For the first time since April 2022, Cardiff RFC claimed the spoils at Church Bank as they put aside Llandovery RFC 52-19.
This result also means that the Blue and Blacks have overtaken Ebbw Vale to regain pole position in Super Rygbi Cymru after recording a six-point bonus point win. In doing so they have broken the Drover’s winning streak from October last year, as Dan Fish’s men sit top of the league with only a number of games remaining.
Tries from Matty Young, Joe Goodchild and Joe Williams were accompanied by Dewi Cross and Osian Darwin-Lewis, who scored a brace as the Blue and Blacks secured an impressive victory at Church Bank.
“Really proud of the performance and it just shows what we are capable of,” said head coach Dan Fish after the triumph on Saturday afternoon.
“We know what a good side Llandovery are and knew we had to be on it from the start. Boys workrate and physicality enabled us to execute the game-plan.
“We got areas to tidy up leading into the back end of the season but the result shows how good we can be.”
It didn’t take long for the Blue and Blacks to open the scoring as Matty Young put his side on the front foot after a brilliant take under the highball from the fullback. Then, after spreading the ball through the backline, centre Osian Darwin-Lewis offloaded to Dewi Cross to score the afternoon’s first try. Josh Thomas added the extras as the visitors went into a very early 7-0 lead.
Soon after outside half, Josh Thomas extended his sides lead further, and this came after the Drovers were penalised for being offside. Then, an attempted interception by Llandovery’s Osian Davies, allowed Joe Goodchild to regather and offload to Matty Young who showed his pace to crossover for the Blue and Blacks second of the afternoon.
Thomas was unable to add the extras as Cardiff after 12 minutes, were 15-0 up. With it all seeming to be one-way traffic in favour of Dan Fish’s men for the opening quarter, the onslaught of pressure on the hosts didn’t stop.
After Tom Harper, brilliantly turned the ball over at the breakdown, it was offloaded to Matty Young who put in a brilliant 50-22 to put immediate pressure back onto the Drovers. From the catch and drive, the ball was spread to the outside for Matty Young to pass back inside for Dewi Cross to score his brace.
However, after some penalties inside the visitors’s 22, Llandovery were next to score. This came after constant pressure on the Blue and Blacks’ defence as the ball was spread out wide for winger Harri Doel to score their opening points of the afternoon.
After referee, Adam Jones awarded the try he then sent Mackenzie Martin off for ten minutes, as before the half an hour mark, the score was 22-5. That lead grew even further after another penalty from Josh Thomas. Before the interval the fourth try and bonus point was secured as centre Osian Darwin-Lewis scored his first try of the season.
This came from a knock-on in the Drovers’ attack and from way inside his own half, the boy who is playing in his debut season for Cardiff RFC showed his pace to crossover.
HT: Llandovery 5-30 Cardiff
The Blue and Blacks began the second half reduced to 14 men for the second time in the contest as Tom Harper was shown a yellow card. Then with the one-man advantage, Adam Warren crossed over for the Drovers second after some brilliant link-up play, which started in their own half.
However, Josh Thomas’ boot proved to be instrumental once again as he slotted another three points, which meant the difference was 21 points.
Osian Darwin-Lewis then crossed over for his second of the match and Cardiff’s fifth. This came from some brilliant build-up play with some huge carries as the outside centre ran a clever line to cross the whitewash. Josh Thomas added the extras as just before the 60 minute mark, Cardiff had a 28-point lead.
It was then the hosts’ who were then reduced to 14 men as replacement Dino Dallavalle was sent off for ten minutes. After this the Blue and Blacks with the player advanatge inside centre, Jason Harries spread the ball quickly out wide for Lucas de la Rua who was wearing the number eight shirt to draw the last defender as Joe Goodchild scored.
Nathan Hudd was then shown a yellow card with the clock showing only ten minutes remaining, but after being on the pitch for a number of minutes replacement scrum half, Joe Williams crossed over. This came from a brilliant kick in behind from try scorer, Joe Goodchild as Williams regathered to race over. Josh Thomas successfully converted the extras.
With the clock in the red, the hosts’ then scored their third of the match as Jac Davies crossed over, but that proved insufficient as Cardiff RFC claimed their first at Church Bank since April 2022.
FT: Llandovery 19-52 Cardiff