda League Division 2 East

THIS top of the table clash promised to be an exciting game but the small crowd were disappointed as it petered out towards the end.

The omens were not good for Fardre as the WRU ruling on all referees being at least level 2 meant that neither the second team nor the youth team could play due to a lack of referees in the area and eighty lads went without a game.

At least this meant that the seconds could bolster the depleted firsts side with new faces coming in at prop, scrum half and wing with the usual number 9 Povey starting at 10 and number 10 Thomas playing at 12.

From the starting whistle it was obvious that the Llantrisant tactics over the past seasons of kicking to the corners whenever possible had not changed, Jason Alford carrying out his duties impeccably during the first half and pinning Fardre down in defence.

A lineout mix up between the Fardre forwards after one such kick saw second row Huw David standing alone with nobody between him and the line for the first Llantrisant try.

Not to be outdone the Llantrisant backs took advantage of two men down in the Fardre backs, exploited the gap and went over for the second try.

Centre Gavin Groves found himself on the wing just before half time as the Llantwit drift defence ran out of covering men and allowed a two man overlap over the try line.

Facing a 19 - 0 deficit at half time it was time for Fardre to consolidate and hopefully use the breeze to kick to the same try scoring corner.

The second half saw Llantrisant with no need to further the score and willing to defend their lead in their own half.

Alford's kicking, impeccable in the first half, let him down during the second period giving Fardre some eighty per cent possession and territory along with approximately ninety per cent of the refferee's decisions.

Despite this, Fardre were unable to penetrate the defence and gave away a break away try and a penalty to come off 29-0 losers.

The Llantwit faithful stayed until the end in respect for the commitment shown by their team right up to the final whistle and the talk on the way to the club house was about the free weekend coming up where injuries could hopefully be mended ahead of the game against top of the table Rumney, at home on 28th October.

Man of the match for me was the Llantrisant wag behind the posts at the main road end (fat guy, red shirt). Disagreeing with every decision by the referee, he even contested a decision of 'feeding into the scrum' claiming to have a better view from 100m than the ref.

7th October 2006 LLANTWIT FARDRE 8 RHYDYFELIN 15

Asda League Division 2 East

THIS was always going to be a closely contested local derby as the teams shared a one hundred per cent league record and were equal on points difference at the starting whistle.

The penalty came when the Rhydyfelin front row, who were under pressure throughout the game, popped up instead of retreating.

The referee promptly gave a penalty and indiscipline by the Rhyd forwards meant that the penalty was moved on 10m to a kickable position where Michael Thomas took Fardre into a 3-0 lead.

It was only two minutes later when poor Llantwit tackling allowed Rhyd their first attack of the game and when they managed to get the ball out as far as their wing, Gavin Close, he sprinted for the line to touch down for a converted try that took his side into a 7-3 lead.

The largest crowd of the season at Parc Canol were disappointed in the next twenty-five minutes of play as both teams cancelled each other out; the Fardre forwards being dominant and let down by bad passing through the backs, the Rhyd backs looking dominant but unable to gain possession behind a poor pack.

The only piece of real first half action came from a move that saw play go to the middle of the pitch leaving two players in a touch side brawl, a Llantwit substitute trying to separate the players received a red card and could take no further action during the game although Fardre continued with a fifteen man side.

The second half started as the first had finished with the first twenty minutes having both teams nervous of making a mistake.

Rhydyfelin managed to put together five minutes of constant pressure that eventually broke down the Fardre defence ending in an unconverted try as Rhyd moved the score on to 12-3.

The Fardre backs were still getting good ball from their forwards especially from the dominant scrum and it was a scrum that allowed a text book move between scrum half Dan Povey and outside half Michael Thomas with Thomas crossing the line to give Fradre hope at 12-8.

With a margin of only four points the Rhyd captain wisely brought his centre up to take a thirty five minute penalty which he scored leaving Llantwit a converted try to force the draw and leave the teams level in the league once again.

Fardre knew that their strength had been in the scrum all through the match and received the put in to an attacking 5m scrum, eight minutes from the end.

The crowd were on tenterhooks for that last eight minutes as the Rhyd front row either went down or popped up and the scrum was reset eight times.

Rhyd certainly knew how to contain the game, even if they were giving their following a nervous time as the eighth scrum ended in a kick for touch and the full time whistle.

Neither team can take a rest next week as Rhydyfelin take on top of the league Rumney, Cardiff and Llantwit travel to second place Llantrisant.

MOUNTAIN ASH 8 LLANTWIT FARDRE 30 23rd September 2006

Asda League Division 2 East

THREE out of three in league as Fardre charge on.

Anyone who knows Duffryn Pennar Park will know that the wide-open space is susceptible to strong winds and it was Mountain Ash that had that wind advantage in the first half as a strong southerly blew up the valley.

The old firm spent most of the first half pinning Llantwit back into the corners and it was only good Fardre defence that kept them out on many an occasion.

Mount's height advantage in the lineouts saw Fardre losing on their own ball and having to defend driving maul after maul but keeping Mount to 'near tries'.

It took Llantwit fifteen minutes to get into the Mount twenty-two but when they did, Povey skirted around the base of a scrum to open the scoring with a try converted by Robert Kotyla.

Nicky Griffiths got Mount onto the score sheet minutes later with a try as he jinked between scrum half and outside half to bring the score back to 7-5.

Llantwit's backs were not getting good ball, especially from lineouts and in a break out from defence it was the forwards that took the lead with captain Geraint George crossing to take the score on to 12-5.

Controversy at the half time whistle when a pass from Povey appeared to go forward before Kotyla, playing for the first time at outside half, picked up and crossed the line to take his team into the interval at 17-5.

Discipline has not been Fardre's greatest asset this year and an early second half penalty against them was moved on 10m for talking and, finding himself now within kicking range, Luke James slotted it over to bring the home side back to 17-8.

Rhys David made amends minutes later with an individual try up the middle that Kotyla converted to dampen Mount spirits as the score line moved away from them at 24-8.

For the last twenty minutes Llantwit were pinned down in their own half, despite having wind advantage.

Mount took advantage of the loss of forwards that Fardre have suffered during the close season, taking lineout ball from the Fardre throw and forcing all-out defence from the visitors but the only advantage that they could take was a penalty in the dying moments that made the closing score line more respectable.

Fardre take on Bedlinog at home this Saturday in the Mid District Cup but will be looking forwards toward their next league game at home against Rhydyfelin on 7th October where both teams will attempt to keep their one hundred per cent league records.

September 16th 2006 PILL 20 LLANTWIT FARDRE 29

LLANTWIT fitness towards the end of the game was the deciding factor in this close encounter.

Games between these two sides have always been close and this fixture last year produced a 19 all draw.

Fardre were caught napping as Pill kicked off, received the ball unopposed and scored under the posts for flanker Hussein to convert and take his side into a seven point lead in the first minute.

The Llantwit return kick resulted in a scramble to touch and the take from the lineout was mauled to cross the line, Fardre hooker Stephen Powell coming up with the ball to bring the score back to 7-5 with only four minutes of the game gone.

The next ten minutes were end-to-end action but with no score as the teams settled down and got to know their strengths and weaknesses.

Hussein broke the stalemate, slotting a penalty to take Pill into a 10-5 lead and seeming to move away from Llantwit.

Fardre consolidated with outside half Mike Thomas kicking to the corners to gain territory, the lines out giving the chance for the Fardre rolling maul.

Captain Geraint George took the initiative taking the maul over the line with ball in hand, emerging to give the ball to Morgan to convert and give Fardre the lead for the first time at 12-10.

Just to keep things tight, Pill started the second half with the same pace that they had started the first, resulting in an early try that Hussein converted to regain the lead 17-12.

Fardre's forwards were ceaseless in their endeavours and the third consecutive drive at the line finally produced the equalising try for flanker Stephen Jones making the statement that his move from the seconds to the first team was not to be considered temporary.

Hussein slotted another penalty to regain the lead for Pill and Llantwit's reply came in the guise of last year's youth player Paul Davies, whose gritty run down the wing took him through two tackles, his momentum taking him over the line.

Defending a two point lead is not a healthy state to be in so fullback Andrew Webb took the ball on his line and ran straight through the Pill defence, the last pass going to Stephen Jones for his second and Llantwit's winning try.

Morgan's conversion took the final score to 29-20 but the game was not over and every Fardre player should be proud of ten minutes of awesome defence even though they were two scores ahead.

Llantwit take their unbeaten league record to Mountain Ash this Saturday where the expanding away following is looking for an equally exciting win.

9th September 2006 Llantwit bow out of cup and concentrate on league from here on in.

CUP Underdog's hopes are pinned on visiting a club from a higher division, keeping the scores fairly even throughout the match and pipping their opponents at the post in the last minutes.

Nantyffyllon opened the scoring at Central Park, on a bright and windless day, with a try from the back row of the pack.

Minutes later, Llantwit seemed to have settled down and recovered from the early blow when a Fardre driving maul pushed over for flanker Marcus Caudle to score a try to be converted by Robert Kotyla to take them into the lead at 7-5.

Kotyla managed another penalty before half time but with the home side winning by only five points, Nantyffyllon showed them that they were still present when a dropped Llantwit pass was kicked on by a Nant foot, the ball just going dead before their winger got a touch.

Nant started the second half on fire, as they had the first half and, gaining a penalty for off side, outside half Boundford slotted the three points and took his team within two points of the lead.

A good crowd from both sides sensed that the game was going to stay close to the end and they were not wrong as Boundford found the posts with a long range penalty to take the lead, quickly followed by a Robert Kotyla penalty that kept the home side hanging on to a two points lead at 13-11.

Nant full back Buckley had played well all through the game. This tall and very quick player had made more than a couple of runs out of defence.

A late clearance kick out of defence went straight down Buckley's throat and the tall figure took the ball on a long, ranging run around the Fardre defence, chip kicking over the last man to touch down in the corner.

The kick was at too great an angle for Boundford but Nant were happy with their 16-13 lead.

Llantwit had to throw everything into attack and the passing was swift and from side to side, looking like producing a winning try before the referee's whistle.

Passes became longer as Fardre searched for a gap and one long pass was intercepted as Nant wing Morris ran the length of the pitch to give his side the win and a tie against the winners of Cardiff Medicals and Aberystwyth.

Llantwit concentrate on the league and have to come back to reality quickly as they travel to Pill Harriers this Saturday - a venue where they managed a draw against a very good team last year that finished just two positions below them.

Squad;- 1) Ryan Stephens, 2) Stephen Powell, 3) Kevin Leigh, 4) Tony Davies, 5) Stephen Jones, 6) Geraint George (Captain) 7) Marcus Caudle, 8) Mark Dolman. 9) Gareth Morris, 10) Adrian Evans 11) Adrian Leigh 12) Paul Davies 13) Rhys David 14) Dean Thomas 15) Robert Kotyla 16) Daniel Povey 17) James Thomas 18) Stuart Balchan 19) Mark Dolman.

2nd September 2006 Llantwit open account with decisive win at home.

Pre season banter, at the clubhouse and the Llantwit website forum, had been all about the players who had left the Fardre team and whether the in-coming players from the second team and youth team could fill their shoes. A win at the Treorchy 10's brought the squad together but this was the stern test - a home fixture against the team that had finished one point, and one place, below Fardre last season.

After a period of finding each others strengths and weaknesses, man of the match and fullback Robert Kotyla opened the scoring with a Fardre penalty and went on, phenomenally, to score every kicking attempt that he made through the match in a particularly blustery wind.

Llantwit's early strength was their discipline with very few penalties against and Kotyla pocketing another three points to take the score on to 6-0.

Hard work by the forwards earned an attacking scrum and the push helped new boy number eight Darren Bool to pick up and pass to Daniel Povey the scrum half that left Llantwit but has returned this season.

Povey passed out to Mike Thomas who got the ball to namesake Dean on the wing who scored Fardre's first league try of the season.

The kicking machine Kotyla slotted the conversion and Fardre were 13-0 up and looking unstoppable.

A big improvement this year is the way that the team pass between each other, releasing the ball in contact to the ever-present backup player.

With props passing to wings, passing back to second row forwards, Fardre went through a patch of not being able to find a gap through the defence.

Kotyla took the initiative and dropped a goal from a distance to take the team on to 16-0.

Fardre's discipline held while Tredegar's waned due to frustration and this provided a penalty after a late tackle that Kotyla bisected the posts with.

The inter-passing continued with a run of eighteen passes without the opposition touching the ball until number eight Darren Bool broke through to score under the posts in what was remeniscent of a basket by the Harlem Globetrotters.

Kotyla was ever present to slot the kick to take the final score to 26-0.

I suggested to new coach Steve Goddard that he should be thrilled with the dominating display shown by his team.

He smiled and replied that the team had to be pleased with the win, he himself was pleased that the win came through a wonderful squad performance and that there were still lots of areas where the team had to work hard to improve.

First Team Squad - Robert Kotyla, Dean Thomas, Adrian Evans, Rhys David, Paul Davies, Michael Thomas, Daniel Povey, Geraint George (capt), Ross Johnson, Ryan Stephens, Tony Davies, Adam Aisles, Mark Dolman, Darren Bool, Stephen Jones, Gareth Morris, Kevin Leigh, Stephen Powell, Stuart Balchan.

SEASON 2005 - 2006

12th August 2006 - The Treorchy 10's

Llantwit took their new squad system to the Treorchy 10's to see how they would fare. They were placed in a group with Cambrian, St. Peter's and Tonyrefail.

The opening game went well, the team keeping a clean sheet against Cambrian and notching 17 points, tries coming from Carl Thomas, Gareth Morris, Michael Jones with Carl also getting a conversion.

St. Peter's managed a try but Llantwit won the game 26-5 the tries coming from Michael Thomas, Geraint George, Darren Bool and Paul Davies with Michael Thomas scoring three conversions.

On to Penygraig and another clean sheet and this time a 31-0 score line. Tries came from Geraint George (2), Michael Jones, Gareth Morris and Stuart Balcham. Michael Thomas got 2 conversions and Robert Kotyla the third.

In the semi final we faced Tonyrefail, stiffer competition but we still managed to win 19-7. Tries came from Rhys David, Robert Kotyla and Gareth Morris with Michael Thomas kicking 2 conversions.

Even stiffer competition came in the final against Rhydyfelin. Within the opening minute Michael Jones was injured and was replaced by Adrian Leigh and then, straight after, an injury to Rhys David saw youth player Paul Davies onto the field.

After a fairly even match Llantwit were 12-7 up and Rhydyfelin pressure was giving the blues valuable experience with the defensive moves that have been practised during the close season. Shortly before the whistle Llantwit were awarded a penalty on the touchline and the kicking tee was a long time coming on. Deeming it to be time wasting the referee shouted "twenty seconds left". The tee came on and the ball placed on it, Rob Kotyla took three hurried steps back, launched into the ball and it sailed between the posts for a fine victory 15-7.

Of course winning the trophy was a fine achievement but coaching staff are saying that they got more pleasure from scoring 108 points while only leaking 19.

6th May 2006 - Fardre Remain In Fourth In "Non Decider"

Llantwit Fardre 5 Abercynon 25

It was a fairly flat atmosphere at Parc Canol. Fans were in Cardiff to watch the Konica Minolta Cup Final (Pontypridd winning in dying seconds) and whatever happened on the pitch today, Llantwit would finish in fourth spot. Cynon have the chance of second or third spot depending on other results while the league has been won by Bargoed, quite convincingly.

The last two games against Abercynon, home and then away, were not the deciders they might once have been, there being nothing on this game exept local pride - and lots was shown in a sometimes firey game. The style of refereeing didn't help Fardre with the stop-start game suiting Cynon more and not allowing Fardre to express themselves.

Twelve minutes into the game the Cynon forwards had the edge and mauled up the touch line from a throw in to go over and make the score 5-0.

Fardre then hit their purple patch of the game and for twenty minutes dominated with 100% territory. The reward was a well worked try amongst forwards and backs with Justin Benfield spinning out of a tackle to o over and level the score.

Cynon woke up and went through phases through the backs crossing from one side of the pitch to the other looking for a defensive weakness. The resulting try came two minutes after Llantwit's and took them into a 10-5 lead at half time.

The second half was frustrating for Fardre who started off hanging on to the game but frustration and anger leading to yellow cards. On two separate occasions Fardre had the push on at the scrum with the ball dribbled between the number eights feet - the referee calling "use it or lose it". Then the whole crowd saw an obvious Abercynon knock on, but the man who mattered, the referee, was unsighted and allowed Cynon over in the corner for a converted try to increase their lead to 17-5.

A penalty twenty minutes later took Cynon on to 20 - 5 and the game was over as far as players and fans were concerned. Just before full time Lyndon, who played for Llantwit a few years ago, scored from a well worked running try to take the final score to 25-5.

Abercynon now go to second place, jumping over Newport Saracens on try count but with Saracens holding a game in hand. All was not lost for Fardre as the Wales On Sunday (bless them)  in their East Division Roundup, announced that during this afternoon we, yet again, beat Croesyceiliog 35-17 and for the second time in two weeks they gave Miffy's try to Georgie!

29th April 2006 - Away Win Keeps Fardre Promotion Hopes Up.

Croesyceiliog 17  Llantwit Fardre 35

Asda League Division 2 East.

THE ever growing band of Llantwit away game supporters were worried on reading the Croesyceiliog programme, finding that their backs were mostly playing out of position due to a necessary influx of second team players because of injuries.

In came Richard Langmead to the outside half position, pushing the usual incumbent Mike Thomas to centre.

Joining him at centre was Robert Kotyla while his usual full back position was taken up by Ryan Morgan.

Andrew Kent and Dean Thomas joined the firsts from the second team while Carl Thomas, the usual Llantwit centre, reverted to his favourite scrum half position.

The first twenty-five minutes were an exciting stalemate with Croesyceiliog producing entertaining running rugby and Fardre trying to run back at them and getting used to the new backs formation.

To break the stalemate the Llantwit forwards started on a good rolling maul and quick ball from scrum half Thomas to Langmead saw a long 'miss two' pass to Mike Thomas out wide.

Thomas came in to the long pass from an angle and burst through the gap to find himself over the line but two more defenders stood between him and the posts where he placed the ball to make the conversion an easy one for Langmead and the score was 7-0.

Shortly after, Llantwit's Thomas and the Croesyceiliog tight head were yellow carded for fighting making the Fardre back row even more fragmented.

It was up to the Llantwit forwards to produce good ball again and on the forty minute mark they rucked the ball to Kotyla, now standing in at scrum half, who kicked the ball over the ruck, ran around the edge of it and collected the ball from a very fortunate bounce thanks to the dry, hard pitch.

Kotyla's resulting try was again between the posts but the referee gave the conversion ten metres from the touch line where Langmead, kicked through the centre of the posts to take the score on to 14 - 0 at half time.

Two minutes into the second half a well-worked move paid dividends.

Carl Thomas picked up from a scrum and started off down the centre of the pitch.

Langmead, instead of staying at outside half, had followed Thomas and took the off load.

By this time, Fardre number eight Matthew Smith was up with the action and took yet another offload and powered over the line.

Langmead's third conversion of the day took the score to 21-0 and Fardre were looking comfortable.

Llantwit were looking even more comfortable six minutes later when brilliant inter-passing between the backs saw Thomas and Langmead get the ball out to wing Andrew Kent who did not have an easy task getting to the line but, once there, managed to place the call under the posts to make Langmead's conversion an easy one to take his team on to 28 - 0.

The score line, at this point, gave the impression that the game was totally one sided, but Croes had had their moments with their fast running backs threatening throughout the game.

On one such attack the Croesyceiliog fullback John Misljen joined the line and made the extra man, managing to score a try in the corner.

Shortly after an unimportant penalty against Llantwit was moved on 10m because of talking, the penalty kick giving a lineout five metres from the Llantwit try line.

The resulting maul was on its way when Fardre were judged to have collapsed it. And the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty.

After quick reflection he decided it was a penalty try and the easy conversion gave Croes hope at 28 - 12.

Croes had their heads up and attacked incessantly, hoping to pull the score in even more.

Their enthusiasm went too far when all were in attack and a slack pass was intercepted by Langmead who ran from his 22 to the try line to convert his own try and move the score to 35-12.

This did not kerb the Croesyceiliog enthusiasm and the attacks kept coming.

On one such attack, what looked like a normal pass form centre to wing saw the wing, Matthew Hiatt, cut in and take a reverse pass to score and take the home side on to 17 points, certainly not an embarrassing score and giving the Llantwit fans the feeling that Croes deserved to be higher than fifth from bottom.

Llantwit, in fourth place, have two games left to finish the season.

Both games are against third place Abercynon, the first at home this Saturday and the last, at Abercynon on Tuesday 9th May.

22nd April 2006 - Fardre Stumble At Top Of Table Bargoed.

Bargoed 47 Llantwit Fardre 15

Fardre held on to this game for the whole of the first half and should have been in the lead at half time. Bargoed's superior pack and the ability of their backs to attack out of defence was the deciding element of the game that saw Fardre off through the second half.

It only took Llantwit five minutes to break down the Bargoed defence. Matthew Taylor came in at an angle that confused the Bargoed backs who allowed him a gap to stroll through and score close enough to the posts for Robert Kotyla to convert, taking Llantwit into a 7-0 lead.

Llantwit continued in attack with Bargoed defending and then attacking from a defensive position. Bargoed's Lee Pearson, playing on the wing, ran from his twenty two to the line to equal the try count between the teams. Fly half Greg Carlow added the extras to even the score.

Again it was Llantwit in the attacking position and eventually they were awarded a penalty that Rob Kotyla slotted from a distance to again take Fardre into the lead. Ten minutes later fardre's luck ran out when a slack pass between the backs saw the ball not reaching safe hands. As it touched the floor, wing Gary Jones fly kicked on and, after gathering, scored under the posts where Carlow's easy conversion took Bargoed into the lead for the first time 14-10.

Llantwit's next attacking phase, just before half time saw their backs with no way through a solid defence. As the Bargoed backs rushed towards the Llantwit backs outside half Michael Thomas kicked the ball over the heads of the line and, as the Bargoed backs looked on in wonder, Matthew Taylor ran through a gap and gathered as he was able to score his second try in the corner. At 15-14 Fardre were good for their lead and should have been going in to the break in a winning position.

In injury time, Bargoed hooker Steve Rose kicked on and hoped his backs would run on to the ball. The ball bounced high on the dry pitch and opposing wings jumped for the ball, 'basket ball' fashion. It was Bargoed's Lee Pearson that won the 'jump-off' and speeded to the line to take bargoed back into the lead. Fly half Greg Carlow converted and the half time whistle was blown. Bargoed went into the break with a 21-15 lead.

Bargoed started the second half strongly and in their first attack full back Lovell joined the attacking line to make up the extra man. His pass back inside to centre Darren Humphries was timed to perfection and Humphries crossed to take the score on to 26-15. Ten minutes into the half and Fardre were attacking and trying to pull the score back to their advantage. Another short pass in the Fardre backs saw fullback Rob Kotyla unable to gather and reaching out with a foot to kick the ball that had landed on the floor. Bargoed centre Darren Humphries got to the ball first and his break out of defence was bettered by a well timed pass to his scrum half Mike Roberts who scored under the posts.

Carlow's conversion took Bargoed into a 33-15 lead so Fardre, from equalling Bargoed's scoring through the first half, suddenly found themselves in a position of having only half of their opponents points total in the space of ten minutes.

The game was then stopped for ten minutes when Fardre prop Matthew Phillips banged his head in a scrum injuring his neck. The teams tried to keep active with the ambulance on the pitch but keeping concentration was difficult. Reports from the hospital later revealed, thankfully, that Phillips had been discharged.

It was Bargoed that kept their concentration and two minute after the delay Carlow, who had kicked well all day, crossed for a try of his own that he also converted. Fardre battled until the end with every player giving one hundred per cent but in the dying minutes they were pinned down in defence. The Bargoed pack was so dominant in this phase that they sucked practically every Fardre player into the ruck. When the ball came out on the Bargoed side their backs had a three on one situation and Humphries crossed again. Carlows conversion took the score to a final 47-15.

Fardre were defeated but not down, appreciating that they had lost to ateam that deserve to be the top of their league. Llantwit still hold fourth position and face Croesyceiliog away on Saturday with Nantymoel away the following Tuesday. The end of the season scramble doesn't get any easier with their last two games being agains third place Abercynon at home on Saturday 6th May and then the same match away on Tuesday 9th.

15th April 2006 Away Win Keeps Fardre In Touch.

Rumney 11 Llantwit Fardre 22

Llantwit kept the pressure on the leaders of Division 2 East by earning a 'hard fought for' away win at Rumney Cardiff but, with all three teams above them also winning, they remain in fourth position with an outside chance of promotion.

Fardre started the game as if it was going to be a fifty pointer. Having faced Rumney at home only eleven days ago, the teams knew each other well and a 'slick' move would be required to score early on. A well-worked move after only two minutes saw the ball passed swiftly and accurately out to the wing position and then back inside again to where wing Adrian Leigh had temporarily swapped into the centre position and went over in the corner. Rob Kotyla slotted the conversion.

The onslaught continued and on the nine-minute mark fullback Ryan Morgan joined the line in the wing position, again scoring in the corner but this time the conversion was too far out for Kotyla. The score was 12 - 0 after only 10 minutes and all looked rosy.

Rumney were being pinned down in defence by accurate corner kicking by outside half Michael Thomas and fullback Morgan. Their only hope of breaking out was to run with the ball and that is what the relatively young side did to great effect. This pattern of play continued for twenty minutes until, on the half hour mark, Rumneys efforts paid off when they had a three minute sustained attacking period. Fardre defended well but picked up injuries on the way. With two Fardre men down Rumney found gaps in the defence and crossed to bring the score back to 12 - 5.

Just before the half time whistle, more attacking from Rumney produced an off side decision in front of Fardre's posts and a 12 - 8 scoreline at half time gave Rumney hope for the second half.

The second half was a strange affair with the two teams cancelling each others efforts out along with mistakes from both teams bringing constant interruptions from the referee's whistle. There were, however, some bright periods.

Eight minutes into the half a high tackle on the Rumney centre gave them a successful penalty that brought them to within a point of the lead. Four minutes later a penalty to Fardre for not releasing the ball saw the lead sustained at 15 - 11 with only one score in it.

The highlight of the half was probably caused by a Rumney defensive mistake while trying to run the ball out of defence. A long looping 'miss one' pass was read by Rob Kotyla who jumped, gathered the ball safely and made his way down the pitch for a fine interception try. Michael Thomas converted while Kotyla got his breath back and the final score was 22 - 11.

Abercynon remain in third spot, four points above Fardre, having played the same number of games. Cynon have an easier run in than Fardre with two home games and three to play away. Fardre, on the other hand have four away games to play, the first of these being at leaders Bargoed on 22nd April, and only one home game left, against Abercynon. If, allowing for injuries, Fardre could hold on to fourth position until the 5th May then - what price a ticket to watch Llantwit v Abercynon on Saturday 6th May followed by Abercynon v Llantwit three days later on Tuesday 9th May?

       Llantwit Youth travelled to Pencoed where, after a hard fought game, they returned victors at 15 - 7. Greg Williams and Liam Cordell produced tries while Geraint Walsh converted one and slotted an all-important penalty.

8th April 2006 Llantwit's third win in eight days keeps them in touch.

Llantwit Fardre 19 Rhydyfelin 12

Three hard games in eight days saw tired bodies take to the field at Central Park last Saturday. Trying hard to stay in touch with the top three Fardre had despatched Llantrisant away and, during midweek, had seen off Rumney at home. Now it was the turn of locals Rhydyfelin to try and spoil the run in to the end of the season.

Fardre won the toss and elected to play into the wind in the first half. The wind was straight down the pitch and was a great asset to Rhydyfelin, however, their method of play is to run everything through their fast backs and to get the ball out to their wings. Their mindset stuck in this groove they failed to capitalise on the advantage of the wind and ran everything with Fardre running back at them into the wind.

This created a stalemate until the twenty third minute when a Fardre two man overlap saw prop Geraint George in the Centre position and going over to start the scoring off at 5-0 to Llantwit.

Seven minutes later and still running everything, Rhyd did get the ball out to the wing in a strong position and his converted try took his side into a 7-5 lead at half time.

Llantwit's tactics during the second half were simple. Michael Thomas, who had obviously been targeted by Rhyd from the outset, kicked for the corners using the strong wind to help him. Pinning Rhydyfelin down in defence produced attacking scrums and penalties. On eight minutes Rhyd collapsed two scrums resulting in penalties taken as a reformed scrum. The third time Fardre took the points courtesy of full back Robert Kotyla which gained his side the lead 8-7.

Rhydyfelin would not lie down and two minutes later they were off on a run out of defence again. Running into the wind this time they again got the ball out to the wing where the try in the corner was unconverted but regained them the lead 12-8.

Fardre stuck to the kicking for the corners and pinning Rhydyfelin down in defence. Patience paid off as on the twenty-minute mark Robert Kotyla joined the line and went over in the corner. The try was too close to the touchline for the conversion so Fardre held the lead 13-12 with twenty minutes remaining.

Clearly, the last twenty minutes was going to be a case of Fardre pinning Rhydyfelin down in defence where they would run everything out in the hope of another try. This led to an exciting quarter for both sets of fans as all palyers gave a hundred percent.

Inevitably, and with the help of the still strong wind, most of the play was in the Rhydyfelin twenty two and produced the necessary penalties as Rhyd frustration saw them unable to break free of the strangle hold. Two magnificent penalties by Robert Kotyla from both sides of the pitch saw the lead extended to 16-12 and then, on the stroke of fourty minutes, to 19-12. This took Rob onto 14 points for this match and 120 for the season so far.

With Abercynon also playing catchup at the end of the season they are also playing midweek games that they are winning and keeping Fardre down in fourth position. The two teams have yet to meet this year and the forthcoming clashes should be spectacles and could decide promotion from division 2. Llantwit entertain Abercynon on Central Park as their next and final home game on 6th May.

4th April 2006 Fardre Overcome Rumney Defence To Join Top Three

Llantwit Fardre 17 Rumney 12

A cold blowey April night with the wind straight down the pitch and into Llantwit's faces in the first half.

Rumney, as ever a young side, sarted with fast running backs and scored first. With a two on one at the twenty two metre line their centre dummied the final pass to his wing and cut inside to make his try kickable and it was 7-0 to the visitors.

From the ten minute mark to the thirty minute mark it was all Llantwit. Twenty minutes in the Rumney 22 and seemingly no way through an excellent defence. With a scrum near the attacking line there were two against two on the blind side but Michael Thomas looped around the scrum to make it three on two as he scored in the corner to bring Llantwit back to 7-5.

Llantwit had the wind in the second half and brought home the advantage. Seven minutes in, Carl Thomas, playing in his more favoured scrum half position, dummied a pass and , head down, went for the gap that his dummy had created to cross the line and take Fardre to 10-7.

Four minutes later outside half Michael Thomas thought he had found a gap but was tackled by two defenders. Justin Benfield was on his shoulder to take the off load and went over in a kickable position. Rob Kotyla added the two points to take Llantwit into a more comfortable 17-7 lead.

From eleven minutes until the final whistle it was a case of Fardre not quite finishing off the opposition. Rumney were eventually rewarded just before the final whistle with a final try to bring the score back to 17-12.

1st April 2006 - Llantwit Grind out important away victory.

Llantrisant 6 Llantwit Fardre 11

A strong wind blowing straight across the Cefn Mabley ground from side to side, coupled with a pitch barely playable, were always going to be the major factors in this local derby match. Add to that the fact that the two teams are locked in similar positions in the league and the encounter was always going to be a close one.

Five minutes into the game Llantrisant were awarded a penalty on the half way line. With the wind strong and to his side, outside half Ian Worgan showed that he knows his local ground and conditions and slotted over for a three-point lead.

Fardre attacked for the next ten minutes but without anything to show for their efforts until the green and blacks found themselves offside in front of the posts and Robert Kotyla popped over the penalty to even the score.

For the rest of the first half there was very little running rugby and the forwards tried desperately to tire each other out, Matt Humphries and Simon Bayliss throwing their bodies on the line. Both sides suffered in the lineout with Stephen Powell for Fardre and Dean Evans for Llantrisant both missing their catchers or being penalised for 'not straight' in the strong wind.

On the forty-minute mark Fardre got another penalty after the Llantrisant scrum kept popping up and Kotyla put his side into the lead 6-3 which would have been a comfortable position for half time. The referee added ten minutes of injury time as the mud had claimed a few victims and right at the end of the extra time Llantrisant were awarded a penalty when Fardre strayed off side just inside the Llantrisant half. A failing of the Llantwit players at the moment is to give away ten meters through ill discipline and talking back to the referee. True to form, someone spoke, the penalty was moved into the Fardre half and Worgan said thank you as he evened the scores and the referee blew up for half time.

Most of the second half was played amongst the forwards who seem to relish romping in the mud and, true to say, they pretty much evened each other out. More and more the match looked as if it would end in stalemate. Both sides had slight advantages when their opposition received a yellow card but neither side could take advantage of the extra number.

With only five minutes of normal time to go the Fardre pack showed a level of fitness beyond the call of duty. Sustained pressure kept their opposition pinned down in defence as rolling maul after rolling maul headed for the green and blacks try line. Each rolling maul collapsed just before the line but a try looked inevitable. Pack reserves Aaron Fowler and Damien Walsh came on to replace tired legs and the pressure on the Llantrisant line became more intense. It was Walsh that eventually got the ball over the line for the try but so far into the corner that the conversion was impossible and the score was 11-6.

To be fair to the green and blacks they battled for the last few minutes of the match and again into injury time. Fardre kept their defence solid and, more importantly, kept their discipline. The win was a just reward in a very, very tight match.

Fardre's home pitch of Parc Canol was less cut up than Cefn Mabley but the decision was taken not to play the seconds game against Ynysowen. The disappointed visitors declared that their pitch was playable so everyone upped sticks and travelled to the opponents ground.

By this time a number of the second team players had left but the returning youth team, who also had a game cancelled, put their hands up and asked for a game.

With the help of youth players Jonathan Hughes, Simon Mahoney, Phil Rees, Matthew Gronnow and Carwin Wilde the seconds managed an admirable 17-13 win.

Tries came from Kevin Lee, Marcus Caudle and Andrew Kent who converted his own try.

10th March 2006 - Fardre Go Down To Top Of The Table Bargoed

Llantwit Fardre 15 Bargoed 25.

The Llantwit players were really fired up for this game and came out strong from the opening whistle. Such was their opening power and aggression that they were 5-0 up in the first two minutes. The score was soon countered when a penalty against Llantwit was moved on 10m to a kickable position and 5-3 seemed an unbalanced reflection of Llantwit's start.

This was to be the pattern of the game with Fardre attacking, scoring good tries and then letting ill discipline allow Bargoed to stay in the game. In fact a similar situation on the ten minute mark allowed Bargoed another penalty to take them into the lead 6-5.

A recent Fardre game had been called off and the players had gone to watch Bargoed. The reports that came back were that they would run everything, even out of defence, and were a very fast side. What surprised the home crowd at tonights cold and windy game was the fact that Bargoed had no answer to the attacking aggression of Llantwit and resorted to fighting. On the twelve minute mark two Bargoed players received yellow cards with one lucky not to be red for a full punch to the face. It wasn't until the twenty five minute mark that the referee eventually red carded a Bargoed player, Fardre's Tony Davies receiving a yellow in the same incident.

The red and yellow cards cancelled each other out for the next ten minutes and there was no score in this period. When Fardre were back up to full strength however another try came at the far end of the pitch on forty five minutes and it looked as if a half time score of 10-6 and two tries to nil would see Fardre face the wind in the second half with, hopefully, a good enough advantage.

The inevitable happened and there was just enough time for Llantwit to give away a penalty for Bargoed to claw the score back to 10-9 when the half time whistle went. Bargoed must have felt, at half time, that they had done little other than defend, they were down to fourteen men, they were still within one point of Llantwit and they had the wind in the second half.

Llantwit battled hard in the beginnings of the second half and again looked to be the only team capable of scoring a try. Bargoed defended successfully for the first fifteen minutes but eventually Carl Thomas broke through the backs to score in the corner, to take Llantwit into a 15-9 lead, three tries to nil.

I am sure you can guess by this time that within two minutes a penalty to Bargoed was moved on ten metres to a kickable position and the visitors had clawed their way back to 15-12. The impetus put them on the front foot and they carried on attacking, gained another penalty on thirty five minutes and the scores were tied 15-15.

With only five minutes to go was this going to be yet another draw? Now it was Bargoed in the ascendancy and only now did they start running at Llantwit as the crowd had expected from the start. They were awarded a try on the forty minute mark and all seemed lost. The try was converted and Fardre needed to match that converted try to draw the game. The extra time was palyed out with Fardre attacking but Bargoed managing to defend by attacking up the field and leaving Fardre frustrated. While on a late forray upfield the Bargoed outside half kicked a drop goal and the game was over at 25-15.

The difference between the two teams was that Bargoed's ill discipline resulted in cards that gelled the team, they seemed practiced in covering the missing position(s) and working for each other to compensate. Fardre's ill discipline was bitty, in crucial spots of the pitch and very, very, costly.

4th March 2006 - Llantwit Fight Back For Well Earned Point.

Pill Harriers 19 Llantwit Fardre 19

This, as they say, was a game of two halves and those that weren't present to witness the game could be forgiven for thinking that a strong wind had benefited Pill in the first half and Fardre in the second. In reality it was a bright day with no wind, perfect for rugby and very entertaining for the fans from both sides.

Out of five draws in division 2 East, this season, Pill have been involved in four of them and are becoming the draw experts, a title that they do not accept willingly.

Fardre started with all guns blazing and in the opening five minutes were awarded a kickable penalty. The ball drifted wide but Pill knocked the ball on, in goal, and the resulting scrum five saw quick ball out to fullback Rob Kotyla who grounded the ball over the try line and then suffered a frustrated push, resulting in another penalty on the half way spot.

With kicks being missed Fardre could not push the score on from 5-0 and the rest of the first half was spent in defence. Pill outside half, and probably man of the match, Craig Lloyd, varied his team's tactics by a combination of kicking for the corner or suddenly going on a jinking run through the Fardre defence. Pill also had the upper hand in the scrum for the first half, disrupting on Fardre's put-in and leaving Fardre pinned down in defence, unable to gain the half way line.

This purple patch for the Harriers saw Craig Lloyd cross for his first try after he had taken a quick tap penalty that took Fardre by surprise. Up stepped open side flanker Ross Palmer to convert and Pill had the lead 7-5.

Five minutes before the half time whistle Pill doled out a double blow to Fardre. Lloyd, who was totally dictating the way that play was going, scored his second try of the afternoon to take his team on to twelve points, Palmer couldn't convert but made up for this, shortly after, by running out of defence along the wing, scoring in the corner and then converting his own try.

At the half time whistle Fardre found themselves 19 - 5 down and with an uphill task facing them. A stern test of character lay ahead.

The first thirty minutes of the second half saw Fardre pinning Pill down in defence for long periods with the Pill defence holding out. Two Fardre push over tries were disallowed during this period as the referee quite rightly explained that he couldn't see the grounding of the ball.

With only ten minutes left of the match and the Fardre pack now superior, an attacking line out turned into a driving maul that crossed the try line and dropped. The referee awarded the try to Geraint George, Robert Kotyla converted and, at 19 - 12 hope was restored.

Llantwit had discovered their try scoring formulae and the Pill pack was visibly tiring from constant defence. With three minutes left on the clock and still in constant attacking mode, Fardre were inevitably awarded a penalty some five meters from the Pill try line. With three points being of little use the kick for touch and the line out was the option taken and this immediately turned into yet another rolling maul. The maul went over and Geraint George was again awarded the try. Rob Kotyla stepped up to the mark for the conversion knowing that it was a pressure kick for a league point. The ball sailed through the middle of the posts and the Pill heads dropped. The final whistle came two minutes later and Fardre had salvaged their league point at 19-19.

With Abercynon winning at lowly Brynmawr Fardre drop down to fourth position in Division 2 East, which makes this Friday night's game, Llantwit away to top of the table Bargoed, an important one to say the least. Fardre will be without their second row forward James Downes who has been picked to represent Wales under 19's against Italy on Thursday night at Aberavon - the club wish him and the team well in their grand slam attempt.

Fardre - all subs played; Andrew Webb, Adrian Leigh, Gareth Thomas, Mike Thomas, Matthew Taylor, Andre Boon, Ryan Stephens, Stephen Powell, Geraint George, Matthew Humphries, Tony Davies, Matthew Smith, Simon Bayliss, Justin Benfield, Craig Garwood, Mark Dolman, Matthew Phillips, Andrew Evans.

18th February 2006 - Llantwit Talk Rugby Twenty Four - Seven.

Llantwit Fardre 24 Brynithel 7 For larger photos than those shown here go to Photos 1sts or click on the Photos 1sts button above.

Over the past week the most important rugby topic in the village of Llantwit Fardre had been the fact that they had dropped out of the top three promotion places. Other things had been going on in Welsh rugby but they ranked second place in comparison to the build up of this game.

From the off the forwards were fired up and threw everything at the Brynithel defence. Llantwit camped out on their oppositions five-meter line for the first five minutes and, when eventually awarded a penalty five meters out, a quick tap by prop Geraint George saw him dive through the defensive gap and score the first of his brace of tries.

With only ten minutes gone a swift set of passes along the back line gave centre Andre Boon the opportunity to reverse the angle of running and cut through the Brynithel drift defence, find again his forwards and off-load to Geraint George for his second try. Ryan Morgan converted this one and took the score on to 12-0.

Boon, who returns to New Zealand at the end of April, leaving the club's house ready to be relet to a suitable family, was also involved in the next score but in a negative way. This time it was the Brynithel attack that reversed the angle, catching Boon unawares. Boon went down but stretched out his leg to trip the attacker. The attacking back stumbled into two Llantwit defenders and the referee awarded a penalty try that Mark Williams converted to bring his team back into contention at 12-7.

Both teams realised the importance of the next score and played cautiously and defensively up to the half time whistle.

For the first thirty minutes of the first half Brynithel had eighty per cent of possession and territory with the Llantwit defence holding out, this scenario was mainly down to fresh legs being brought on by the visitors and the patience of Fardre Coach Matthew Lloyd in keeping his subs back until needed.

With only ten official minutes remaining, Fardre's Adrian Leigh broke out of defence on the right wing and kicked on, up the line. The defending fullback, Mike Hurn came across to cover Leigh's run. With everyone wondering who would get to the ball first Fardre fullback Rob Kotyla, who had joined the line as the extra man, managed to get around both players to pick up the ball on the bounce and score an excellent break-out try.

At 17-7 Fardre were a bit more comfortable and started to throw the ball about a bit more. In the last attacking phase that ended in a score Llantwit's flanker Justin Benfield took a quick tap penalty, saw the line and announced that nothing was going to stop him reaching the whitewash. His resulting try was converted by Rob Kotyla and the final whistle went at 24-7.

Llantwit;- all subs played, Robert Kotyla, Adrian Leigh, Carl Thomas, Andre Boon, Ryan Morgan, Mike Thomas, Gareth Thomas, Geraint George, Stephen Powell, Ryan Stephens, Tony Davies, Matthew Humphries, Justin Benfield, Simon Bayliss, Matthew Smith, Mark Dolman, Matthew Phillips, Andrew Evans, Matthew Taylor.

Brynithel;- all subs played, Mike Hurn, Eugene Glastonbury, Darren Reeve, Dean Slimon, Gavin Hayes, Mark Williams, Greg Thomas, Tony Jayne, Chris Wilkins, Dean Jones, Tim Gifford, Ian Hume, Craig Llewelyn, Sean Pitt, Kevin Day, Gareth Coles, Craig Wiltshire, Dean Pitt, Gareth Edwards.

11th February 2006 Fardre Just Fail At Newport Saracens

With the teams in second and third spot this was always going to be a tough match for the away side. With two international matches on the same afternoon, Saracens managed a much greater body of support, the Fardre faithful staying in the warm. The level of support seemed to have an effect on both teams.

Ten minutes in the Saracens outside half Gary Williams slotted a penalty to take his team into the lead and then we had a long period of both packs cretaing rolling mauls that lasted  between five and ten metres before the ball was released to the backs. Fardre had one good break during this period when Adrian Leigh kicked on and followed up but the ball just wouldn't bounce up for him and, at the last moment, he was unable to gather. The move resulted in a scrum however and No8 Matthew Smith picked up and passed to Simon Bayliss who judged  to perfection the pass to Michael Thomas who went over to put Fardre into the lead at 5-3. see photo follow this link.

On the 37 minute mark Newport had a good spell of attacking and the ball went through the hands of the backs from one side of the pitch to the other and back searching for a gap. Eventually centre Morgan Lovell created a gap and went over for the first of his tries. Saracens had the lead back 8-5.

On the 45 minute mark the Newport pack felt ambitious and mauled the ball from the attacking 22 metre line to the try line, the try being converted by kicker Williams and a lead of 15-5 going into half time was just what Saracens wanted.

Fardre started the second half the stronger by running the ball in the backs and trying to tire the big Newport pack. Rob Kotyla picked up a penalty to put his side back in contention. This lifted the spirits for the try of the match. A penalty, awarded to Llantwit on their own 22 was quickly taken and quickly moved out to Adrian leigh on the left wing. His turn of pace was blistering and surprised the Newport backs who watched as he circled around them and scored in the corner. see photo follow this link. Suddenly the score was back to 15-13 with everything to play for and 30 minutes to go.

On the 12 minute mark centre Morgan Lovell picked up the second of his tries with an interception that saw him run in under the posts and take his team on to 22-13 after the Williams conversion.

Much of the rest of the game (30 minutes) was Llantwit attacking through their backs and Newport trying to close the game down by kicking to touch and mauling the caught ball. With two minutes remaining and the attacks failing and bringing frustration, Lovell again intercepted a pass and strode off towards the posts. Williams converted and the final score was 29-13.

The score was not a true reflection as without the two interceptions things would have been much closer. Llantwit must learn from this, only their third league defeat this season, and continue their assault on the league in the next games at home to Brynithel on 18th Feb and home again to Pill on 9th March. Saracens seem to have a harder run in with games at home to Pill and away to Abercynon, Bargoed and Pill to look forward to.

Team;- Geraint George, Stephen Powell, Ryan Stephens, Matt Humphries, James Downes, Justin Benfield, Simon Bayliss, Matthew Smith, Gareth Thomas, Michael Thomas, Ryan Morgan, Carl Thomas, Matthew Taylor, Adrian Leigh, Robert Kotyla. All subs played -  Tony Davies, Andre Boon, Calum Garwood, Aaron Fowler.

21st January 2006 Llantwit Close In On Top Spot.

Llantwit Fardre 58 Brynmawr 19

Brynmawr are propping up the bottom of division two east and the fear was that complacency could lead to Fardre's downfall. Pre match talk centred around the visit of Penygraig, two seasons ago, when they took from Fardre their only win in an otherwise dismal season.

This fear was heightened when a young set of backs broke through the Fardre defence in the opening ten minutes, the centre laying off a well timed pass to the outside half who cantered in under the posts for a try and easy conversion to take the visitors into a 7-0 lead.

Fardre replied quickly with a Kotyla penalty before managing to get the ball out to wing Adrian Leigh to go over in the corner to take them into the lead for the first time at 8-7.

The young Brynmawr backs ran everything back at Llantwit and so it was time to take their forwards on in scrum and maul. New signings had beefed up the Brynmawr pack but Fardre had the better of them.

An attacking scrum turned into a maul with Geraint George having the ball and calling the moves. George dropped over the line to move the score on to 13 - 7 but the crowd were dismayed to see another Brynmawr break away try which, when converted, took Brynmawr back into the lead 14-13.

From that point until half time Fardre kept the ball in the forwards for long periods. The reward for this was two tries for number eight Matthew Smith and another for prop Calum Garwood. Two conversions took the score on to a healthy 32-14 at the break. News reached the crowd at half time that Abercynon were beating top of the table Bargoed which seemed to go down well.

The second half started with Llantwit capitalising on their superiority in the pack and Calum Garwood added to his earlier try after only five minutes. Kotyla's conversion moved them to 39 points.

With Brynmawr tiring Fardre started to open up in the backs and throw the ball around more. Rob Kotyla joined the line from fullback to make the extra man and went over for a converted try and Fardre were out of sight at 46-14.

Eight minutes later and a switch from one side of the pitch to the other saw a tired Brynmawr number eight give up on a two man overlap as wing Adrian Leigh went in for his second of the afternoon.

Fardre had found out earlier in the season that Brynmawr do not lie down in defeat and will keep running the ball at you. This happened on the 35 minute mark when a quick centre went over to bring the score back to 51-19.

With only a few minutes of play left Carl Thomas made a break at centre for Fardre and found himself isolated. The call for the ball was from the fresh legs of his brother Dean who had come on as substitute. Dean took the ball and skirted around the fullback to score close to the posts for Kotyla's conversion to make the final score 58-19.

The referee Mr Martyn Lewis had a particularly good game, controlling with some stern words but keeping his cards in his pocket. Strange then that this writer managed to lock into the changing rooms, not only the ref but his assessor also. Thanks to the invention of mobile phones thay didn't have to wait until Tuesdays training session to be let out and did see the funny side of things.

With Bargoed slipping up at Abercynon there are only two points now between Bargoed and Fardre in second with Fardre still having a game in hand over Bargoed. Watch out though for fourth placed Newport Saracens with three games in hand over Bargoed and only three points behind them. See LEAGUE PAGE.

· Llantwit Fardre Twos travelled to Abertrydw and, struggling for players, had called up some old stagers from the coaches and committee, rather than call the game off. They managed to share the points in a 16-16 draw. Andrew Evans and John Burke scored the tries while Andrew Kent kicked two penalties.

14th January 2006 - Away win sees Fardre up to second.

Tredegar 7 Llantwit Fardre 12

After two lack lustre performances it was 'back to basics' for Fardre as they faced a Tredegar side coming off the back of five straight wins. It was Llantwit's grit and determination that saw them win through in one of their best, collective, performances of the season.

Fardre came out strong from the whistle and had seventy percent of possession and territory in the first half. Tredegar did look dangerous when their fast backs ran the ball out of defence but these forays were few and far between. Dean Thomas was just held up before the line, shortly followed by a Michael Thomas drop goal attempt that was charged down.

The Llantwit back line looked more comfortable than of late with the old guard backs all playing in familiar positions and working well together. The pack were winning most ball with the front row of Ryan Stephens, Stephen Powell and Geraint George dominant throughout and James Downes reaching practically every ball in the lineout.

When it seemed that Fardre were having a problem converting possession into points Tredegar were penalised for coming into a ruck from the side and Kotyla slotted the first of his penalties. For the rest of the half it was Fardre that kept their composure and discipline while the frustrated Tredegar side found it harder and harder to break out of defence.

On the 37th minute Matthew Taylor, reverting to his more familiar centre position, kicked on and was tackled late. The referee gave the penalty from where the ball landed and Kotyla again slotted the penalty between the posts.

One excursion that Tredegar did have into the Llantwit twenty two saw number eight Matthew Smith come through a ruck to claim the ball. The referee conceded that he had come through, rather than around, the ruck but deemed him to have dived on the ball and killed it. Smith was yellow carded. Tredegar took advantage, claimed the scrum as a penalty and pushed over, flanker Lee Edwards coming up with the ball which he handed to Jonathan Williams for the conversion.

Fardre were not dismayed to have lost the lead and kept their heads and played their basic game plan. This resulted in yet another penalty for Kotyla that he scored to take his team into the half time interval, leading 9-7.

Territory in the second half was shared between the teams, Fardre having the best of it early on and then defending a late onslaught towards the end. Ten minutes into the half Kotyla placed another penalty kick between the posts and the Tredegar supporters unfairly took their frustrations out on the referee. At 12-7 and only one score in it, the game was delicately poised for the last thirty. The difference in this game, compared with recent games was the organisation of the Llantwit defence. Whatever had been learnt in training paid off and the Llantwit fans that had made the trip up to Park Hill, left satisfied.

With both Newport Saracens and Abercynon playing in the Konica Cup, Llantwit made good use of their 'game in hand' to secure second position in Division Two and a home game this Saturday against bottom of the table Brynmawr should see that position consolidated.

7th January 2006 Home Draw For Fardre.

Llantwit Fardre 10 Mountain Ash 10

After a good first half, Llantwit failed to capitalise and fell victim to a strong Mountain Ash pack in the second half of the game, hanging on to a draw at the final whistle.

Fardre started well and showed no signs of being rusty after the long festive break. The ball was thrown around in the backs and the Mountain Ash defence was broken down in the first ten minutes when fullback Michael Thomas joined the line and crossed for an early score. Michael Walsh converted to give the home side a 7-0 advantage and looking towards a comfortable win.

Llantwit dominated the first thirty minutes with attack after attack. Trying to run the ball out of the Fardre defence however left a player isolated. Mount charged the clearance kick down and that left them with a two on one with flanker S Davies going over in the corner, too far out for the conversion.

The last ten minutes of the first half saw Mount with their tails up after scoring. Fardre were awarded a kickable penalty and were happy to give the ball to Walsh to go for the posts and secure a half time score of 10-5.

The first thirty minutes of the second half were mainly won by the two defences and, although tactically interesting, were not pretty to watch. It became evident that Mount fancied their chances in the rolling maul and Fardre were finding it harder and harder to cope with this tactic. Fardre elected to not contest the opposition lineouts where the Mount number eight was winning all of their own throws, instead they prepared to defend the inevitable rolling maul as he dropped to the ground.

The Mountain Ash rolling maul was well practiced and the contributors, repeating "one two one two" gave impetus to the maul in the way that the members of a tug of war team all pull at the same time. This broke Fardre on the thirty-minute mark when the Mount pack went over to bring the score back to 10-10.

The last ten minutes were full of Mount trying the same tactic in the maul and Llantwit trying to run the ball in through their backs but without success. Mount mauled up the left hand touchline and the released ball saw them attack in the dying moments. A penalty resulted which must have been right at the edge of the Mount kickers range. The Llantwit fans and players could see the game slipping away from them and, sportingly, there was a complete silence around the ground as the kick was taken. The ball hit the cross bar and, luckily for Fardre, bounced back out onto the field of play. Shortly after, the referee, David R Davies, who had an exceptionally good game, blew for full time and it was the Mountain Ash side that were celebrating.

Llantwit are away to sixth place Tredegar this Saturday while today's draw sees them drop to fifth. All is not doom and gloom however as the top five teams in Division 2 East pull away from the rest. Fardre have a game in hand over three of the teams above them and if all the games in hand are won then Fardre would be third.

17th December 2005 - Fardre Back In Second Place.

Llantwit Fardre 26 Croesyceiliog 17

Llantwit's cup exit, last week, sees them concentrating on the league where they moved back into second place in league division two east, leap-frogging over Newport Saracens who went down at home to Bargoed, who are the in-form team at the moment.

The teams had the crowd guessing right the way through the match. Would Fardre win by a big score? Would they lose the game? Would they just scrape a win? All three scenarios were possible.

Llantwit started well and, with a changed back division, looked comfortable in attack. After ten minutes of settling down wing Ryan Morgan set off down the line and cut inside before laying the ball off to Carl Thomas in the centre. As the Croes' defence moved inside, Thomas cut back out where Mike Thomas, this week playing at full back, had joined the line and went over for an early try.

The next tem minutes saw steady attacks from Fardre with good defence from Croesyceiliog that was nullifying the home sides efforts. The feeling was that something had to come from these attacks, possibly a penalty for an infringement. Centre Carl Thomas tried a grubber kick through the defensive line where the well-positioned Croes' full back fumbled the ball and spilled it forward. Thomas had followed up and had the luck of the bounce as the ball jumped up into his arms. With no defence left to beat Thomas ran around to ground the ball under the posts. Mike Thomas converted and Fardre were sailing away at 12-0.

Croesyceiliog's only reply in the half came on 25 minutes when awarded a kickable penalty. They took the points on offer to get themselves on the score sheet at 12-3.

Just before half time Fardre were given the put-in to an attacking scrum. Noticing that Croes were temporarily without their number eight they went for the shove. The scrum moved forward so quickly that, had it been dropped, the referee would have had no option than to award a penalty try but, to Croesyceiliog's credit, they kept the scrum up and number eight Tim Russell dropped on the ball for the try. Outside Half Michael Walsh, who this time last year was playing youth rugby, slotted the conversion and Fardre went in at half time a comfortable 19-3. The conversations going on around the ground, during the half time interval, mainly centred on just how far Llantwit could push the score on during the second half.

The second half started as a completely new game and bore no resemblance to the first half. Croesyceiliog, who had made a number of changes, came out in total attack and pinned Fardre down in defence for the first twenty minutes and the home side had no answer to the onslaught. Croes were rewarded with an unconverted try and this should have been a wake-up call to Llantwit that their half time lead was not enough to sit back on.

Things did not improve for the home side. Croesyceiliog had sniffed the possibility of a win away from home and threw everything into the game. On thirty six minutes Croes had an overlap out wide and managed to get the ball out to their wing who went over and cut back in to touch down close to the posts. The resulting conversion took the visitors to 19-17 only two points behind and suddenly the question was "Can Llantwit hang on for the last minutes of the game?"

In a tense ten-minute period, including injury time, Llantwit started to attack again. They were awarded an attacking scrum in the corner and Croes expected them to attempt a push over and defended close to the back of the scrum. The ball came flying out of channel one and straight along the line of backs. Kiwi Andre Boon at centre came through on a crash ball and slipped straight through the defensive line to score close to the posts. Walsh again converted and the final score was 26-17 and Fardre heaved a sigh of relief.

10th December 2005 Fardre's Graceful Cup Exit.

UWIC 20 Llantwit Fardre 14

If only one lesson can be learnt from this game it is the fact that the top of the second division and the mid table of division one are not that far apart. Should, after the proposed end of season reshuffle, Llantwit end up in what is rumoured to be a new Division One East, they will have nothing to fear. UWIC seemed to think that this game was going to be a walk over and started with a try to start the ball rolling.

UWIC's first try came after five minutes when a penalty was kicked to touch deep in the Llantwit twenty-two. The resulting lineout and driving maul could not be stopped and the UWIC forwards dropped on the ball for a try converted by full back Matt McLean.

More pressure from UWIC pinned Fardre down but, on the ten minute mark, Llantwit's Carl Thomas made a break from his own line and made it to the half way line before being forced to kick on. Rob Kotyla sprinted through, dribbled on and fell onto the ball just over the try line. Ryan Morgan converted and the score was tied with a thriller in store.

The next ten minutes were frantic with both teams realising the importance of the next score. The game was physical and referee Phil Harry obviously felt that he could lose control of the game. With a rush of blood to the head Harry penalised the next three penalties with yellow cards and three Fardre players were binned in three minutes. This could have had the effect of ruining the game for both players and spectators.

The statistics say that a yellow card is worth seven points to the opposition and with only twelve players on the field Llantwit were well and truly pinned down in defence. Their grit and determination, brought on by necessity, saw them defend their line with everything they had and even saw them break out of defence. The UWIC centre knocked on and the rest of his team stopped. Rob Kotyla pounced and kicked the ball on toward the try line. The follow up wasn't easy and Kotyla had to squeeze between two defenders before going over the line to defy the statistics and take Fardre into the lead. With Morgan off the field, Kotyla converted his own try to take the score on to 14-7.

When Llantwit were back up to full strength they became stronger and UWIC started to argue amongst themselves. A penalty, awarded to UWIC saw a change in tactics. Gone was the kick to touch and confident drive, now they were clutching at every straw and took the points. Full back McLean slotted over to help the score back to 14-10.

Fardre's Carl Thomas had been causing all sorts of problems in attack and defence and as UWIC's Pat Foreman broke the line Thomas' tackle was deemed high. Foreman got up and didn't appear injured but referee Harry saw it as a red card offence and Fardre were down to fourteen men for the rest of the game.

The second half started with UWIC throwing everything into attack. From the kick off they gathered the ball and ran at Fardre. A number of missed tackles and UWIC's wing Jonny Wehbe crossed to take his team into the lead 15-14.

First division UWIC should have killed the game off at that point against Fardre's fourteen, but instead they suffered in defence. For thirty minutes UWIC played a defensive game, totally in their own half, only twice kicking out of defence to almost reach the half way line. Llantwit's attack just couldn't penetrate and as time went on they justifiably tired.

On the thirty five minute mark UWIC's McLean broke out and passed to Beddow who crossed the try line for an unconverted try that gave UWIC a six point lead at 20-14. The final ten minutes of play were all Llantwit's with wave after wave of attack failing to penetrate. At the final whistle it was Fardre that were congratulating each other on a gutsy performance and UWIC who were breathing a sigh of relief.

Fardre now concentrate on the league with a home game on Saturday against Croesyceiliog. More details at www.llantwit-rugby.co.uk.

Llantwit Seconds had a good win at home beating Tondu by 22-10. Tries came from Richard Baggs, James Rowe, Rhys David and Andrew Kent with Kent also getting a conversion. Veterans Owen Pearce and Tony Handley sharing the man of the match award decided by Tondu.

12th November Fifth from bottom Rhydyfelin knock Llantwit off top of league.

Rhydyfelin 40 Llantwit Fardre 7

Rhydyfelin thoroughly deserved this win as their young wing Gavin Close ran in four excellent, running tries and his colleague Scott Perry converted each. Prop Mark Jones added a try also converted and there was another try late on when a Rhydyfelin forward lost the ball going forward, everyone stopped for the knock on and another forward had the presence of mind to pick the ball up and go over in the corner.

Llantwits only reply was an Adrian Leigh try converted by Richard Langmead.

Rhyd must be wondering how they managed to overcome the top of the table leaders so convincingly and may claim to have done their homework. The Llantwit pack, as usual, was dominant and providing some good ball to the backs. The Llantwit backs looked as if they had never played with each other before. The usual centre was at scrum half, the usual outside half was at centre and the outside half was playing his first game this season for the club. In these circumstances, if you are the opposition and if you have done your homework, you would cut through the backs at every oppurtunity and find your wing to go over through the dissaray in defence. This is what Rhydyfelin did all afternoon.

Llantwit cannot use the excuse of poor refereeing as we did at Abercynon (see 16th April 2005 below) where Richard Elliott of Cardiff was in charge but for todays game, spectators hearts sank as they saw the figure of the same Mr Elliott getting out of his van. Without disputing the way he saw the game I think all would agree that the man makes some very strange decisions and penalises anyone who questions that strangeness even if it is the captain asking the question. It happened at Abercynon and again today. When was the last time you saw a team who were 28 - 0 down have a free kick awarded against them because they were time wasting - and that time wasting deemed to be because they didn't take a penalty, awarded to them, quickly enough ??? When was the last time you saw your team awarded a penalty, the opposition swear in frustration and the referee reverse the decision because he had heard swearing ???

My man of the match went to Rhydyfelin number 7 Lee Cullen. Lee dived over the ball, slowed things down, got his hands into rucks and generally destroyed or slowed down the ball to Llantwit in true flanker tradition. He was wise enough to realsie that he could get away with it all day without even being spoken to so carried on regardless. You have to play the referees interpretation of the game and he did so admirably. Well done Lee.

Just down the road, the Twos were playing Llanharran in a fast and furious game. Llanharan's two tries, one converted, were equalled by four penalties by Michael Walsh to leave the score 12-12. The game was unusual in that Llantwit had three forwards that are brothers. Matthew, Andrew and Nicky Phillips all played in the pack on the same day and, we believe, this is the first time this has happened for Llantwit. Unless of course, you know differently.

29th October 2005 Fardre Halt Black Army Advance.

After a poor start to this season Llantrisant had hit winning form and brought that form to Central Park on Saturday where they faced top of the table Llantwit Fardre.

Analysis of this new look Llantrisant side during warm-up showed a set of young backs and a relatively small pack. They were expected to run the ball hard in the backs and keep it away from the Llantwit forwards. With the wind behind them in the first half, that was exactly what they did. Within five minutes of the opening whistle a very fast movement along the backs saw the Llantrisant wing over in the corner but too far out for the conversion to count.

With a dominant scrum and playing into the wind Fardre were frustrating the Black Army and the Llantrisant scrum half was yellow carded for a foul on Gareth Thomas, his opposite number, that put Thomas out of the rest of the game. A quick change around in the Fardre backs saw Carl Thomas move from centre to scrum half and Andre Boone on at centre. Boone soon put his stamp on the game cutting through the Llantrisant backs and releasing fullback Robert Kotyla to go around his opposite number to score.

At five points all the last ten minutes of the first half fell a bit flat. The large crowd had much amusement as the referee overruled linesman's decisions. He twice overruled the Llantrisant linesman with regard to where the ball had gone into touch and, as Llantrisant scored a penalty to go into the lead, he overruled a similar attempt at the other end signalled by the linesmen. A good talking point at half time as the whistle went and Llantrisant wondered whether they had done enough with the wind at their backs and an 8-5 scoreline.

If Llantrisant had a slight advantage in the first half then the second half was all Llantwit. The dominance in the scrum was so complete that Llantrisant didn't win a scrum and were totally frustrated not to be able to release their backs. Fardre won all their own scrums and, on the Llantrisant put-in, were pushing their opponents off the ball, turning the scrum through ninety degrees and, at one point, pushing the Black Army pack into touch. Not only did Fardre now have the advantage of the wind but also the rain was now becoming torrential and suited the forward's game.

It was from the pack that the onslaught began with hooker Stephen Powell picking up a loose ball and making two surges toward the line. After the second surge he released the ball into the hands of outside half Michael Thomas who dummied a pass, sidestepped the fullback and scored under the posts. Ryan Morgan converted and Llantwit were in the lead for the first time in the game at 12-8.

On the twenty-five minute mark Fardre number eight Tim Russell picked up from the base of yet another advancing scrum and kicked through the Llantrisant backs. As he ran through a deliberate trip was noticed by the referee who signalled a penalty advantage. Russell kept going, gathered the ball and dived under two defenders for a fine solo try. Morgan's conversion saw both linesmen's flags raised and another overruling by the referee to keep the score at 17-8.

After the number eight's solo, the master of the solo try stepped up to be counted. A wayward Llantrisant kick saw fullback Rob Kotyla gather the ball into his hands ten metres in front of his own posts. Facing a tiring Black Army Kotyla ran toward them, kicked over them, ran through them and scored under the posts. Morgan's conversion was plumb centre, both linesmen signalled the conversion, the crowd all turned to the referee. With great theatrical over-acting he signalled agreement and the score moved on to 24-8.

Llantrisant's frustrations were exasperated when two of them bundled outside half Thomas into touch. A haymaker of a punch came in from the Black Army centre who was immediately yellow carded. As he left the field he announced to the crowd that it would have been red if it had connected. Thomas answered this critic with a drop goal, his first of this season, to take the score on to 27-8.

The last five minutes were all about whether Llantrisant could keep the score down to a respectable amount. For the most part their defence did well to keep the dominant Fardre at bay. Just before the end of the match however, centre Matthew Taylor scythed through the tired legs and released the ball to substitute prop Callum Garwood whose brute strength took him over. Morgan's conversion took the final score to 34-8.

22nd October 2005 Fardre Wander Into Next Round Of Cup.

Llantwit Fardre 46 Llanelli Wanderers 7

Wanderers were unknown to Fardre and, on finding their website, it was discovered that they had gained promotion for the last two years in a row, and were presently third in division 3 West, pushing for promotion again.

The opening minutes of the game were fast and furious, both sides wanting a good start. Llantwit flanker Matthew Humphries joined in with the back line and, taking a fine pass from Craig Garwood, found a gap to go over the try line. The reply from Llanelli was quick when centre Daniel Rogers evaded three tackles on his way to the line, scrum half Shaun Thomas converting to take the Wanderers into the lead 7-5.

After a quarter of an hours play Llantwit had realised that they had the better of the battle of the forwards. Their front row of Tom Berrow, Geraint George and Callum Garwood were certainly dominating. Awarded a penalty near half way Michael Thomas kicked for touch and received a lineout 5m out for his accuracy. Tony Davies received the catch and the resulting surge from the Fardre forwards saw number eight Tim Russell appear with the ball for the first of his two tries.

Three minutes later Centre Carl Thomas came in on a crash ball and slipped three tackles before passing the ball out to Adrian Leigh and then to Robert Kotyla the fullback joining the line. Kotyla was tackled just before the line but his momentum took him over. Ryan Morgan converted and Fardre had a 17-7 lead.

On the thirty-minute mark Llantwit were awarded a penalty 10m out and chose the option of the scrum. The pack pushed over and Tim Russell picked up from the base and touched down for his second try of the afternoon. Morgan again converted.

Right on the stroke of half time Carl Thomas, playing at centre at the moment, burst through the Wanderers defence, beating two tacklers and just managed to stretch out to get the ball on the try line. Fardre went in at half time with a 29-7 lead.

Ten minutes into the second half the ball was being passed from side to side by the Fardre backs, orchestrated by scrum half Gareth Thomas. Forwards Mark Dollman and Tom Berrow joined in the line and it was Berrow who finally broke through for a try right in the corner.

Five minutes later Carl Thomas found himself moving sideways and taking a drifting defence with him. Spotting a prop opposite him, he cut back inside where the gap allowed him to touch down for his second of the afternoon.

The rest of the game was even more expansive with Fardre throwing the ball around the park waiting for openings. One such opening came to captain Simon Bayliss whose try, converted by Morgan pushed Fardre on to forty-six points.

Llantwit now progress to round three of the cup. Local rivals Llantrisant are out of the cup and concentrating on the league where they bring their recently found form to Central Park this Saturday.

Saturday 15th October 2005 Fardre Take Pill And Come Out On Top.

Llantwit Fardre 23 Pill Harriers 17

The biggest crowd of the season turned up to Central Park to watch this top of the table encounter between division leaders Pill and second place Llantwit. From the off it was clear that Pill had as big a pack as their neighbours Newport Saracens but, in addition, had a good set of backs, justifying their first place in the table. Fardre showed them too much respect in the opening fifteen minutes and were stunned by two tries. The first came from Leighton Burrows who went over in the corner, too far out for a successful conversion. Their second came from a complete defensive lapse by Fardre. They were sucked into a maul with no cover out wide and when the ball went along the Pill line of backs any one of four players could have gone over - Mark Fillagood touching down. Ross Palmer converted and suddenly Fardre were staring at a 12-0 score line.

Llantwit hadn't started to play and coach Matthew Lloyd, in a "quiet" pep talk, pointed this out to them during the taking of the conversion. The talk seemed to do the trick and Fardre started to move down field. Within minutes Pill were caught off side in a kickable position and Ryan Morgan put the home team on the board at 12-3.

In the very next attack Llantwit took on the big Pill pack and mauled the ball over into the corner. Justin Benfield emerged with the ball in his hands and Fardre were back in the game at 12-8.

Pill wanted to go into half time with their 'two score' lead restored and blitzed Fardre with five solid minutes of blistering attack. Crash ball after crash ball came at Fardre who held and held until, eventually, Jimmy Cordle went over for Pill and their two score lead was restored at 17-8. The next score would be crucial to the end result and with two minutes left to half time Fardre wing Adrian Leigh performed some magic side steps to beat three men on his way to the line for the try of the day.

The half time score was 17-13 to Pill, both teams still in contention and players and fans drew breath after a furious and exciting first half of rugby.

Fardre started the second half looking as if they believed that they could win the match. Two minutes in centre Carl Thomas came into the line at an angle, received the ball and split the Pill defence and took his team on 40 meters. The off load was to Robert Kotyla who was immediately tackled but the Fardre forwards were right up with play and the ball came back on their side. Tim Russell picked up from the base of the ruck and went over the line for a try that saw Fardre leading for the first time in the afternoon. Ryan Morgan's conversion was true and Fardre were leading 20-17.

The next thirty minutes were scoreless but not without incident. Both teams put their bodies on the line and the game was constantly stopped for injuries. As time went on without a score it looked as if the big Pill pack was tiring, until they brought on substitutes who were just as big. With two minutes of official time left, Robert Kotyla was tackled and two Pill players dived over him, stopping release of the ball. Morgan stepped up to the mark and his penalty flew over to give Fardre a six-point advantage.

There was eight minutes of injury time and a lot of nails bitten. The final score of 23-17 to Llantwit was justified and the large crowd had witnessed the best Fardre effort this season. This coming Saturday Llantwit are at home to Llanelli Wanderers in the WRU Cup.

Llantwit Twos went away to Ynysybwl where they narrowly lost 27-22. Llantwit tries came from James Buckley, Damion Lucas, Gregg Jones and Rhys David. Andrew Kent scored a conversion.

Joy for Hat Trick Leigh in Llantwit away win - 8th October 2005.

Brynithel 15 Llantwit Fardre 38

Llantwit's strong away support was rewarded with a fine game, after first finding the elusive Brynithel ground and weathering the rain for the first quarter. Brynithel have lost their head coach through retirement and their rented clubhouse to a forced sale in the space of a week but started strong with their younger players determined to sprint around the pitch. The Fardre defence held out, however, and turned a good attacking scrum into points when number eight Tim Russell picked up from the base and, with quick hands across the backs, to a crash ball by Craig Garwood, the off load to captain Simon Bayliss saw him cross the line to open the scoring. Ryan Morgan opened his account with the conversion to take Fardre into a 7-0 lead.

Lessons had been learnt after last weeks defeat and a decision to throw the ball about in the backs, with the forwards joining in, paid dividends for Adrian Leigh on the wing who went over in the left corner on both the twenty-five and thirty minute marks. The second try after inter-passing that saw the ball cross the width of the pitch three times.

Five minutes later and a Brynithel penalty was moved on ten metres, after Llantwit indiscipline, into a position where veteran Mark Williams could reach the posts for Brynithel's first points and a half time score of 17-3.

A feature of the second half was Stephen Powell's accurate throwing to the lineout. One of these throws led to good ball for the Llantwit backs who tried to break through a solid defence in the left hand corner. A long pass by outside half Thomas found forwards in the line out-wide and Tony Davies in a gap that saw him cross for his first try in two seasons. Morgan found his kicking length and the conversion took Fardre on to 24-3.

On the twenty-five minute mark the referee was obstructed from seeing a clear Brynithel knock on. The Brynithel players stopped playing before any whistle went and suffered by having the ball robbed from them by replacement Andrew Evans and moved out quickly to Leigh who went over for his hat trick. Morgan again converted and the score moved on to 31-3.

Brynithel had not given up and were still playing their hearts out. A scrum near the Llantwit try line and a major effort from their forwards saw them push over with number eight Meredith touching down. Mark Williams converted to make the score more respectable at 31-10.

Llantwit found extra pace as the Brynithel team tired and Fardre's outside half Thomas dummied a ball that fooled the whole defensive back line. This gave him a ten meter gap in which to walk the ball in under the posts for Morgan to obtain his fourth conversion of the day and give Fardre a score of 38-10.

Just before the full time whistle Brynithel wing Watkins evaded three tackles to go over to make the final score 38-10. The teams retired to the Aberbeeg Social Club, which is Brynithel's temporary home.

1st October 2005 Fardre Pipped At The Post.

Llantwit Fardre 12 Newport Saracens 13

Saracens brought their one hundred per cent record to Central Park to match that of Llantwit's but with only four tries so far this season it was expected that Saracens would play a tight game. From the whistle, Fardre showed that they wanted to play an expansive game, throwing the ball out to the backs at every opportunity, trying to improve their sixteen-try total. Saracens, however, made it evident that they were very aware of their dominance up front due to their much heavier pack.

It wasn't until the fifteen-minute mark that Fardre's backs managed to break through. Movement along the line was briefly interrupted and outside half Michael Thomas took the opportunity to loop around to the centre position and, forming the extra man, took the ball over in the corner to open the scoring at 5-0.

Saracens tactics were clear. They would maul the ball from any position on the pitch, even out of defence, and wait for the penalties to come to them. Time after time Fardre were caught off side or coming into the maul from the side. The resulting penalty would be kicked to touch by Saracens outside half Evans and the resulting catch would be kept by the forwards to start another maul. This tactic took their forwards practically the full length of the pitch resulting in a push over try on the twenty eight minute mark to level the score.

Fardre lost their way at the end of the first half and, instead of playing the expansive game that could win the contest for them, tried to take on the Saracens forwards at their own game, coming off second best. The forward battle was intense and Newport flanker Woods was yellow carded for a series of punches. Even without Woods the Saracens pack was still heavier and more dominant and the mauling was still catching Fardre off side. After three off side decisions against Fardre, Saracens advancing each time via touch line and maul, the decision was made to kick for goal and full back Gregg, with the wind behind him, slotted over to give Saracens an 8-5 lead at half time.

The first twenty minutes of the second half were scrappy and constantly interrupted by the whistle, allowing no continuity of play. On one rare occasion that play flowed, the Fardre backs moved up the touchline showing the ball passing skills that we have become accustomed to this season, Robert Kotyla going over in the corner for his sixth try in four games. Michael Thomas' kick across the wind was accurately judged and took Fardre on to 12-8.

The rest of the game was a matter of whether Fardre could hang on to their lead against the now tiring Saracens forwards. Time seemed to stand still and everyone awaited the final whistle, which hadn't come after forty-five minutes. A mistake by Fardre in their own twenty-two lead to a scrum to Saracens and the inevitable drive over and a disappointing one point loss seeing Fardre go down 12 - 13.

Fardre travel to Brynithel this Saturday, where they won last season, and will be looking to regain their top spot from Pill Harriers who top Division 2, a point ahead of Fardre.

17th September 2005 Fardre run Riot In Nine Try Thriller.

Brynmawr 0 Llantwit Fardre 55

Llantwit took a strong crowd of supporters to last years Division One side Brynmawr and also took with them their one hundred per-cent record. After today's game the record still stands and is only equalled by newcomers Pill Harriers who also have three out of three, setting up a cracker of a home game for Llantwit on 15th October.

Brynmawr started strong in both halves and frustrated a strong Llantwit attack. Such is Fardre's confidence going forward at the moment that their 101 points so far this season have only included one penalty, everything else coming from tries and conversions.

Ten minutes into the game Matthew Taylor charged down a defensive kick and looked like opening the Llantwit scoring but just failed to touch down before the dead ball line. Ten minutes later his fellow centre Carl Thomas came at an angle that sliced through the Brynmawr backs, scoring under the posts and leaving the conversion to outside half Michael Thomas.

Taylor was in the action again five minutes later when it was his turn to break through the defensive line, this time on halfway. Drawing the full back he left his pass to the last minute before off loading to Michael Thomas who touched down, ran back with the ball and converted his own try.

Brynmawr were failing to win possession from scrum or lineout and their frustration was made more evident just before half time when their defensive lineout was taken early and the forwards fumbled the ball. Scrum Half Gareth Thomas scooped the ball up and dived over the line. Mike Thomas' kick one meter from the touchline was the kick of the day and took the teams in at half time 21-0.

Brynmawr started strongly again at the beginning of the second half and frustrated Fardre right up until the start of the fourth quarter. On the twenty-minute mark number eight Matthew Smith took the ball at the half way line and moved it on twenty-five meters before off loading to the Fardre backs. Quick hands along the line found the safe hands of replacement hooker Stephen Powell in the right wing position, his strength taking him over for Fardre's fourth try. Thomas' conversion attempt hit the crossbar and bounced back in field, denying him the points.

The Fardre pack had dominated up until this point but from now on the dominance would be total. Smith picked up yet again on half way and bulldozed his way through the backs, eventually off loading the ball to his captain Simon Bayliss who took the ball over and moved the score on to 31. Shortly after the forwards won good scrum ball and surged forward until Brynmawr collapsed. Deciding to opt for the scrum rather than the penalty kick, they again surged forward and Tim Russell picked up and crossed the line to make it 36-0.

Two minutes later full back Rob Kotyla found himself with the ball on the half way spot and no way forward. He started running across the width of the pitch and his speed took him around the Brynmawr backs, skirting the wing and back to the middle again where he placed the ball under the posts for Mike Thomas to convert.

The last fifteen minutes saw a high degree of confidence and ball passing skills, the ball being thrown around in the forwards as well as the backs. One such display ended when Tim Russell scored his second try of the day. The ball skills continued and on one attack Kotyla joined the back line again managing to find a gap and score his second of the day, a feat that he has now achieved in his last two games.

Llantwit are now top of Division 2 East and, because of their fine cup run last year, missed the preliminary rounds and join in the action of the WRU cup for the first time this season at Parc Canol this coming Saturday.

3rd September 2005 Fardre rampant after close season break.

Llantwit Fardre 24 Nantymoel 3

Geographical position and excess numbers in Division 2 West means that Nantymoel make the move to Division 2 East for this season. Now, in the hazy sunshine and lush grass typical of a season's first game, Llantwit Fardre were to be their first opponents of 2005/6.

With only one pre-season friendly under their belt, Fardre started slow and seven minutes into the game gave away a penalty that Nant converted to gain their only points of the match.

Llantwit remained slow but the rust was being oiled and the pack were growing in confidence and beginning to dominate. On the twenty-minute mark Tim Russell playing at number 8 picked up from the base of the scrum and forced himself over the line for Fardre's first points of the season. Michael Thomas' conversion attempt hit the upright and, cruelly, bounced the wrong way to keep the score at 5-3.

The rest of the first half looked as if it would remain scoreless and be remarkable only for the amount of infringements. It became obvious that Nantymoel were getting frustrated and that Fardre were keeping their discipline. If that pattern kept up then the game would be in the bag for the home side. Five minutes into injury time Fardre were awarded a penalty and chose the scrum option, such was their dominance at the set piece. Tim Russell again picked up from the base but this time full back Rob Kotyla made the extra man in the backs and steamed through for a fine try. Michael Thomas was faced with an easier conversion that sailed over and at the whistle Fardre looked more comfortable at 12-3.

Llantwit took their forward dominance into the second half and ten minutes into the half there was a period where Fardre were attacking the corner with numerous catch and drive moves from the lineout. Nantymoel were penalised time after time and each penalty was kicked to touch for another catch and drive. The referee must have been close to giving a penalty try when Callum Garwood found a gap and powered over the line to move the score on to 17-3.

On the thirty-minute mark, wing Ryan Morgan kicked through and followed up. To Morgan's frustration and the frustration of the crowd, he was clearly held back by his jersey, without the ball. The referee signalled the advantage and waited to see if Morgan could still reach the ball before it crossed the dead ball line. He couldn't ground the ball in time and so the penalty try was given. Thomas kicked the conversion from in front of the posts for a final score of 24-3.

Callum Garwood was justly awarded the "Man of the match" trophy for his ball carrying skills and total commitment throughout the game.

Tredegar stay up with some help from us Wednesday 11th May 2005

Llantwit Fardre 3 Tredegar 43

Okay, we was hammered for 80 minutes and it would be easy to look for excuses. The main reason that the supporters thought it happened was all down to the will to win. Basically, the chat went, we couldn't go up and we couldn't go down so it was, for us, just another game. Minds were on the cup semi final against Abercynon also, nobody wanted to get injured.

Tredegar - how did they approach the game. Well, after a pretty mediocre season they were in danger of taking the big drop to division 3. They had worked out that if they won just one of their last two games then they would be safe. They threw everything into the game against us and it showed that they were hungry for the win. We weren't - and by "We" I am including the supporters. The Tredegar fans turned up in droves and out shouted the Llantwit lads. The Tredegar players must have felt that they were playing at home. If only Fardre could get an away following like that. It was there some months ago but has dwindled.

For the record, our three points came from a Michael Thomas penalty and there were some good performances. Thanks must go to the 'very out of position' players with Number 8 Richard Andrews filling in at Centre and doing a grand job while outside half and last years youth player Michael Walsh did well at full back.

Tredegar scored a 1 minute try and a 35 min converted try so at half time things looked ok at 12-3. Three minutes into the second half the Tredegar no 8 (who played a brilliant game when we beat them up there) scored his second try, again converted and on 7 minutes a penalty went over. On 22 and 40 minutes came 2 converted Tredegar tries, both from interceptions while we were attacking and this was followed by a typical wingers try on the 42 minute mark.

So - we won at tredegar, they won down here and it looks as if we will be playing each other again next year. Can't wait.

Treorchy come close in end of season battle - Friday 6th May 2005.

Llantwit Fardre 16 Treorchy 13

The pre match warm-ups gave a good impression of an end of the season game on a cold windy Friday night. Fardre had players out of position, both player coaches on the field from the off and a wing with a bad limp. Treorchy arrived with their usual young side who have not done well this season in division two but who look as if they will burst back onto the scene in two or three years if the coaches can keep them together.

Ten minutes into the game Llantwit opened the scoring when the pace of wing James Thomas, even with a limp, took him past the Treorchy defence for a try that was converted by outside half Michael Thomas.

Only two minutes later, Fardre pressure gave them a penalty that Thomas slotted over to give the home side a ten-point advantage.

On the twenty minute mark Treorchy were awarded and scored a penalty but this was quickly nullified by a Thomas' trade mark drop goal and he increased the lead two minutes later with a penalty not far from the half way line.

Going in at the interval 16-3 up Fardre might have felt the game was won and it was a matter of how many points they could score.

From the whistle starting the second half the young Treorchy players seemed to up their game. Their coach had analysed the Fardre attack and the Treorchy defence became stronger and more determined by the minute. For the first ten minutes of the half it was all Llantwit attack being suppressed by a solid Treorchy defence.

As the defence held out they became more confident and the Treorchy sprints from defence into attack became more and more frequent. This was awarded with a try on the sixty-minute mark and, seeing that success, they stuck with the same game plan.

Still having to score twice, Treorchy held back all the Fardre attacks and kept breaking out of defence. With what proved to be almost the last play of the game they broke again and scored to take the final score to 16-13. The final whistle was a lucky break for Fardre and a sign of a future team in the making for Treorchy.

Llantwit seconds had travelled to Merthyr where two very even teams slogged it out in difficult conditions. Merthyr opened the scoring with a penalty and it wasn't until the last kick of the half that Michael Walsh brought the score back to 3-3 with his own penalty.

Seven minutes into the second half and a well-practiced lineout move saw Steven Jones with ball in hand and a gap through the line, which he broke to score a fine try.

Merthyr replied with a slogged out try eight minutes later but this time the conversion, in what was proving a difficult game for the kickers, went over to give Merthyr the lead 10-8.

The last twenty-eight minutes was all Fardre attack and solid Merthyr defence. Frustratingly fardre crossed the line on three occasions, each time the referee deeming the ball to have been held up by the Merthyr defenders. Merthyr held on to their slim lead and looked very relieved on the blowing of the final whistle.

Llantwit Travel away in search of wins 30th April 2005

Risca 11  Llantwit Fardre 45

Fardre made heavy going in the first half but came out 19-11 up. The second half saw the Fardre defence unbeaten and the Llantwit score pushed up to 45 points. Matthew Taylor played out of position at fullback leaving Chris Garwood to come in at Centre and accompany Andre Boone. The strong wing pairing of Rob Kotyla and James Thomas saw James with a hat trick of tries. The more usual halfback combination of Dan Povey and Michael Thomas gave Mike a try and five conversions.

The front row combination of Geraint George, Stephen Powell and Ryan Stephens is now backed by locks Tony Davies and Adam Isles, Adam now well returned from injury.

Flankers Tim Russell and Simon Baylis each poached a try while no. 8  Matt Humphries steadied the scrum.

Substitutes Ryan Morgan, Andrew Evans and Gregg prosser all played with Ryan scoring a try to add to his large points total.

In case it isn't obvious, your correspondent was at another match and picked up the above facts back at the clubhouse, courtesy of Chairman john Marsh -thank you.

Rhondda District 14  Llanelli District 38

In this inter-district cup final Llantwit were well represented by Marcus Caudle, Kevin Leigh, Geraint Leyshon at flanker, Neil Sloan who played the whole match at outside centre, Jeff Kennelly who did admirably as lineout jumber, Matthew Smith who played out of position at hooker, scored the Rhondda's first try and finished the season as the teams top try scorer. Kevin Leigh came on as replacement prop.

It was fairly obvious, from the starting whistle, that Llanelli in their dapper new kit were a very well drilled side and seemed very used to playing with each other. They won the posession and territory battles in both halves and never looked like losing. Rhondda chose to wear their club socks a la The Barbarians and never got a rhythm going.

Llanelli's secret, we learnt later, was to field a team, quite legitimately,  wholly from Carmarthen Quins (exept for one player) who were obviously used to playing with each other and thoroughly deserved their win.

Llantwit back to winning ways at home to Croesyceiliog.

Croesyceiliog are suffering the usual end of season problem of lack of players due to injury and a busy schedule leaving no time for recovery. They brought the bare fifteen players and, without an experienced front row, it was passive scrums from the kick off.

What appeared to ba a young side was very quick early on and they surprised fardre with a two minute try.

It wasn't until ten minutes into the game that Fardre's forwards sucked in most of the oppositions defence, under the posts, before releasing to a three man overlap letting Rob Kotyla go over for the equalising try.

The forwards proved their worth again on the twenty five minute mark when another ruck under the posts saw flanker Geraint Leyshon cross from close in.

At 10-5 Llantwit started to regain the confidence that has been missing of late and in a fine move along the back row, centre Andre Boone crossed for his first Llantwit try to take the team in 15-5 at half time.

From a spectators point of view the second half was a nervy affair. Croesyceiliog found some pressure and Llantwit started conceding penalties. In a ten minute spell the score came back to 15-8 and then 15-11 and it was with some relief that Fardre scored a penalty late on to secure the game at 18-11. 

Fardre Lose In Muddy Encounter With Local Llantrisant 23rd April 2005.

Llantwit Fardre 10 Llantrisant 13

The match looked doubtful for a while as water levels on Parc Canol slowly receded after a night of rain. Both teams wanted to play this match in what is becoming a crowded end of season and, luckily, the referee deemed the pitch playable after a late inspection.

The small crowd were amazed that both teams wanted to play the game in the backs and throw the slippery ball around. To both teams credit, this made for an open game with very few knocks-on considering the conditions. The first fifteen minutes went Fardre's way with possession and territory but a break by Llantrisant brought them up to the Llantwit 22m line where they were awarded a penalty. Jason Alford doesn't miss many from that sort of range and took his team into a 3-0 lead.

It wasn't until thirty-five minutes into the game that Llantwit got onto the score sheet. Fullback Ryan Morgan came into the attacking line to find the gap that gave him the try that he converted himself.

Just before half time Llantrisant were awarded a penalty 2m from the Fardre line. A quick tap and a burst for the line was only stopped by a great tackle by prop Geraint George. George, however, was deemed not to have retreated over his try line before making the tackle and a penalty try was awarded to give Llantrisant a 10-7 lead at half time.

The second half was a dower affair with both teams caked in mud and finding movement very difficult. Jason Alford and Ryan Morgan traded a penalty each to leave the final score at 13-10 to Llantrisant.

The crowd, who had difficulty in distinguishing which players were from which teams during the second half, contemplated Fardre's drop off in form and how it had coincided with Llantrisant finding theirs again. Fardre, who were recently second in the league, have dropped slowly to fifth and are nine points away from the promotion place they once held. Llantrisant on the other hand have seen a return to form that sees them now a comfortable 14 points away from the drop zone that they once feared.

The result in this change in fortunes for both clubs is that this local fixture looks a safe bet to be played again next season.

Stop-Start Game Not Fardre's Style 16th April 2005.

Abercynon 29 Llantwit Fardre 7

Abercynon deserved to win this game, having the majority of possession and territory, especially through the first half, running in two tries against one from Fardre. Knowing their pitch and the strength of the wind Cynon floated balls over the Llantwit defence throughout the first half to gain territory. A reversed penalty after 24 minutes saw Cynon kick on and the bounce was good for centre Gareth Davies providing a soft try. Just before half time wing Lyndon Lewis made a fine run to score Cynon's second try against his old club.

Llantwit favour open and non-stop rugby and the constant interruptions of the referee's whistle were frustrating them. The more frustrated they got the more they were penalised and outside half Matthew Turner scored three penalties in the first half to give Cynon an impressive 23-0 lead.

Llantwit had the wind in the second half but early attempts to kick over the defence resulted in the ball going over the dead ball line. Fardre reverted to running at Cynon who were, sensibly, kicking for touch and attempting to claw their way out of defence. Again the constant whistling frustrated Fardre who, during the forty minutes were awarded three penalties, two of which were reversed for complaining about the decision. These two reversals provided easy picking for Turner who took the score on to 29-0.

Fardre scored a consolation try through Gareth Morgan, late on, the conversion as a drop kick by Michael Thomas. The subdued crowd left Y Parc wondering how such a tough but cleanly fought encounter could have ended with the teams sharing four yellow and one red card.

Fardre Slip Up In Run-In 9th April 2005.

Llantwit Fardre 10 Merthyr 15

As things heat up at the top Division 2 East, Llantwit's slip up on the road for the coveted second promotion spot has seen Merthyr and Abercynon leapfrog over Llantwit on points difference only, Abercynon and Llantwit with a game in hand over Merthyr and an epic game in store between Abercynon and Llantwit on Saturday 16th.

Merthyr looked hungry for a win and their onslaught in the first ten minutes did not relent as the crowd had expected it to. Playing against a strong wind Merthyr kept play amongst their forwards, kept possession and kept Fardre pinned down in their own half for much of the first period.

The result of this pressure by the Merthyr forwards was two tries in a five-minute spell for prop Wilson the second of which was converted by fullback Davies.

Fardre were forced to either kick or run their way out of defence and it was one such run that saw wing James Thomas sprint from within his own half to cross and make the score a more respectable 12-5.

Llantwit would have been pleased to keep that score until half time and regroup for the second half. Merthyr however had other ideas and their continued pressure brought a penalty that Davies slotted over to take them into the break 15-5 up.

Things looked brighter for Fardre as the second half started. Only two minutes in, some lovely inter passing between fullback Ryan Morgan and wing James Thomas saw Morgan cross the line in the corner. At 15-10 the game looked salvageable.

It was Merthyr's job now to last thirty-eight minutes without letting Fardre through and without giving away penalties. They accomplished this admirably and ended deserved winners.

There was much contemplation, by both sets of supporters, of league tables and fixture lists back at the clubhouse as the other scores came in. Disappointingly, amongst those scores were Llantwit Twos losing away to Beddau by 15-3, a sole penalty from Michael Walsh their only reward, and also the Youth side going down to Ferndale 21-15 with tries from Philip Rees and David Long (2).

Fardre In Promotion Spot 2nd April 2005.

Tredegar 19 Llantwit Fardre 21

Earlier in the season Llantwit lost a number of games by the odd few points. It seems that the tables have turned and scraping a win on Saturday means another three league points and the second promotion spot held by Fardre alone.

Although played in bright sunshine, the stiff breeze was always going to play its part on this exposed Recreation Ground pitch. Llantwit, playing with the breeze, had 100% territory up to the ten-minute mark but found it difficult to convert this into points, coming away with a single Ryan Morgan penalty.

It wasn't until twenty minutes into the game that Morgan scored another penalty but this was quickly followed by a pressure try. A scrum was awarded to Fardre on the 5m line and the pressure applied brought the distance to the try line down to one meter. Richard Andrews, who had dribbled the ball at his feet while playing in the number eight position, picked up and went over for a try, converted by Morgan to take the score on to 13-0.

With the breeze at their backs Fardre were trying to build a score before facing the breeze in the second half. Tredegar were forced to make the most of breakouts from defence and one of these rare excursions brought an unconverted try for wing Daniel Morris just before half time.

The second half saw Llantwit running at the Tredegar defence who were kicking for territory at every opportunity. If there were an award for the most improved player it would have gone to Fardre's Andre Boone at inside centre. His searing and powerful runs tied up two or three defenders on each attempt to break the line.

Tredegar pressure was converted into points when their forwards tied the Fardre defence into the corner and released the ball to their speedy backs. Wing Daniel Morris had moved to centre and broke the line to score under the posts. A Darryl Carter conversion saw Fardre's lead reduced to one point at 13-12 and from now on the game would be a nail biter.

On the 25-minute mark the Llantwit forwards completed eight phases of play before releasing the ball to their backs. Outside half Michael Thomas cut through the defence to score in the corner. Two minutes later Tredegar kicked through and were denied the follow up by a late tackle. The referee deemed it a penalty try and the conversion by Carter took Tredegar into a one point lead at 19-18.

It was almost full time and Fardre were awarded a penalty close to the half way line. Morgan is capable of kicking these but, this time, had the stiff breeze to contend with. The ball fell just short of the posts but, with all credit to the fardre backs, they had followed-up the ball and pinned down the receiving player. The referee deemed that the defender had not released the ball and the resulting penalty was an easier kick for Morgan who stroked the ball over the posts in what turned out to be the last kick of the game.

Llantwit now hold the second spot on their own but face two big games starting with Merthyr (3rd position) at home this Saturday 9th and Abercynon (4th position) away on Saturday 16th.

Llantwit Twos were at home to Builth Wells in the league and won handsomely 36-20.

First half tries came from James Buckley making his comeback and Dean Thomas. Michael Walsh kicked a conversion and a penalty. In the second half Llantwit moved on through tries from Matthew Smith, Craig Garwood and new boy Steve Davies. Walsh kicked the conversions to all three tries.

Llantwit Youth side played at home against Pentyrch in a friendly. The coaches were impressed with their win but more impressed with the fact that all those that played will still be young enough to play youth rugby next season. Tries came from Jonathan (Sioni) Hughes and two from Paul Davies. Geraint Walsh converted twice.

Llantwit Fardre Mini & Junior section is on tour on the Isle Of Wight. First reports coming back indicate a good tour with the first match, the under 15s, going Llantwit's way 38-0.

Under 12s Take On Bradford Dragons And Firsts Win Again To Go 2nd In League

The Bradford Dragons Rugby League Under 12s team are on tour in South Wales and tonight challenged the Llantwit Fardre under 12s to two halves of 25 mins each, one of league and one of union. Although Llantwit won both halves the main winner was a group of lads gaining experience in a new sport. Those that watched will remember Llantwit players unable to stop themselves ripping the ball out in the tackle and will also rememvber the first lineout where the whole of the Bradford team lined up leaving no back line!

The Rugby League half was won by Llantwit 20-10 with tries  (4 pts) coming from Scott Burrows, Dewi Edwards, Ethan Jones and Jordan Sienowiski with Matthew Walsh scoring two conversions.