Match Report

ABERCYNON 22 – PENARTH 29 – Saturday 28 January 2017

Entertainment and enjoyment were the key factors in this terrific game.

The trip up the beautiful Cynon Valley with sunshine following sufficient rain to make the playing conditions perfect was fully enhanced by the vigour and dedication of the participants. Throughout the ball was flung about when possible by both sides, this resulted in error occasionally but principally in positive flowing rugby.

A lively start and penalty allowed hooker for the day, James Docherty, to slot three points for the visitors

The hosts weren’t about to let that be built on and mounted an immediate assault on the Penarth line, led by their athletic back row forcing their way through to take five points of their own.

Things settled down for a while with both back divisions testing their opponent’s defence. Prominent in this was the astute chipping by Penarth outside half, Nathan Smith. More than once he turned the home defence inside out. But it was a thundering clearance from centre James Candy that gained the attacking line out from which Alex Thau found himself with the momentum to crash over and restore the three point lead.

Once again the home response was furious attack. The Penarth tackling was equal to it and held out. So when the next score came it was a ghosting step by Nathan Smith followed by the sweetest of back of hand releases to supporting wing Tom Smith. The territory gained meant that after Docherty was held up, centre Chris Mortimer was close enough to brush off attempts to prevent him crossing to extend Penarth’s lead.

Yet again Abercynon responded positively and clawed back three points for a penalty. That was not all, their number 11, Ricci Pugh, dazzled the defence with a jinking run and perfectly timed off load allowing centre Alex Grba a clear run in under the posts.

So half time arrived with two enterprising and well matched sides balanced at 15 – 15.

At the restart Penarth decided to vary the diet. Territory was gained and siege laid to the home line. Wave after wave of heavy artillery pressurised the home side into illegal defence and their tight head prop was sin binned. Despite this they still held out in spite of Penarth’s introduction of Richard Merrett’s considerable power.

A further blow to Abercynon came as rangy number 8, Jarryd Davies, who had been making a considerable nuisance of himself, took this too far and was also sin binned. Questionably, Penarth opted for the line out in preference to scrummaging the depleted home pack who grimly held out yet further.

This took the pressure off the home side and they celebrated by running and passing from all points of the compass giving the Penarth defence the chance to show that they too are no slouches in the steely determination department.

Sadly for the home support, all this enterprise ended in tears. A flowing attack culminating in a long pass was eagerly seized by Penarth’s flier Tom Smith. From well in his own half he gave a master class in what wings are for. Engaging full throttle for the length of the pitch, by the time he arrived he could have grounded anywhere. Nathan Smith in support entreated him to take his time and use up some more remaining seconds!

Mason Good took the field to help hold the one score lead against the inevitable home riposte, made more challenging with the sin binning of stalwart Elliot Smith, forced into holding on in defence.

Penarth nerves were now jangling with ten minutes to hold on and coach Boulton was resorting to bellowed guidance from touch. Then this was rendered unnecessary by perhaps the most delightful piece of rugby of the day. James Candy made another positive charge into the home 22 and found full back, Huw Elias, flying in at an unstoppable angle to give the two score lead needed as well as a bonus point.

Never-say-die Abercynon gained a try of their own and a losing bonus point at the death of game graced by the effort, commitment and not a little skill of all concerned.

Penarth:- Huw Elias; Tom Smith; James Candy; Chris Mortimer; James Crothers; Nathan Smith; Gareth Mathias; Elliot Smith; Alex Thau (c); Aaron Ellis; Owen Thomas; Dan Seal; Alan Doyle; James Docherty; Sean O’Sullivan. Subs. used, Mason Good; Richard Merrett