BONUS-POINT SEASIDERS DOMINATE
Penarth 32-3 Pentyrch (HT 18-3)
The Seasiders ended last season with a sixth successive bonus-point win away at Pentyrch and the visitors put a lot of effort into putting things right this time. Standing in their way was an equally determined home side, who needed to put last week’s defeat at Canton behind them.
The intensity never let up. The Tyrchs probably still can’t work out why they only came away with only three points, while Penarth must be still wondering how they only managed to convert about half of their genuine scoring chances.
Simply put, most of the game was played out in the visitors’ half of the field. Pressure from the kick-off brought the Seasiders a try after only six minutes as Jimmy Crothers went over in the corner. Successive huge line breaks from Harry Williams, Richie Bowen and Tom Griffiths only yielded a couple of penalties, but as Pentyrch brought more weight to the front row, they entered the only phase of the game where they had field position and any chance of scoring.
The good news is that although they were being pushed backwards in the scrum under their own posts, Penarth conceded no points and no yellow cards in an immense defensive effort that will stand them in good stead as the season progresses.
The Tyrchs eventually cracked and knocked on. Spencer Robinson broke clear, kicked ahead and followed up to complete a tackle on the visitors’ 22 metre line. Plenty of support at the breakdown and Miles Jones steamed around the ruck to score under the posts.
James Docherty returned the restart from deep, but the Seasiders were judged to have been offside and Pentyrch converted the penalty for their solitary score.
The hosts began the second half in fine style as a Docherty kick ahead was knocked on by the Tyrchs full-back and big scrum by the home eight allowed Robinson to jink over from ten metres.
Penarth were now in the driving seat and George Roberts was in the thick of it, leading up to a masterful cut inside, taking two tacklers with him as Harry Williams took the pass to score.
Leading 32-3 with 23 minutes remaining, the Seasiders looked set to indulge in some champagne rugby. However, Gower referee Wychersley had other ideas and the match limped to its conclusion through a string of penalties and injury delays which don’t merit description. A solid bonus-point win for Penarth which raises them to fifth in the table and much more to come from this squad.
Cup rugby next Saturday, as the Seasiders welcome Div 3 East Central A Llanharan to the Athletic Field.
WRU Specsavers National Bowl
Saturday 21st September 2019
Penarth v Llanharan
The Athletic Field, Lavernock Road
Kick-off 2.30pm
PENARTH:
Rhys Morgan © (Kevin Maddox), James Crothers (Andy Richards), Harry Williams, Owain Lord, George Roberts, James Docherty (Kevin Maddox), Spencer Robinson, Harry Wood (Geraint Williams), Tom Griffiths (Mason Good), Alan Doyle, Anthony Pine, Alex Shore, Same Davies (Rob Rees), Miles Jones, Richie Bowen
Scorers: Harry Williams (try), Spencer Robinson (try), Miles Jones (try), James Crothers (try), James Docherty (2 pen, 3 conv).
