| Llanharan 24 Caerphilly
19 (Llanharan 2T Caerphilly 3T) |
| Welsh National League Division 1 East |
| Half-time score: Llanharan 6 Caerphilly 12 |
| Date: Saturday 26th April 2008 |
| Kick-off time: 2:30pm |
| Referee: - Steven Edwards |
| Attendance: 400 |
| Llanharan Website: - www.llanharanrfc.org.uk |
| Weather: Sunny & Warm |
| Match Report by Mark Tamplin |
| Caerphilly completed their most successful season for ten years at
Llanharan last weekend. Unfortunately, in losing, they surrendered this
season’s unbeaten away record, and, after Pontypool’s resounding
defeat of Beddau, surrendered the league title, and promotion to the
Premier division to the Gwent outfit. It was a bad start for the home side as they lost their captain, prop Gareth Edwards, forced from the field to attend his sick son, everyone wishing him the best, and relieved upon his return to the ground towards the latter stages of the game. Caerphilly also suffered a significant loss on 6 minutes, as outside half Celyn Ashton was forced from the field, injuring himself in a magnificent try saving tackle, chasing breakaway ball from the Llanharan 10mtr line. Llanharan opened the scoring on 13 minutes courtesy of a penalty by ever dependable outside half Gethin Worgan. The home sides lead was short lived as flanker Chris Payne forced his way over the line, Llanharan yielding a penalty on the half way line, Dean Watkins taking play up to 5mtrs, the pack catching and driving Payne over the line. 6 Minutes later, the ball was at the boot of Worgan again, Caerphilly captain Christian Ferris guilty of holding on to the player on the ground as he stopped another Llanharan drive to the line. Caerphilly were unlucky not to score from the kick off, prop Matthew Petit, chasing, stealing the high ball and making hard yards to the home sides 22. As slow ball came from the scrum, the visitors found themselves under immense pressure, Llanharan eventually forcing a knock on to clear their lines. Wing, Steffan Sankala sent Caerphilly into a comfortable second half lead, crossing the try line on 38 minutes. Play starting deep into their own territory, Caerphilly’s full back Nathan Gittings finding space on the right, taking play up to the 22. As the ball broke wide, the home side defence left themselves short out wide, and as Flanker Rhys Watkins received the ball in the centre position, he drew the final Llanharan defender to give Sankala an easy run in. Dean Watkins adding the spoils, giving the visitors a 6-12 lead at the interval. The second half couldn’t have got off to a worse start for the Chesemen, yielding a try in the 42nd minute. Some lose kicking was met with some looser tackling as Llanharan centre Lloyd Thomas was allowed to break through the heart of the Caerphilly defence, finally passing out to flanker Justin Jones, who powered his way over the line. Worgan adding the conversion giving the home side a 13-12 lead. Another Worgan penalty gave the home side breathing space on 49 minutes, Caerphilly guilty of holding the ball on the floor as they attempted to break out of defence centre field. Brother Kevin Worgan, on as a replacement, earned himself a red card on 66 minutes reducing the home side to 14 men for the remainder of the match. Thanks to the space created with the departure of Worgan, Caerphilly attacked down the left and turned over a 5mtr scrum, allowing No.8 Steffan Edwards to cross the try line on 76 minutes, Watkins converting , giving the visitors a 16-19 lead. The lead didn’t last long, however, as Caerphilly lost the restart ball, eventually finding themselves with a defensive lineout on the 5mtr line. Another mistake at the throw in gave the ball straight to loose head prop Adrian Ford, who powered his way over the line, to the delight of the home supporters. Llanharan did well to close Caerphilly out of the match, holding on to possession, starving the visitors of the ball, before Worgan dropped a goal on the stroke of full time, giving the home side a much deserved victory. The bonus point loss, cemented second place for the Caerphilly side, completing a season with 17 victories, 2 draws, and only 2 losses, scoring 482 points with 55 tries. Coaches Gordon Pritchard, Matthew Back and team manager Jonathon Pritchard were disappointed with the result but pleased at the season’s performance. Pritchard quoted:- “We have signed a significant number of the current team for next season, putting us in a position of strength to push for promotion next year” “Pre season training will begin in early June”, said
Matthew Back. |
| Llanharan Team | Caerphilly Team | |
| Arwel Davies | 15 - Fullback | Nathan Gittings |
| Dorian Thomas | 14 - Right-wing | Chris Thomas |
| Lloyd Thomas | 13 - Outside-centre | Lee Mullane |
| James Harris | 12 - Inside-centre | Ian Carter |
| Elliot Freewen | 11 - Left-wing | Steffan Sankala |
| Gethin Worgan | 10 - Outside-half | Celyn Ashton |
| Greg Jones | 9 - Scrum-half | Rob Phillips |
| Craig Bessant | 8 - Number 8 | Steffan Edwards |
| Jon Myatt | 7 - Openside-flanker | Rhys Watkins |
| Justin Jones | 6 - Blindside-flanker | Sam Feehan |
| Lee Davies | 5 - Second-row | Chris Payne |
| James Connors | 4 - Second-row | Adam Minty |
| Gareth Edwards (Captain) | 3 - Tighthead-prop | Matthew Petit |
| Daryl Harvey | 2 - Hooker | Chris Ferris (Captain) |
| Adrian Ford | 1 - Loosehead-prop | Nic Gould |
| Ryan Phillips | Replacement | Dean Watkins |
| Ross Pearce | Replacement | Antony Payne |
| Kevin Worgan | Replacement | John Griffiths |
| Nick Eaves | Replacement | Matthew Griffiths |
Nikki Allen |
Replacement | Gareth Jones |
| Llanharan Scorers | Caerphilly
Scorers |
|
| Justin Jones (42 min), Adrian Ford (76 min) | Tries | Chris Payne
(30 min), Steffan Sankala (38 min), Steffan Edwards (74 min) |
| Gethin Worgan (43 min) | Conversions | Dean Watkins
(39 & 74 min) |
| Gethin Worgan (13,26&49 min) | Penalties | - |
| Gethin Worgan (40+3 min) | Drop-goals | - |
| - | Yellow cards | - |
| Kevin Worgan (70 min) | Red Cards | - |
|
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