MAKESHIFT SEASIDERS OUTPACED

PONTYCLUN 38 PENARTH 21 – Saturday 27 February 2016

A patched-together Penarth side took the field for the first time in February at Mill Fields Pontyclun last Saturday. Hooker Mason Good was pressed into service in the second row, while centre Tom Luck packed down on the blindside flank. Both gave an excellent account of themselves. The hosts, starting the day at the bottom of the table, were welcoming back several players and fairly tore into the game.

They gained early control of the breakdown and put the Seasiders under real pressure, racing into a 6-0 lead after 11 minutes. Then two things happened: Penarth got into their stride as Nathan Smith converted a couple of penalties to bring the scores level and the referee finally worked out how the home side were doing so well at the breakdown and started penalising them. Just before half-time, with the score 9-9, Pontyclun tight-head Morgan Bosanko received his marching orders and things were looking up for the Seasiders.

The Badgers came roaring out of the traps in the second half and received due reward as they wheeled a five-metre scrum and sent number eight Jack Theaker over for the game’s first try and a 16-9 lead. This lead was short-lived, as the Penarth back division sprang into life with Gareth Mathias, Nathan Smith and James Thatcher combining to threaten the Pontyclun line. A penalty yielded a line-out and although the first drive was pushed back, Mathias whipped the ball inside to Adam Lewis, who skipped past the first tackle and dashed over under the posts.

With the match finely poised, Pontyclun eased their noses in front on the hour with a fourth penalty from full-back Jamie Theaker and the score was still 19-16 with twelve minutes to go when the roof fell in on the Seasiders in spectacular fashion. Three tries in seven minutes brought the hosts a winning bonus point and it was game over. Firstly centre Rory Woodland ran unchallenged in at the right-hand corner and then partner Luke Rose followed the same route three minutes later. Tight-head Bosanko completed the hat-trick from a scrum four minutes later.

As if waking from weird dream and now trailing 38-16, Penarth went on to dominate the last five minutes as normal service was restored. A searing break from Alex Thau set up a consolation try by Rhys Morgan in the corner and the visitors were left to ponder what on earth had happened in those seven minutes in an otherwise evenly-contested match.

Fifth-placed St.Peters are the visitors at the Athletic Field next Saturday and a home win would take the Seasiders up to fifth place in Division 2 East Central.

PENARTH Huw Elias, Paul Collett, Adam Lewis, James Thatcher, James Crothers (Ben Hill) Nathan Smith, Gareth Mathias (Rhys Morgan), Jerome Bryan, Simon Barry (James Docherty), Alan Doyle (Sean O’Sullivan), Mason Good, Richie Howells, Tom Luck, Alex Thau, Louis Chandler (Mike Clare).

Scorers: Nathan Smith (Try, Conversion, 3 Penalties), Rhys Morgan (Try)

Division 2 East Central

Saturday 5th March 2016

PENARTH v St.Peters

The Athletic Field, Lavernock Road

Kick-off 2.30pm