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Taff's Well First XV are still awaiting their first league win of the season after another epic 9-try game against Llantrisant, going down 24-31

On a sunny autumnal day at Maes Gwyn, the home side started brightly, with outside half Matthew Minty snaffling a turnover and leading a counter attack, which bought a penalty, kicked to the corner. Within 5m of their opponents' try line, unfortunately the line out went awry. It was no surprise though that Taff's did score first, forwards and backs combining with clean hands to make space, and Minty providing the killer pass to prop Gareth Gibbs to crash over to score. Scrum half Craig Field kicked a difficult con, 7-0 to the home side.

Llantrisant quickly hit back with a wonderful solo try, as from a nothing kick in broken field, fullback Marcus Webb turning on the gas and skipping down the wing stepping several backs before touching down. Outside half Enoch converted, 7-7. Taffs had only themselves to blame for the away side's second try, spilling possession in their own half to allow Llantrisant to recover and score a simple try under the posts, converted by Enoch, 7-14.  It was proving to be a ding dong battle, and Taffs put on the next try, a period of flowing rugby once again and prop Gibbs, moonlighting as a winger, barged over to get his and Taff's second of the game. Craig Field kicked another difficult con - 14-14.

The match swung back to Llantrisant again with yet another Taffs unforced error. When attacking from their own half, a telegraphed pass into midfield, was intercepted by Llantrisant centre Bunyan who cantered in un-opposed to score 14-21.

Taffs would not lie down though and came again at Llantrisant from the kick off. After a series of several phases, Taffs kicked for the corner and won the lineout, the forwards organising well to drive over from 5m and Scott Warner to score. Craig Field missed the kick, the score 19-21. But with the halftime whistle pursed on the referee's lips, Taff's again let their visitors in- a loose return to the kick off, led to a line out for Llant. From the lineout the away team set up in midfield and a brainless indiscretion at ruck time allowed a kick able penalty, duly slotted. Half Time- Taff's Well 19 Llantrisant 24

The visitors started brighter second half, several phases of play earning a kickable penalty in the 22, which was uncharacteristically missed by the so far faultless 10 Enoch. As the half progressed, the game broke up, with both sides struggling to find the fluency of the first period. Indiscretions crept into both side's play, and Taff's outside half Minty pushed the referee too far with a knocked on deemed deliberate - he was sent to the sin bin for 10 mins.

Remarkably, with a man down Taff's rallied and took some control of the game, steadily progressing down the pitch and earning a penalty, kicked to the corner. The forwards rallied and drove at the line out to score and equal the game at 24 all. Field missed another tough conversion.

Llantrisant would not lie down however. The away side's kick off was mis-fielded, leading to a scrum on the 22 metres. From there, Llantrisant mounted several attacks to puncture the Taff's defence, and finally made space for full back Webb, who had looked dangerous all game, to score in the corner. The difficult conversion was nailed by Enoch, 24-31

Taffs had one final chance to square it up, kicking a penalty deep into the corner and earning a 5m lineout. The Llantrisant side boxed clever not to engage a maul, and won a penalty which was to be the final play of the game.

Rugby Round up

It was mixed fortunes elsewhere for Taff's with four home games at Maes Gwyn this weekend. The Under 15s played a tough match and beat Bedwas four tries-to-two and the Under 15s put Kenfig Hill to the sword, scoring 8 tries in total as the went on to win 50 points to 34.

The Taff's Women's team lost their first league game of the season, narrowly defeated 39-45 by Old Penarthian Mariners.