Llanishen made the short trip across town to St Peters for this top of the table clash. The match day 22 showed a number of changes to those from previous games due to a mixture of unavailability and injury but confidence was high in the Llanishen camp.

With the wind at their backs in the first half Llanishen’s Phil Thomas looked to keep St Peters pegged back in their 22m with some accurate kicking. From a line out deep in the Rocks 22m the home side could not take the ball cleanly and Llanishen were awarded the scrum from which they were subsequently awarded a penalty after just 3 minutes. Unfortunately Llanishen could not register the first points of the game with the wind taking the ball just the wrong side of the uprights.

Llanishen continued to ping the corners with a good kicking game and on one such occasion Lee Dickinson landed the ball on sixpence with it rolling into touch on the home side 5m line, following his excellent take of a high St Peters clearance kick. Llanishen attacked the line out again disrupting the catcher and were awarded the attacking scrum. Unfortunately, St Peters defended well getting the nudge on and taking the scrum round 180 degrees thus earning the put in which allowed them to clear. This sounded a warning bell and the Llanishen eight, which contained five flankers, were going to have to put in a hard days shift in the boiler house to secure ball for the backs.

With 15 minutes gone following an excellent line out take from the ever salmon like Tom Barr, Llanishen were awarded their second penalty of the game just 7m inside the Rocks half. Although the kick would normally be within the range of Llanishen’s big booted outside half, unfortunately due to an ankle injury picked up earlier in the game one of those boots was now heavily strapped and the kick once again just missed.

With 20 minutes gone St Peters finally started to apply some pressure on the visitors and made inroads into the Llanishen 22m through a combination of strong running from their bulky number eight and poor tackling by the Llanishen defenders, but the scramble defence managed to drag the attacker down just before the try line and then St Peters knocked on giving the scrum to Llanishen. St Peters applied pressure and turned the scrum but the referee asked for the scrum to be reset but yet again the Rocks got the nudge on winning the ball, picking up and driving for the line. Llanishen held the home side out but a penalty was awarded to the Rocks and then were forced to make changes to the back line when Phil Thomas’ ankle injury became too bad and he was replaced by Alex Edwards thus forcing a reshuffle with full back Bonner moving to No.10. Having just edged the previous scrum the Rocks declined the shot at goal choosing the scrum option and there was no surprise when the home side No.8 picked up and barged his way over from close range for the first try of the day on 24 minutes which was disappointing for Llanishen as this was the first time the Rocks had been in their 22m. The conversion was missed (although due to the ball falling over the St Peters player had been forced to try a drop kick) and the score stayed at 5-0.

St Peters collected the restart and ran strongly out of defence, again aided by some poor first up tackling, but then passed the ball to Llanishen centre Nigel Gumbleton who set up a ruck for Beili Jones to feed Rhodri Thomas who went on a strong run which ended with Llanishen being awarded a penalty at the breakdown. Beili stepped up and slotted the ball over, with a little help from the post, to take the score to 5-3 with 26 minutes gone.

With 10 minutes of the half remaining St Peters were awarded another penalty and kicked the ball into the Llanishen 22m. From the line out they moved the ball through the phases but were held out in the corner which then resulted in the second scuffle of the day breaking out and after this had died down the result was a scrum for the Rocks in a good attacking position. The home pack got the drive on but lost control at the base knocking on however the referee had been playing advantage for the Llanishen flanker not being bound and awarded a penalty to St Peters. Again the Rocks chose the scrum with the No.8 picking and going but this time he was tackled well. The home side moved the ball through their backs but centre Nigel Gumbleton but in an excellent hit wrapping up his opposite number and winning the penalty for not releasing which allowed Llanishen to clear their lines. St Peters continued to pressurise but Llanishen’s defence and held firm and as the half time whistle went it was Llanishen who were on the attack.

With just 3 minutes of the second half gone St Peters who now had the wind advantage were awarded a penalty at the breakdown but the attempt was well wide of the posts. From the 22m drop out St Peters kicked ahead winning the chase and hacked the ball forwards again forcing a line out near Llanishen’s try line but following an excellent take and drive Llanishen cleared. Tom Barr then poached another St Peters throw but a poor up and under gave the ball back to the home side an allowed them to attack again. On 50 minutes John Southcott was unlucky to be awarded a yellow card for being off his feet at a ruck (when for once he actually looked like he was on them) but again the St Peters kick at goal was well wide. However, the home side did not have to wait long for their next points when they ran back the 22 drop out and once again chipped ahead, but this time they collected the ball and a missed tackle allowed them in for a try with 12 minutes of the half gone. The conversion was missed and the St Peters lead was extended to 10-3. Two minutes later Llanishen made their first unforced change of the day with hooker Gwion Rees being replaced by Mike Dacey.

A missed clearance kick then allowed St Peters to attack again and Llanishen were luck not too concede another try when the Rocks went for a drop goal which hit the post and with Llanishen ball watching St Peters collected the ball but knocked on with the line begging. From the scrum, St Peters were awarded a penalty and with a new kicker stepping up kicked the 3 points to take the score to 13-3 with 19 minutes of the second half gone.

St Peters attacked again from the restart but good work from Beili chasing up his own clearance kick won the penalty for Llanishen which Bonner kicked into the home side 22m. Once again TB took clean ball and the pack got the drive on winning a penalty for pulling down. Llanishen kicked the penalty into the corner and once again drove on from a clean take, this time by Southy. The drive was halted but the forwards regrouped to bash away at the home side defence winning another penalty and this time the St Peters defender was yellow carded for offside at the ruck. With 30 minutes gone Beili was successful with the kick at the posts to take the score to 13-6.

Llanishen now had their tails up and went on the attack as the game moved into the final 10 minutes and during one such attack St Peters were caught offside in midfield and prop Denis Pugh took the quick tap driving the ball forward and when the ball was moved to Beili he managed to dance his way over the try line for Llanishen’s first try of the game which he followed up with a successful conversion to tie the scores at 13-13 with four minutes of normal time remaining.

Llanishen collected the restart and cleared their half and when St Peters countered Llanishen won the ball back and a great break by Beili took play back to the St Peter 22m line but a penalty was awarded to the Rocks at the breakdown. The home side kicked the ball long but Dougal ran the ball back strongly and linked up with the supporting pack to drive the ball forward and Beili went for the snap drop goal but the ball went wide and St Peters cleared to touch.

Llanishen lost the line out and the home side looked to attack but good defence halted them in their own half and Llanishen won the penalty 1m inside the Rocks half. With no time for a line out Beili attempted the long kick at goal to win the match but the ball fell short and surprisingly the home side looked to run out of defence as opposed to kicking for touch and settling for the draw and it was nearly fatal for them when the ball went loose to Dougal who rushed down the wing putting the ball down over the try line but the referee had judged the ball to have been knocked on when picked up and the game ended with honours even and the score at 13-13.

Llanishen had put in a good first and last quarter but had allowed St Peters to take control of the middle portion of the game and the coaches will be seeking the full 80 minute performance next week. Llanishen will be looking for maximum points against Brecon as the top of the table is currently very tight and by drawing Llanishen slipped from 2nd to 4th as a consequence of drawing.

For those of you who want to see some piccies of the game check out the St Peters website.