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.

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 s