FRUSTRATED SEASIDERS IN SEARCH OF A PLOT
Llanharan 40-18 Penarth (HT 26-6)
Of course this half-season is largely meaningless and of course the Seasiders have only dropped one place to fourth, but what a difference a week makes. Admittedly Llanharan were a rather different proposition to Canton, but Penarth’s response was so lacking in inspiration that it turned into a really hard 80 minutes for them.
Llanharan’s team weren’t markedly more skilful than the visitors, but they had a cracking pair of centres and, more importantly, a sense of purpose that the Seasiders seemed to lack entirely. The number of times a Penarth ball-carrier failed to find support and had to go into contact became monotonous.
Llanharan started the game at breakneck speed, hoping to hurry the Seasiders into errors, but the defence held firm until an overlap was worked in the corner and the right winger scored after 7 minutes.
Penarth were to enjoy some field position for a while and a clever chip ahead by Rhys Morgan to George Roberts nearly came off, but the only reward came with a Josh Hurley penalty after 14 minutes. The hosts went further ahead after 23 minutes as their openside flanker made a clean line-break out of nowhere and his supporting blindside dotted down under the posts.
Hurley again pulled back three points and there were no alarm bells ringing yet with half-time approaching. Then the roof fell in. Swift attacks from first a 5-metre scrum and then a devastating line-break from Llanharan’s irrepressible inside-centre brought two tries, a bonus point and the end of the Seasiders’ serious interest in the search for points.
With the game effectively out of reach at 26-6, Penarth made a lively start to the second period, but for all the effort the malfunctions in most parts of their game just brought frustration. A sterling last-ditch tackle effort from Ben Wellington delayed the hosts’ next score, but they stormed back immediately and a replacement enjoyed a stroll to the corner as the defence disintegrated.
Having emptied the bench, the Seasiders finally found some rhythm in the final quarter and claimed two late tries. First, a rare completed three-quarter move put George Kynaston into space down the right flank with George Roberts in support. The winger was tackled just short of the line, but Ben Wellington again appeared from nowhere to stretch out and score.
Llanharan had time to add a sixth try to their tally, before Aled Rees claimed a try in the corner with the last move of the game. No league fixture for a fortnight as the WRU Bowl knockout stages take over and Penarth will welcome visitors Clwb Rgybi Cymry Caerdydd to the Athlectic Field on 29th January with the clubs level-pegging on 14 points.
PENARTH:
Josh Hurley (George Kynaston), George Roberts, Andy Richards, Rhys Beynon, Ben Wellington, James Docherty, Rhys Morgan© (Aled Reece), Harry Wood (Rhys Powell), Mason Good, Ryan Jones (Geraint Williams), Cam Sultana, Alex Shore, Josh Barden, Miles Jones, Tom Griffiths (Chris Mortimer)
Scorers:
Ben Wellington (try), Aled Reece (try), Josh Hurley (2 pens), James Docherty (conv).
