KNOCK-BACK AFTER BRIGHT START

LLANISHEN 27 PENARTH 7 – Saturday 10 September 2016

This was Penarth’s first visit to Usk Road for several seasons and newly-relegated Llanishen were expected to provide tough opposition. The Seasiders, on the other hand, having made a handy start with a win away at Old Illtydians, were being relied upon to provide both invention and resilience.

Both sides delivered, to be fair, but this really wasn’t half the story in a game which only got away from the visitors in the latter stages.

Llanishen opened strongly with well-constructed attacks which were calmly repulsed by the committed defence that is already a key feature of Matt Bolton’s team this season. However, the referee was prone to judge technique harshly at times and Adam Lewis was judged to have been the author of a ‘tip tackle’ and departed with a yellow.

However, the Seasiders re-grouped and held the line under considerable pressure from the hosts before breaking out and gaining a foothold in the home 22. Alex Thau broke from a rolling maul to score the game’s first try, converted by Nathan Smith. Half-time arrived with the visitors still enjoying a 7-point lead and looking well in control of what was looking like a very tight contest.

The second half brought a number of substitutions for Penarth and a rising penalty count against began to cause problems as they were denied the means to gain field position and threaten Llanishen’s 22. Instead the hosts spotted the main chance and moved up a gear when speedy winger Miles Anderson was on the end of a well-worked move wide to score in the corner. Another penalty straight from the restart edged them into an 8-7 lead after 55 minutes.

All to play for, except this really wasn’t going to be the Seasiders’ day and a smart move from a line-out on half way set up the home backs for a move which for once breached the visitors’ defence and David Morgan broke through for a converted try and a 15-7 lead.

Still close, but Penarth were dealt a further harsh blow as a Tom Luck interception attempt was interpreted as a deliberate knock-on and the centre departed with a yellow card. At this point the Seasiders clearly decided they needed to make their own luck instead and dominated proceedings for the next 10 minutes.

When you’re chasing the game, it tends to go one of two ways and as it was definitely not Penarth’s afternoon, this one went the other way and Llanishen broke out twice for an unlikely bonus point. Firstly Tom Barr ran clear to touch down for a 20-7 lead and as the Seasiders came back strongly yet again the hosts claimed a turnover at a breakdown and replacement flanker Sam Jones-Williams hoovered up the fifth point which sent them up to second in the table behind new leaders Dinas Powys.

Penarth now welcome Abercynon to the Athletic Field this coming Saturday. They have yet to secure any points this season, having lost both their opening fixtures against Llanishen and Pontyclun.

PENARTH James Docherty, Tom Smith, Rhys Morgan (Owen Rhys, James Candy), Adam Lewis (Tom Luck), James Crothers, Nathan Smith, Gareth Mathias (Tom Hillman) Jerome Bryan (Sean O’Sullivan), Gary Power, Alan Doyle, Elliott Smith, Anthony Pine, Dan Seal (Chris Mortimer), Alex Thau, Scott Mackie.

National League Division 2 East Central

Saturday 17th September 2016

PENARTH v Abercynon

The Athletic Field, Lavernock Road, Kick-off 2.30pm