Match Report

PENARTH 10 – LLANTRISANT 19 – Saturday 2 April 2016

 

The sun shone and the pitch had drained, the breeze was across the pitch favouring neither side, delightful conditions for open rugby. So the crowd anticipated a good contest as Penarth welcomed second placed Llantrisant to the Athletic ground.

 

And so it proved as both sides spread the ball and ran with gusto. Neither was it a one sided affair. If anything Penarth were more than a match for the high fliers except, critically, in one aspect. Penarth failed throughout to convince referee Alex Yau from Cardiff that their lines out were conducted legally. So repeatedly had to concede scrum or penalty advantage to their opponents instead of taking possession. This proved too much of a handicap as it prevented home continuity and occasionally potential scores.

 

Penarth started with real intent working their first possession wide and going patiently through five phases until powerful centre Tom Luck burst through at pace to touch down.

 

The advantage was wiped out immediately from the restart as Penarth failed to control the ball, Llantrisant took possession and seamlessly switched the ball to wing Julian Andrews who brushed past a weak tackle to score in the corner.

At five minutes in and the score even at 5-5 a try festival looked on the cards. Instead there was half an hour of lively, keenly contested rugby played mainly between the 22meter lines. The entertainment value was high but both sides were guilty of squandering clear scoring opportunities by missed passes and knock ons or by the set pieces giving referee Yau reason to blow his whistle.

Bright spots in this for the home side were the line breaks made by Luck, the booming cross kicks for territory by outside half Nathan Smith, a devastating demolition tackle by Jerome Bryan and a couple of critical tackles back by replacement wing Paul Collett.

 

The stalemate was broken by the visitors, and it was, again, right wing Andrews ability to break through weak tackles that achieved the score which, converted, allowed the visitors to go in at half time seven point up.

 

Tom Luck continued where he left off at the restart. A penetrating burst through was held but possession regained and quickly released to him again along with the weight of the heavy brigade who ensured his passage over the line. At 10-12 the match was well and truly on. Penarth continued to exert pressure but just failed to take the lead from a long Smith penalty attempt.

 

Mid way through the half came a significant moment. A Llantrisant move was halted by the support runner being taken out and a yellow card being issued to Bryan. Penarth held firm for most of his absence but just before the end of the sin binning Llantrisant centre Dafydd Israel was able to exploit the defensive gap. The conversion extended their lead to nine points.

 

Sadly by now a bit of niggle had crept into the game. A series of lectures from the referee to the captains failed to put a stop to this and what appeared to be two tip tackles were followed by a ruckus which then resulted in a yellow card against Llantrisant in what was already time added on for stoppages.

 

Penarth will be disappointed at not securing a victory that was theirs to be taken.

 

Next Saturday, April 9th, Penarth are away at third placed Dowlais.

 

Scorers, Penarth Tries Tom Luck 2.

Llantrisant Tries Julian Andrews 2; Dafydd Israel. Conversions Scott Bryant 2.

 

Penarth; James Docherty; Ben Hill; Rhys Morgan; Tom Luck; James Crothers; Nathan Smith; Tom Hillman; Jerome Bryan; Mason Goode; Alan Doyle; Scott Mackie (capt.); Owain James Harry Roberts; Elliot Smith; Alex Thau.

Replacements Paul Collett; Sean O’Sullivan; Louis Chandler.