DOCHERTY PENALTY SEALS WIN
Penarth 20-19 Old Illtydians (HT 12-5)
No two games of rugby are quite the same and there are always lessons to be learned. This time the Seasiders narrowly managed to squeeze out a win due to a significant penalty from outside-half James Docherty and a critical defensive effort in the closing minutes.
One thing’s for sure, this ought to have been a comfortable bonus-point win. Once again, the Penarth pack enjoyed total dominance in the tight, but gained little benefit from this. Added to this, the Illts had full, if hotly contested command of the line-out, so there was some degree of balance up front.
The visitors ultimately had little to offer except a couple of seriously speedy wings and a very clear idea of what to do with possession in the opposition 22.
The latter came into sharp focus early on as the Illts turned three minutes of possession into a close-range try from lively loosehead prop Adam Taylor. While this was disappointing, the Seasiders stuck to their guns and the lead was soon cancelled out. The break was engineered by strong-running centre Rhys Beynon, who set Thaine Baker up for a dash into the Illts’ 22. A determined Spencer Robinson took up the running with the referee playing advantage and he twisted out of the tackle to score.
After another 10 minutes of scrappy play and too many turnovers, Penarth suddenly extended their lead with another thrilling score. A smart pick-up from a scrum on half-way and Richie Bowen was off and running. Miles Jones took it on and finally Beynon intervened to draw the defence and give George Roberts a clear run to the corner. Classy rugby.
The visitors unexpectedly struck back as they won a turnover and shipped the ball quickly to the right touchline. Speedster Benon Kizzle had been just waiting for such a chance as he easily outpaced the cover in a 40-metre foot race before chipping into the 22 and touching down in the corner to bring the scores level.
Although the Illts had bolstered their pack, Penarth still had the upper hand and soon got their noses in front with a stirring 30-metre driven maul. Matt Allen peeled off in the 22 before the ball was worked out towards the far post and Richie Bowen was over for his side’s third try.
As the match entered the final quarter, the five-point lead wasn’t getting any wider as the visitors seemed to have got the hang of frustrating the Seasiders’ attacking game. Sometimes illegally of course, but as a penalty was won 30 metres out, you might have expected a kick to touch, but since the Illts were ruling the line-out, the posts were opted for and James Docherty coolly converted.
Just as well, really. Illts soon won a similar penalty which they did kick to touch. A slick catch-and-drive saw flanker Mike Hiscocks over in the corner and the game was unhappily poised at 20-19. The match was finally won in the dying minutes as the visitors camped out on the Penarth line with a win firmly in their sights. A magnificent last-ditch defence eventually won a penalty and therefore the match.
Next Saturday, Penarth travel to the dizzy heights of Penrhys Park to visit old rivals Tylorstown. The earlier fixture at the Athletic Field resulted in straightforward 30-10 win for the Seasiders. Tries by George Roberts and Thaine Baker, with Harry Williams securing the bonus point on the stroke of full-time with the second of his brace.
PENARTH:
Josh Hurley, George Roberts, Owain Lord, Rhys Beynon, Ben Hill, James Docherty, Spencer Robinson, Geraint Williams (Harry Wood), Mason Good (Tom Griffiths), Alan Doyle, Andy Lang, Alex Shore, Thaine Baker (Josh Spragg), Miles Jones ©,, Richie Bowen
Scorers: Spencer Robinson (try), George Roberts (try), Richie Bowen (try), James Docherty (penalty), Josh Hurley (conversion)
