Tylorstown 24-37 Penarth (HT 5-29)

After three bonus point wins against teams in lower reaches of the table Saturday’s trip to Tylorstown was seen as an acid test of Penarth’s 2019 revival and march to safety. The answer was emphatically positive as the Seasiders produced as fine a first half as they have in many years as they built a 29-5 lead at the break and ended 24-37 winners against the 5th placed “Tigers”.

The best thing to say about the first half, in particular, was that no one element was more important than another. The defence was brutally efficient, the attack slick and clinical, and the game plan was executed with aplomb.

Penarth opened the scoring with a scintillating piece of back play, after the forwards had secured possession deep in enemy territory. A wide pass saw Rhys Beynon heading towards the outside of his man but just before contact he lifted a delightful inside pass to James Crothers who seared in off his wing to dot down next to the posts. James Docherty added the extras and knocked over a penalty shortly afterwards to guide Penarth into a 10-0 lead.

Tylorstown struck back immediately as a penalty gave them field position from which their rolling maul did the damage and their skipper snuck over in the corner to halve the deficit.

But Penarth were not concerned and another drive by the pack set up good ball and the backs snapped into action again with that man Beynon diving over in the corner for Penarths second try.

The home side were now getting frustrated not just with being behind but by the relentless way in which Penarth were hounding them in defence. Struggling for ideas they threw a specuative wide ball out only for it to be snaffled by Owain Lord who romped fully 70m for Penarth’s third, Docherty again on target for the extras.

Not to feel left out the forwards, who were holding their own in the set piece and dominating in the loose, decided to get in on the try scoring act as Chris Mortimer carried it up and found Richie Bowen in close support. The flanker didn’t need a second invitation once he had ball in hand and he powered through the defence to seal a first half bonus point.

But the home side were far from finished in the game despite the gargantuan task in front of them and the last 10 minutes of the half was played it deep inside the Penarth half. But Penarth are made of stern stuff these days and the defensive effort was indicative of the fight they have been showing in recent weeks to clamber their was to safety. Penalties were conceded but the line remained intact, even when Docherty found himself on the sidelines for 10 minutes after committing the indiscretion that broke the referee’s resolve.

The second half started with Penarth down to 14 men but despite that they soon found themselves back on the scoresheet as a long kick from Lord was allowed to bounce by the home fullback, to his detriment, as the ball ballooned up in the air and straight into the grateful arms of the on rushing George Roberts who collected the ball and charged to the line for a fifth try complete with a full Ashton-esque swallow dive.

With the game seemingly sewn up Penarth were guilty of taking their foot off the gas and both the home side and referee seemed intent on making a game of it. A succession of penalties, another rolling maul and Tylorstown were over the line and, despite a clear knock on, in for their second try.

Another one followed shortly after and a game that seemed done and dusted was all of a sudden sprung back into life. The pressure kept coming from the home side and Penarth were struggling to get back into the game. When the home centre went over with 14 minutes to go the deficit dropped to 10pts and the momentum was all with Tylorstown.

In times like this before Christmas Penarth would have capitulated but a run of victories does wonders for confidence and self belief and the Seasiders composed themselves and started to reassert control. Some big carries from captain for the day Miles Jones and the abrasive Josh Spragg gained vital territory before live wire prop Harry Wood secured a penalty that Docherty obligingly popped over to open the gap back to 13 points.

Despite a last minute onslaught from the home side Penarth held firm to record a 4th successive bonus point win.

After a difficult start to the season the hard work of the players and coaching team of Matt Bolton and Tristan Davies is really staying to pay off and Penarth are becoming a joy to watch. The side will hope that their good form continues next week as they head to 11th placed Gwernyfed as they go in search of what would be an outstanding to half finish in the top half of the table.

Penarth XV