BONUS-POINT SEASIDERS DOMINATE

Penarth 32-3 Pentyrch (HT 18-3)

The Seasiders ended last season with a sixth successive bonus-point win away at Pentyrch and the visitors put a lot of effort into putting things right this time. Standing in their way was an equally determined home side, who needed to put last week’s defeat at Canton behind them.

The intensity never let up. The Tyrchs probably still can’t work out why they only came away with only three points, while Penarth must be still wondering how they only managed to convert about half of their genuine scoring chances.

Simply put, most of the game was played out in the visitors’ half of the field. Pressure from the kick-off brought the Seasiders a try after only six minutes as Jimmy Crothers went over in the corner. Successive huge line breaks from Harry Williams, Richie Bowen and Tom Griffiths only yielded a couple of penalties, but as Pentyrch brought more weight to the front row, they entered the only phase of the game where they had field position and any chance of scoring.

The good news is that although they were being pushed backwards in the scrum under their own posts, Penarth conceded no points and no yellow cards in an immense defensive effort that will stand them in good stead as the season progresses.

The Tyrchs eventually cracked and knocked on. Spencer Robinson broke clear, kicked ahead and followed up to complete a tackle on the visitors’ 22 metre line. Plenty of support at the breakdown and Miles Jones steamed around the ruck to score under the posts.

James Docherty returned the restart from deep, but the Seasiders were judged to have been offside and Pentyrch converted the penalty for their solitary score.

The hosts began the second half in fine style as a Docherty kick ahead was knocked on by the Tyrchs full-back and big scrum by the home eight allowed Robinson to jink over from ten metres.

Penarth were now in the driving seat and George Roberts was in the thick of it, leading up to a masterful cut inside, taking two tacklers with him as Harry Williams took the pass to score.

Leading 32-3 with 23 minutes remaining, the Seasiders looked set to indulge in some champagne rugby. However, Gower referee Wychersley had other ideas and the match limped to its conclusion through a string of penalties and injury delays which don’t merit description. A solid bonus-point win for Penarth which raises them to fifth in the table and much more to come from this squad.

Cup rugby next Saturday, as the Seasiders welcome Div 3 East Central A Llanharan to the Athletic Field.

WRU Specsavers National Bowl

Saturday 21^st September 2019

Penarth v Llanharan

The Athletic Field, Lavernock Road

Kick-off 2.30pm

PENARTH:

Rhys Morgan © (Kevin Maddox), James Crothers (Andy Richards), Harry Williams, Owain Lord, George Roberts, James Docherty (Kevin Maddox), Spencer Robinson, Harry Wood (Geraint Williams), Tom Griffiths (Mason Good), Alan Doyle, Anthony Pine, Alex Shore, Same Davies (Rob Rees), Miles Jones, Richie Bowen

Scorers:  Harry Williams (try), Spencer Robinson (try), Miles Jones (try), James Crothers (try), James Docherty (2 pen, 3 conv).

Sloppy Seasiders Ship Six

Canton RFC 40-22 Penarth RFC

For all the improvements and progress Penarth have made in the last 6 months this was a match straight from the realms of the start of last season. Playing against newly promoted Canton, who were as physically big a side as Penarth have faced in the last few years, the Seasiders were guilty of a slow and standoffish start which handed the initiative straight to the home side who needed no invitation to exploit Penarth’s deficiencies.

After 15 minutes of play the ball had seldom left the Penarth half and Canton had established a 21-0 lead which could easily have been more. The first came from a well worked move seeing the home centre over in midfield, the second a well rehearsed rolling maul and third a simple finish for the home wing after some disappointing defence allowed the centre to skip through untouched.

There was very little of note to mention from an attacking perspective from Penarth, their brief spells of possession punctuated by knock-ons, turnovers and penalties conceded. And with a highly efficient lineout Canton maintained the pressure and were camped within the Penarth 22. When Ben Hill was sin binned for an adjudged deliberate knock on it did not take the home side long to exploit the space created and wrap up the try scoring bonus point within 30 minutes.

Penarth did finally come to life after the enforced introduction of Richie Bowen after Andy Lang came off on the wrong end of a heavy tackle, and 2017-18’s player of the year showed just how much he had been missed last year as he brought some energy to the Penarth performance. Shortly after Matt Allen made some hard yards and George Roberts made a clean break, a last ditch tackle seemed to have halted the attack but captain Rhys Morgan was on hand to take the pass and go over under the posts. Morgan also added the conversion and a later penalty to move Penarth into the game.

However, Penarth’s progress was halted when Canton breezed through the sieve like defence once more to score their fifth try before frustration and a rush of blood got to Harry Wood who flew through the side of ruck to earn himself 10 minutes on the sidelines. Once again Canton made the numbers tell and their sixth score arrived on the stroke of halftime to leave them leading 40-10 at the break.

This could not have been a scenario that the coaches were contemplating at the start of the match but their response was swift, a triple change saw James Docherty, Harry Williams and Tom Griffiths replace Kevin Maddox, Andy Richards and Mason Good respectively at halftime and along with some harsh words the second half produced a display that, whilst ultimately not enough to take any points from the match, at least showed that the first 40 minutes was a blip.

Defensively Penarth were far more assured and in possession they were far more like the side of the last few weeks with more control and discipline to build phases and exploit the openings that followed. An injury to George Roberts 10 minutes into the second half saw Bowen move to centre with Harry Wood shifting back to second row to facilitate Geraint Williams’ introduction from the bench.

Penarth moved steadily into the Canton half and several phases close to the set things up before Docherty released Ben Hill to score on the left wing. Whilst Canton did have some territory in the second period Penarth were in the ascendancy and looked the most likely to score again. Hill went close again before Miles Jones was held up close to the line but Penarth were thwarted. It took until the last minute of the game for Penarth to score a well earned third but a gallant effort at trying to create one last chance was cut short with a knock on and they missed out on the bonus point.

Despite the dissappoinment of the result and the first half display there was plenty in this performance to be pleased about and if the first home game next week results in a victory over old foes Pentyrch then this can be put aside as merely one of those days.

Penarth – H Wood, M Good ( T Griffiths), A Doyle, A Lang (R Bowen), M Allen, J Spragg, S Davies, M Jones, S Robinson, K Maddox ( J Docherty), J Crothers, A Richards (H Williams), G Roberts (G Williams), B Hill, R Morgan (c)

Scorers – B Hill (t), R Morgan (t,p,c), M Jones (t) J Docherty (c)

The other good news for Penarth on a busy weekend was the reintroduction of the Second XV. Unfortunately rather than facing Llandaff North 2nds in the league, who pulled out on Thursday night, they were left facing Caerau Ely 1sts who were left without a fixture by the Old Penarthians not being able to raise a team. In a tough match, played for the most part with 14 against 15 after Paul Williams twanged his hamstring after 15 minutes, the Seasiders held their own despite a heavy defeat. The experienced front row of Richard Merrett, Iwan Baker and Sean O’Sullivan more than held their own and the second row pairing of Ben Heywood and Alex Shore were dominant in the lineout.

Skipper Rob Rees scored the only try for Penarth but there were plenty of positives to be taken above and beyond the fact that the club raised 2 sides on a Saturday. Next Saturday sees the visit of Llantwit Major 2nds in the league which should be a far more realistic challenge and chance for the seconds to notch up their first victory.

BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR SEASIDERS

Llandaff North 17 Penarth 57

You shouldn’t read too much into pre-season friendlies, especially where the opposition are from a lower division. Then again, having won their last six league games in 2018-19 with a combination of flair and dogged team spirit, this three-stage run-out amply demonstrated that both these attributes were still in place.

A squad of 24, yet still missing some first-team regulars, were keen to get on with things and after only two minutes they went in front as Kevin Maddox was on the end of a four-phase pick-and-drive to score under the posts. Six minutes on the clock they went further ahead as they stole a line-out in their own 22 and a huge break from Miles Jones gained 40 metres. Andy Richards was put through a gap and delayed the scoring pass superbly for George Roberts to score in the corner.

It’s worth mentioning that while the North lacked the attacking flair that Penarth could call on, they were fully committed in tackle and defence and this was no stroll for the visitors. In fact it took them fully 24 minutes before they added to their score during which time the North pulled a try back on a rare visit to the Penarth 22.

Then the difference in class began to show as the Seasiders ran in five tries without reply. First Harry Wood offered a jinking score from 2 metres and then Spencer Robinson took a lovely pop pass from Miles Jones on halfway before going off on one and scoring under the posts. By this time Leon Appiah had arrived and after two scoring passes to him had been misjudged, the young wing was on hand to catch a cross-kick from Ben Hill and feed Roberts, who passed back inside for Hill to complete the score.

Not, of course, to forget a pack with many new faces: Tom Griffiths at hooker, Sam Davies on the blindside flank and a lively debut from Alex Shore in the second row.

Now Roberts was again the provider as he put George Kynaston in for a try, then Nathan Frost picked up from ruck to stroll over, leaving the score on a comfortable 7-45 in Penarth’s favour. Roberts then found himself on the end of several passes by both forwards and backs to push the score out by a further seven points before the team visibly relaxed to let North in for two consolations. The final move of the game brought the visitors’ ninth try as Hill, Harrison Pugsley and Maddox combined to put flanker Sam Davies over in the corner.

PENARTH         George Roberts, Ben Hill (Leon Appiah), Owain Lord, Andy Richards, George Kynaston, Kevin Maddox, Spencer Robinson, Harry Wood (Lloyd Ellis), Tom Griffiths (Mason Good, Iwan Baker), Matt Holder (Alan Doyle), Alex Shore (Harrison Pugsley), Andy Lang (Nathan Frost, Anthony Pine),Sam Davies, Miles Jones ©, Josh Spragg (Hugh Leach).

SEASIDERS’ GRANDSTAND FINISH

Pentyrch 27-36 Penarth (HT 20-12)

The Seasiders ended their season against Pentyrch last Wednesday with arguably the best performance of the season. The hosts hadn’t won in a while, so it was quite a surprise when they tore into Penarth from the kick-off and local supporters’ lack of familiarity with some team members suggested that permit players might have been involved.

A scrum penalty allowed the ‘Tyrchs to take an early lead, but the Seasiders struck back almost immediately in characteristic fashion. Rhys Beynon broke a tackle on the home 22 and wheeled around with Harry Wood in support, the prop completing the score with a short burst.

But it obviously wasn’t going to be that easy. Pentyrch rapidly developed a knack of feeding off errors and despite stout defence from Penarth, their right wing scored in the corner to retake the lead.

The referee had clearly adopted a policy of letting the game flow, but this meant that both sides had to adjust to the fact that some decisions they expected wouldn’t necessarily come their way. The Seasiders in particular were struggling against an offside defence as they patiently built the phases, but as Harry Williams picked up a stray pass and set Spencer Robinson off down the touchline, it all changed. The scrum-half’s subtle changes of direction and blistering pace left the defence for dead as he cruised round behind the posts.

Although Penarth were by now making all the running, Pentyrch kept chipping away and picking up points. The went back into the lead 13-12 with 28^th minute penalty, then extended this to eight points at half-time lead with a perfectly-executed backs move from a line out.

The Seasiders still looked as if they had things well in hand, but the departure of the Tyrch’s captain with a yellow card at the beginning of the second half gave them impetus. The home side, despite leading by two scores, were getting niggly. As Penarth took a scrum against the head, a string of tapped penalties and a Mason Good drive to the line set up a third try as Owain Lord grounded the loose ball.

Now trailing by a single point, the Seasiders took their time conjuring up the bonus point try, but this duly arrived at just past the hour. After a number of wrong options, Robinson took matters in hand and threw a loop pass out to Harry Williams. The wing set off at pace and squeezed in at the corner, with James Docherty converting from touch.

No sooner had Pentyrch claimed the restart, but Williams snatched a loose pass out of the air and romped home from 60m. Penarth were now sitting on a healthy 33-20 lead, but the 15 minutes remaining and the ‘Tyrchs ability to counter remained a bit of a worry. Sure enough, the hosts claimed the next restart and stormed into the Seasiders’ 22 before a replacement burst over for the home side’s third try.

Unfazed, Penarth showed admirable composure as their phase play moved the game steadily into Pentyrch’s 22, where a lengthy siege was only interrupted as Docherty was tripped as he made to move the ball wide and his 78^th minute penalty extended the lead to nine points. Game over.

This Penarth team featured no new players, indeed no-one who wasn’t on the books at the start of the season. The fact that it all came together at the very end as they completed a stunning run of six consecutive bonus-point victories, indicates the quality of the squad and is very much  to the credit of Matt Bolton and Trystan Davies, whose patience is finally paying off. Next season should see a continuation of this kind of form and who knows where that might lead.

PENARTH:

Rhys Morgan ©, James Crother (George Roberts), Owain Lord, Rhys Beynon, Harry Williams, Kevin Maddox (James Docherty), Spencer Robinson, Harry Wood (Richard Merrett), Mason Good (Iwan Baker), Alan Doyle, Ryan Jones (Thane Baker), Andy Lang, Matt Allen, Miles Jones, Chris Mortimer.

Scorers:  Harry Williams (2 tries), Spencer Robinson (try), Harry Wood (try), Owain Lord (try), James Docherty (1 pen, 2 conv), Rhys Morgan (2 conv).