A second half comeback nearly secured the young Castletown their first league victory of the season, instead bonus points were the best they could muster in this well fought out match last weekend at Virginia Park.

Caerphilly’s defence was asleep in the first ten minutes, however, going behind to a first minute score for the second week running as visitors Llantrisant came out of the blocks strong. A penalty in the first minute courtesy of outside half Delme King gave them the lead, closely followed with a try from full back Matthew Griffiths on 5 minutes, as he sliced through some appalling tackles from the Caerphilly defence. King adding the spoils.

This was the catalyst to wake the home team, as they went straight down the other end of the field, their score foiled as Caerphilly centre Nigel Jones spilled the pass with a 3 on 1 and the try line begging.

Jones was on hand to make amends on 13 minutes, however. Caerphilly again applying pressure, with Jones eventually bursting through the defence to score under the posts. Outside half Matthew Hurley adding the conversion. Minutes later Caerphilly were awarded a fairly simple penalty, this time however Hurley casually pushed the ball just wide of the posts.

A scuffle as the visitors were attacking the line resulted in both sides losing a player to the sin bin on 27 minutes. Caerphilly flanker Peter Harrison and Llantrisant prop Julian Andrews the culprits.

A try deep into first half injury time proved a crushing blow for the home team as winger Kevin Oliver out paced the Caerphilly defence to score an unconverted try and a first half lead of 7-20.

The first 15 minutes went by without real incident, Caerphilly losing centre Chris Thomas to the bin thanks to a high tackle in centre field, King missing the conversion. Some astounding defence from the home side, keeping waves of attacks at bay, saw the home side within sight of the visitors.

Llantrisant pulled further ahead on 58 minutes, though as Griffiths bagged his second try of the game, giving Llantrisant an 18 point advantage.

The home side came back strongly. The first of their 3 tries in the final quarter saw good vision by Hurley, spotting Lewis Bowden out wide and free on the right, the young outside half placed a cross field kick to perfection, as the home side attacked the left. The ball falling into the hands of Bowden, who beat 2 players to score in the corner. Game on.

A penalty try was awarded on 78 minutes as Llantrisant persistently failed to scrummage correctly, referee Colin Kirkhouse eventually losing patience as the home side exerted immense pressure on the visitors set piece.

The next try came almost from the kick off. Caerphilly breaking from their own half, and again, Hurley spotting space to chip ahead, collect then lay off for left wing Lloyd Williams to collect, run half the length of the field and score in the corner on 79 minutes. 1 minute of normal time remaining, 1 point the difference. Hurley pushed the kick wide, unfortunately, but the home side weren’t finished.

Caerphilly broke again from the restart. Setting up a maul, the visitors were again punished with a penalty against them as they desperately attempted to kill the ball. Referee Kirkhouse showing flanker Gareg Legg a yellow for his troubles. Sadly the distance was just too much for Hurley as the wide side kick, midway between the halfway and 22 fell just short, and as the ball went dead, so the sound of the final whistle rang out.

A little self belief maybe what the side require, and this was a major wake up call for the side in how to attempt a win, a feat that they so nearly completed, but gaining valuable experience in the process.

Rugby takes a back seat again this weekend as the National team travel to Italy in the third fixture of this years Six Nations Cup.