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George is the most popular name in Llangwm. We discovered this at the Urdd tournament on Wednesday and today at the game. I will now refer to George Luff as Luffy to avoid any confusion. A name inherited by generations of the male Luffs and one now bestowed upon George. If I’m honest I didn’t know Mike had a first name until we were about 17 so it had to happen at some point.
Firstly I’d like to thank everyone for their help today in providing the barbecue at short notice and for the teas provided in the stand. We not only have an outstanding set of players but an outstanding set of parents who made today a massive success. What a great day for the club and everyone involved.
Today was without a doubt the best game of the season. The team put on a display of unbelievably brave, daring and downright cunning rugby today. As in keeping with this outstanding group each and everyone contributed to a brilliant display. Me, Simon Preddy and Tomas D'Arcy are so proud of how you all played.
We had Austyn playing out of position in the first half today after initially picking himself at full back and then making the long switch to prop forward. Austyn was simply superb. At one point today I thought I saw two of him such was his involvement in the game. He was ferocious in the tackle and times coming out of the defensive line to knock much bigger players backwards to perfection. He put in two of the best defensive tackles I’ve ever seen as well. The one in the first third when he chased back and managed to catch the best player in the Llandaf team and take him down just before the line was as committed a chase and tackle complete that you could hope to see. He then put in the sort of selfless tackle in the second third that shows why he’s so well respected by his team mates. Just when I thought there was going to be an Austyn shaped speed bump on the pitch as a huge Llandaf player bore down on him he threw himself at him stopping a try and knocking the player into touch. What an effort form this young man today.
George played up a year today. I saw George play 2 years up for Hook midweek in the Urdd tournament and he was electric every time he got the ball. Well he was even better today. He was absolutely on fire. He could side step out of a straight jacket if he needed to. He’s not just blisteringly quick but very powerful and elusive at the same time. Llandaf had no idea how to mark him. He beat countless payers in attack over and over again. He was a joy to watch, so exciting in attack and committed in defence. He shares the same Shane Williams sprinkling of star dust that Luffy has and having those two attacking at will was exhilarating. George did things today that you can’t coach and is such a natural on the field with his perfect balance and silky smooth running. What a player.
Rowan was chomping that the bit before kick off. He was ready to tear into the nearest Llandaf players from the off and as soon as the game started that’s exactly what he did. He’s only small in stature but plays with the tenacity and physicality of a player twice his size. He was involved in everything. I talked to him about the ruck area before the game and he listened intently and then competes at each ruck like he’d been doing it all his life. He really shocked the much bigger Llandaf players with how much above his weight he punched. He hit tackles like a missile launching and attacked ferociously. He was quick, elusive and very hard to tackle and what a lovely polite guy off the pitch as well. I asked him to play out of position at hooker and he rolled his sleeves up and just got in with it. A great game from Rowan.
Mari was involved in so much hard graft today and also ran with the ball more than we’ve seen all season. Mari was excellent today and was confident in everything she did. Mari put in a huge amount of tackles and hit ruck after ruck in an area in which we dominated proceedings. Mari worked tirelessly with Alex in defence and has developed a good understanding with him of when to come out of the line to pressurise the opposing team and when to hit the ruck after Alex has made the tackle. Mari also linked play well and on so many occasions kept the ball alive keeping the team’s momentum going forward. Mari contributed in every facet of play and is such a vital member of the team. Yet again Mari had her best game of the season in a high quality game.
Alex the tackling machine brought something new to the table today. Alex not only tackled brilliantly as he always does but Alex attacked with aplomb. He made lots of defence splitting runs today and I had no idea he could side step like that. He worked in partnership with Mari really well in defence and halted Llandaf attacks over and over again. Alex has to be one of the fittest players in the team. He was literally everywhere. I’m not sure he was ever more than two metres from the ball and may have taken it home with him in the end such was his desire to either take it from a Llandaf player or run it back at them. A brilliant game from Mr Consistent today. His performance levels never dip.
Poppy was outstanding today. We had 12 players so played 6 in the forwards meaning we needed a number 8. Nobody has played number 8 yet so it’s a new position. That didn’t stop Poppy putting her hand up immediately and then putting in a performance that would suggest that she’s always played there. She was everything they was good about the team today. She ran with the bell more then we’ve ever seen and made loads of metres. She was brilliant in defence and in keeping with her play all season slotted in at scrum half at the base of every ruck firing the ball away to Iesyn yo keep the move going. What a game from Poppy today and I couldn’t be more pleased for her after the effort she’s put in all season which culminated with this performance today. Brilliant stuff Poppy.
Harry was as Harry always is, physical, direct, fast, elusive and genuinely menacing when carrying. He carried on where he’d left off in the tournament in Cardigan forming the most physical centre partnership in Pembrokeshire rugby. The Llandaf backline were hounded by Harry all game be it in attack or defence. Harry promised me some ‘massive hits’ during the warm up and didn’t disappoint. He made so much ground today and when he had, he then managed to put his wingers into space. He’s selfless as well as being a very gifted player. If you have Harry in your team your wingers will score. He played the perfect 13 role today and was effective in every facet of the game. A great performance from our classiest player.
Leo formed the most destructive centre partnership in Pembrokeshire rugby today. He made more meters than anyone, was incredibly physical, pacy and as always gives his team mates such encouragement and confidence. We had the now traditional length of the field tries from Lei today but do much more as well. He put in some unbelievable tackles today and dominated the physical confrontations all game. He was part of the effort in dominating the ruck area and inspired those around him. He communicated with everyone around him and has become a big part of the team think tank who dream up the intricate moves minute prior to kick off. A fantastic effort from the always outstanding Leo today.
Trystan was phenomenal in the physical confrontations today. He’s tough as teak and carried to win us hard yards all game getting through the graft that isn’t for everyone. He was an absolute menace in the ruck area and was the last player on his feet after every ruck after getting himself mysteriously into a position that slowed the ball down for Llandaf or win the ball for us. He made several telling runs pumping his legs hard to drag players along with him and was camped on the offside line ready to pounce on the next Llandaf ball carrier. He was simply awesome today and was a vital cog in the Llangwm machine,
Skipper Iestyn was back after missing the tournament whilst on holiday. Iestyn was county class in everything he did today and has no weakness to his game. His organisational skills were second to none as he kept talking to everyone and setting the defensive line. Iestyn also won every ruck he was involved in which against a bigger side is some achievement. Iestyn was superb in defence and brilliant in attack and the side looked complete with him back pulling the strings. Iestyn showed unbelievable rugby intelligence whilst scoring an outstanding try whilst diving over and switching the ball to his left hand and keeping his legs in the air as the opposition tried to tackle him into touch. What a game from the skipper today.
Manny was effective in everything he did today and didn’t miss a tackle showing real grit and determination to put pressure on the Llsndaf defence. Manny attacked ferociously as well doing the hard yards. He’s also looking over my shoulder whilst I type this telling me he scored and the ref missed it. The referee’s decision stands and you were short of the line. Unlucky boy. To his credit he was very good today and even winded himself making the last tackle of the day resulting in him having to be carried from the pitch. He made a miraculous recovery in time for a hotdog and a cold compress from Fran Evans which saved the day.
Luffy as we now know him was a different class going forward today. One of his surges was my favourite move of the season for me involving the balm going through several pairs of hands before George took it, served round one player, dummied his way last two more and set off on a dazzling run that nearly saw Iesyn score. George went looking for the ball all game and was absolutely electric and a pleasure to watch. Like George he has an X factor about him that you just can’t coach. He also defended well and has really become one of our best ruck operators as he is often first to the ruck tutoring himself into the ensuing battle for the ball. The most exciting runner in Pembrokeshire rugby lit up the pitch today with his exhilarating running. Great to watch as always.
What a performance from everyone today. The player of the match award today is shared between the entire team as everyone was excellent. Well done all. What a game

Marc Davies