SEASIDERS SLIP AGAIN

ABERDARE 47 PENARTH 15 – Saturday 22 October 2016

After a minute’s silence to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster before the kick-off, Penarth again found themselves up against in-form opposition at the top of the table and this time third-placed Aberdare were the hosts. The recently-promoted Cynon Valley club had won their last three games and were able to put the Seasiders under intense pressure from the off.

Penarth kicked off in dry and sunny conditions, but Aberdare opted to run it right back at them and exerted intense pressure for 10 or so minutes before finally gaining a penalty and a 3-0 lead. The Seasiders seemed well up to the challenge and although they were unable to break out of their own half in the first 20 minutes, they nevertheless conceded no further scores.

Better than that, when they finally did gain field position and launched an attack of their own from loose play, Elliott Smith touched down for the first try of the game and Penarth had a 3-5 lead after 25 minutes. The lead didn’t last long, though, as further Aberdare pressure yielded them another kickable penalty and they edged in front by a point.

Penarth were by no means discouraged and established themselves in the Aberdare half from the restart. Having secured their position, they moved the ball wide to the right where Paul Collett scored in the corner. Tom Smith added the extras this time and soon converted a penalty after the next restart, making the score 6-15 as half-time approached.

This all-action first half was finished yet. Aberdare struck back with an unconverted try for 11-15 and then, at a time when the Seasiders were pressuring the clearly rattled hosts, a pass was intercepted in the backs and one of the Aberdare forwards ran 50 metres for another unconverted try and an unlikely 16-15 half-time lead.

With the game finely balanced, Penarth approached the third quarter where they’ve shown a tendency to come unstuck before, and once again, the game got away from them in a decisive fashion. Two tries in quick succession from the hosts transformed a close contest into a 28-15 lead for Aberdare and although the Seasiders pack never let up, the hosts had rumbled their visitors’ defence and proceeded to take full advantage.

A further three tries were duly run in as the expected Penarth come-back failed to materialise.

The Seasiders’ arrival at the bottom of the table is a bit of a puzzle, as all the necessary components of a successful league campaign appear to be in place. The squad is as strong as it’s been for some time and the new coaching team are giving every impression of being in control of the situation, but seemingly minor errors in attack or defence have nevertheless led to five defeats out of the seven games played.

As we enter the Autumn International series, the next league fixture is not until Saturday 12 November 2016 when Penarth entertain Pontyclun at the Athletic Field, kick-off being at 1.00pm in advance of Wales’ kick-off against Argentina at 5.30pm.

PENARTH Tom Smith, Paul Collett, Tom Luck ©, James Crothers, Huw Elias (James Docherty) Rhys Morgan, Richard Merrett (Jerome Bryan), Mason Good, Alan Doyle (Sean O’Sullivan), Owen Thomas, Anthony Pine, Scott Mackie, Elliott Smith, Alex Thau

Scorers: Elliott Smith, Paul Collett (tries), Tom Smith (1 pen, 1 conv)

Division 2 East Central

Saturday 12th November 2016

PENARTH v Pontyclun

The Athletic Field, Lavernock Road

Kick-off 1.00pm