Fixture

This game was not the way league rugby should be played as Llandaff North struggled to put a team out with only 13 players available and two youth players in the front row. With principles concerning the welfare of players discussed and certain ‘rules’ put in place, it was decided to play the game.

With the numerical advantage, Taff’s Well started off with a score from the first move of the game with slippery winger Chris Kidley-Burgwyn producing a dazzling run to slice through the stunned Llandaff North side for a great individual score – the conversion missing.  Next up was outside-half Martin Detorres who broke from the halfway line and sprinted 50m to outpace the defence and convert his own smart effort. Not content with one try, Detorres made another incisive break to sprint 40m to add to his tally for the afternoon but missing out on the conversion.

With No8 Darryl Mota playing his first game after recovering from knee surgery and having an armchair ride, it was no surprise that after a ‘pick-up and go’, he powered over from an attacking 5m scrum to stretch the lead further earning another two points from the successful Detorres conversion. Further tries were added by Rhodri Garland on the wing, Darrell Newsham in the centre and second row Tom Robinson to take the Taff’s Well score to 41 – 0 at the break with the game done and dusted. 

Even though this was ultimately a mismatch under the circumstances in terms of a result, it came as something of a surprise when Llandaff opted not to come out for the second half and the match was subsequently abandoned which was a pretty disappointing outcome all round, even for several of the Llandaff players who wanted to continue and with several Taff's Well players offering to make up the numbers just to make a game of it.

There’s very little you can take out of a game like this and the hope is that Llandaff will be back to full strength for the return fixture as these sets of circumstances benefit no one; that said, there were good performances from all parts of the team and the squad is looking good for the reminder of the season especially with four new signings who managed to have some game time during the half.  Standout players included Martin Detorres, Garyn Rees, Darrell Newsham and Darryl Mota with spirits high for the next league game away at Pontyclun next Saturday.

  Final score:   Landaff North 0 - 41 Taff's Well  (Match abandoned at half-time)

Dave Beese - davecbwales@gmail.co.uk

Cambrian Narrowly Hold on to Unbeaten Record - 1st XV Match Report: Taff's Well v Cambrian Welfare 15/10/16