BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR SEASIDERS

Llandaff North 17 Penarth 57

You shouldn’t read too much into pre-season friendlies, especially where the opposition are from a lower division. Then again, having won their last six league games in 2018-19 with a combination of flair and dogged team spirit, this three-stage run-out amply demonstrated that both these attributes were still in place.

A squad of 24, yet still missing some first-team regulars, were keen to get on with things and after only two minutes they went in front as Kevin Maddox was on the end of a four-phase pick-and-drive to score under the posts. Six minutes on the clock they went further ahead as they stole a line-out in their own 22 and a huge break from Miles Jones gained 40 metres. Andy Richards was put through a gap and delayed the scoring pass superbly for George Roberts to score in the corner.

It’s worth mentioning that while the North lacked the attacking flair that Penarth could call on, they were fully committed in tackle and defence and this was no stroll for the visitors. In fact it took them fully 24 minutes before they added to their score during which time the North pulled a try back on a rare visit to the Penarth 22.

Then the difference in class began to show as the Seasiders ran in five tries without reply. First Harry Wood offered a jinking score from 2 metres and then Spencer Robinson took a lovely pop pass from Miles Jones on halfway before going off on one and scoring under the posts. By this time Leon Appiah had arrived and after two scoring passes to him had been misjudged, the young wing was on hand to catch a cross-kick from Ben Hill and feed Roberts, who passed back inside for Hill to complete the score.

Not, of course, to forget a pack with many new faces: Tom Griffiths at hooker, Sam Davies on the blindside flank and a lively debut from Alex Shore in the second row.

Now Roberts was again the provider as he put George Kynaston in for a try, then Nathan Frost picked up from ruck to stroll over, leaving the score on a comfortable 7-45 in Penarth’s favour. Roberts then found himself on the end of several passes by both forwards and backs to push the score out by a further seven points before the team visibly relaxed to let North in for two consolations. The final move of the game brought the visitors’ ninth try as Hill, Harrison Pugsley and Maddox combined to put flanker Sam Davies over in the corner.

PENARTH         George Roberts, Ben Hill (Leon Appiah), Owain Lord, Andy Richards, George Kynaston, Kevin Maddox, Spencer Robinson, Harry Wood (Lloyd Ellis), Tom Griffiths (Mason Good, Iwan Baker), Matt Holder (Alan Doyle), Alex Shore (Harrison Pugsley), Andy Lang (Nathan Frost, Anthony Pine),Sam Davies, Miles Jones ©, Josh Spragg (Hugh Leach).