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The question was posed in last weeks report as to whether Llantwit were up to the task of ending their dismal run of losses as they welcomed fourth placed Caerau Ely to the Recreation Ground. Well they stood up and answered the question in emphatic style winning 43-21 in a highly entertaining game. The win coming courtesy of six tries as they finally put all the hard work they have doing on the training paddock.
It was Caerau Ely who were first on the scoresheet as they took advantage of some good field positioning by spreading the ball out wide and releasing their live wire winger who with quick feet and plenty gas left the covering home defence grasping for air as he raced over at the School End. And with the conversion the Llantonians were 0-7 down and at this stage some of their supporters must have been thinking here we go again.
But this was a completely different looking team than in past weeks and slowly but surely they started going through the phases and taking opportunities when they arose. Gone was the haphazard display from last week this was disciplined and assured. And it was soon converted into points as a couple of dominant scrums close to the Caerau line laid the platform, then a quick tap penalty from scrum-half Ryan Evans went to prop Damian Ponting who barrelled his way way over the whitewash for an unconverted try.
Some more hard work in the centre of the field allowed number eight Rob Carter to break through the Caerau defence and when finally stopped he made a great off load; which allowed wing Luke Dawes with open space in front of him and there is no stopping the speedster no matter the distance as he sprinted thirty metres or more clear and dived over in the bowls club corner. Howley adding the conversion with a big kick.
The third try came from a great set piece move straight from the training ground which gave wing Evan Holloway the right angle to show his elusiveness with a great try as he galloped over for a converted try.
Then to round off easily the best half the blood and blacks have performed this season Howley kicked a big penalty to add a further three points just before the break. The score 22-7 at half-time.
With Llantwit seemingly scoring with ease you would think the opponents weren’t up to much but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Caerau are a decent side and the home side were made to work hard for every move. 
And this was clearly shown in the first period of the second half as Caerau fought back and for nearly twenty minutes they bombarded the Llantwit line and completely controlled the game. Finally rumbling over from close quarters for a converted try and with the scoreline 22-14, and again the loyal supporters began to feel nervous, with twenty minutes to go another converted score would bring the visitors to within a point.
But yet again the blood and blacks put to bed their recent poor game management to bed as they pinned the visitors back to their goal line and after a few attempts at the try line, big flanker Gareth Watts charged over in the corner. Howley converting another big kick.
Now the home side were into their stride and with some good phases they mixed up some hard running with spreading  the visitors across the field and managed to find enough space for full back Brad Morgan to tip toe his way down the touchline as he rounded the defence for the fifth try.
The last period had seen some changes and replacement wing Alex Parry was hungry to get in on the action first by getting in tight and forcing a turn over at a ruck and then popping up at the end of the move to race through under the sticks for a splendid try.
The last hurrah was for Caerau as this tough and proud team from Ely wanted to have the last say and they did as they scored a lovely try of their own with some neat inter passing between backs and forwards led to the final score.
A good win then for Llantwit then but they will know that some early poor form doesn’t break a season but also one good game doesn’t make a season either. They now have to keep up this new found form which won’t be easy as this win against one of the top sides will have alerted other teams in the league, with plenty of interesting games to come. Man of the Match was player/coach Stuart Edbrooke who seemed to be everywhere on the park with further mention going to Howley for a solid performance in controlling the game at ten.
The Llantonians have a fortnight off now as the Autumn Internationals commence, the next game away to Tonyrefail.
Also at home on Saturday we’re the youth team who put up a good show against Cornelly/Kenfig in a 36-14 scoreline. The youth are a very young side and against much stronger opposition put in a good performance. Their tries coming from Liam Padmore and Iwan Robinson-Booth and kicks from Padmore and Dylan Holloway.