Aberdare 40, Llantrisant 18
By Howard Evans
Aberdare upset the form book by taking the Worthington Trophy at Sardis Road, Pontypridd, when they lost the lead after 57 minutes, but struck back with four tries in the final quarter of the game.
Both sides had won the away matches in Division 2 East Central, but it was Llantrisant who had finished in second place and Aberdare in fourth.
In this match, however it was the Snakes (Aberdare) who defeated The Black Army (Llantrisant).
Centre Jarrod Rees and full-back Jordan Coles were strong runners for Aberdare and huge prop Tim Griffiths scored a crowd-pleasing try by plunging over late in the game.
For Llantrisant it was their goal-kicking that let them down as full-back Lewis Montague kicked only three of his seven attempts and fly-half Morgan Raison also missed.
Aberdare took the lead when flanker Jamie Price kicked a penalty and they increased it when Rees plunged over for Price to goal and then add a second penalty.
It took Llantrisant 32 minutes to get on the board with a Montague penalty and two minutes later he goaled a longer effort.
Though Price placed his third penalty, Llantrisant wing Elliot Jones collected from the restart and scored a good try.
Aberdare led 16-11 at the break but when their scrum wilted under The Black Army’s pressure, referee David Cambourne ruled a penalty try and Montague’s conversion took Llantrisant in front at 18-16.
The last 20 minutes belonged to Aberdare, though, with Rees storming over for Price to convert and then Coles ran superbly to put skipper Dan Lewis in at the corner.
A long pass found big Tim Griffiths for the third Aberdare try within seven minutes and replacement prop Andy Smith took an interception for the final try that Coles converted.
The Bowl was presented to skipper Lewis by Colin Smith on behalf of the sponsor Milson Coors.
Scorers:
Aberdare – Tries: J Rees 2, D Lewis, T Griffiths, A Smith. Cons: J Price 2, J Coles. Pens: J Price 3.
Llantrisant – Tries: E Jones, pen try. Con: L Montague. Pens: L Montague 2.
