SEASIDERS RETAIN RICHARD THOMAS CUP

Old Penarthians 14-27 PENARTH (HT 7-12)

A well-attended Cwrt-y-Vil on a still, cool, dry Boxing Day gave us an eminently playable surface after all the recent festive rain and a very entertaining clash between the town’s two senior teams.

This was, as usual more a contest between two ‘Boxing Day’ selections, than any sort of cup-tie between the team sitting at the top of Div 2 East Central and the other in the lower reaches of Div 4 East Central. And none the worse for that.

Old Pens declared their intention to play a high-tempo game and try to unsettle a far-from-settled group from across the road. Penarth, on the other hand, were more than happy to rely on flashes of inspiration from their more experienced members.

It didn’t start that way, as with less than 3 minutes played, George Kynaston ran a long clearance up the left-hand touchline, found James Candy as they crossed half-way. The centre drew the nearest defender and wing Will Hardy cruised in for the opening try.

Now Old Pens’ pressure game brought fruit as they gained field position in Penarth’s 22, but conceded a knock-on. However, the Seasiders struggled with their exit and the hosts forced a turnover, scoring in the corner. 7-5 after ten minutes.

The next 15 minutes settled into the usual post-Christmas arm-wrestle, with Penarth dominating possession, but lacking accuracy. Although the scrums were uncontested, they did manage to score a second try from first phase as number 8 Campbell Nation forced his way over.

The score remained at 7-12 until half-time as Old Pens enjoyed the majority of possession and Penarth showed occasional glimpses of quality. Both sides actually struggled to make an impression.

The second half gave us more of the same, but Old Pens drew first blood as an exhilarating line-break presented the ball-carrier with two supporting runners. He only needed the one, as the outside centre cut inside the one defender and straightened up to claim his side’s second try and a 14-12 lead.

After a couple of false starts, Penarth began to dominate possession and as they hacked a   loose ball ahead from half-way, three defenders and a solitary Penarth player were in pursuit. This was none other than tight-head prop Sam Sully. Did he win the race to the touch-down? Of course he did. 14-17.

The upper hand had finally been gained and Penarth piled the pressure on. As the game entered the final quarter Mason Good crossed for a short-range try for the ‘bonus point’ and a 14-22 lead. Was there time for one more as Luc Keane-Adams executed a lengthy line-break from half-way? Yes, but not before he was caught in the 22 and the arriving support generated quick ball from the breakdown and Rob Rees scored the fifth and final try in the corner.

PENARTH: George Kynaston, James Crothers, James Candy, Osian Coates, Will Hardy, Rhys Morgan ©, Tom Hillman, Sven Camilleri, Mason Good, Sam Sully, Harrison Pugsley, Jack Peterson, Evan Jones, Campbell Nation, Hugh Leach.

Replacements: Luc Keane-Adams, Alan Doyle, Ben Jackson, Jamie Spender, Jason Ahmed, Henry George, Rob Rees, Alex Ahmed

Scorers:           Will Hardy (try), Campbell Nation (try), Sam Sully (try), Mason Good (try), Rob Rees (try), James Candy (conversion)