The Druids most recent challenge was against Llandaff and the long inconvenient journey to the pitch was in addition to the selection difficulties that now faces the Monmouth club. Injuries, personal commitments and holidays have combined to hit first team and affect the Druids strongest line-ups. For this match the Druids had no substitutes which was to prove decisive at the end of the day. Llandaff, who narrowly won the corresponding game last season, kicked off and looked the more confident side as they pressed hard against the visitors. It was no surprise then when their outside half evaded a tackle, burst through and crossed beneath the Druids posts for a try, which he duly converted. Slowly but surely the Druids played their way into the game and they reduced the arrears when outside half Greg Wilding kicked a penalty goal awarded for a high tackle in the mid-field. This lifted the Druids and they took the lead when Greg Wilding snatched a fumbled pass by his counterpart to race over between the Llandaff posts for a fine opportunist try. He converted to give the Druids a 10-7 lead. Playing against the wind in the second half the Druids would find it difficult to contain and beat a determined Llandaff side. In fact Llandaff took the lead early in the second period when a loose ball went over the Druids try line. Before the Druids could recover a Llandaff hand touched the ball down for a try which the outside half could not improve. A big blow for the Druids was when number eight Dion Hurinui was tackled heavily and had to leave the field just on the half time whistle. He is a big ball carrier anyway and on this occasion the Druids did not have a replacement so they were faced with playing with 14 men. This weakness showed itself when Llandaff scored another crucial try which again was not converted but gave them a 17-13 lead. Responding to this setback the Druids upped the ante and they contained Llandaff in the 22 metre area. Led by their forwards the Druids pummelled the Llandaff defence and might have scored with a little more luck. In defeat Druids prop Craig Nicholas had a fine game carrying the attack to Llandaff so did Dion Hurinui who until injury, was difficult to stop when in full flight. The final 20 minutes showed that the Druids, faced with adversity, they are at their most determined and says much for their team spirit. Circumstances of late have shown a decline in club fortunes but as we are in the business end of the season the Druids have an opportunity to redress the poor run by winning the Ivor Jones Cup semi final on 3rd April next.
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