SEASIDERS WIN THROUGH

PENARTH 24 CILFYNYDD 17 – Saturday 21 October 2017

It makes for a fascinating game of rugby when the conditions are awful, the third-placed opposition aren’t quite as good as they think they are and the Seasiders absolutely want this win.
Cilfynydd won the toss and opted to take first use of the howling gale blowing straight up the pitch towards the town end. The opening minutes nevertheless belonged to Penarth as handling errors allowed Miles Jones to run the ball out of his own 22 and the move only broke down with a knock-on at the other end of the pitch.

Now Cil realised they’d have to work for it and gained a penalty back on the home 22. This was tapped and after two drives to the line passed wide for inside centre Sam Edwards to go over in the corner. Almost from the restart the visitors made good use of the wind to secure a line-out in the Penarth 22 and although Dan Seal stole the throw, the Cilfynydd pack burst through and Edwards strolled through two missed tackles to cross under the posts.
With 25 minutes to go until half-time, the sole advantage for the Seasiders was the visitors’ taste for infringing at the breakdown. This allowed the hosts to make progress and they found Rich Bowen in space on the left wing. The flanker was stopped just short, but the next scrum was driven to the line before James Docherty picked up and dived over.

Now heavy rain was added to the wind as the Seasiders calmly took control. Tom Luck made a clean break down the right flank and Rhys Morgan, taking the inside pass and looking for support all the way, crossed under the posts to put his side into the lead 14-12.

Penarth needed to maintain the pressure at the beginning of the second half and did just that as Cilfynydd failed to make any progress against the wind. From a ruck on the visitors’ 22, Bowen wriggled free with the ball and out-paced the cover to claim the third try and a 21-12 lead after 50 minutes.

Having set up the win, the Seasiders still had to deal with several challenges in the remaining half hour. It finally dawned on Cilfynydd that they were heading for defeat if they didn’t do something about it and they exploited a string of penalties in their favour before working the ball to Edwards for his hat-trick after 62 minutes.

Penarth came back strongly with a clean line-break from Bowen and Docherty converted the penalty on 66 minutes to lead 24-17. The remainder of the match was all about Penarth yellow cards, injuries and all-out aggressive defence. Then a cliff-hanger running into a lengthy injury-time before the referee finally blew the whistle after 45 minutes to the delight of team and fans alike.

The Seasiders have now risen to the dizzy heights of 11th in the table and the next four fixtures have a rather attractive look to them, starting with an away game at Minster Road against St.Peters a week on Saturday.

PENARTH Tom Smith (Ben Hill), Rhys Lord (Owain Lord), Rhys Beynon, Tom Luck [C], James Crothers, James Docherty, Rhys Morgan, Sean O’Sullivan (Dave Thomas), Mason Good, Alan Doyle, Owen Thomas, Dan Seal (Chris Mortimer), Miles Jones, Rich Bowen (Owain George)

Scorers: James Docherty (Try, 3 Conversions and 1 Penalty), Rhys Morgan (Try), Rich Bowen (Try)

Division 2 East Central
Saturday 4th November 2017
St.Peter’s v PENARTH
Minster Road, Roath
Kick-off 2.30pm

Bonus point reward Penarth endeavours

Penarth 21 – CRCC 22 – Saturday 30 September 2017

The signs of a tentative Penarth recovery, identified in the last week’s away match at Cardiff Harlequins, have been confirmed by a stirring performance in a one point defeat at the hands of the visiting Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caredydd, at the Athletic Field at the weekend. Without a shade of doubt, Penarth, as they won the first bonus point of the season, played the best 38 minutes of rugby since the league commenced in September, as Head Coach Matt Bolton confirmed after the match. It was stirring stuff. It was controlled, it was skilful and it was exhilarating – the kind of rugby Penarth seemed unable to string together this season. The forwards, outmuscled by the assertive Clwb pack for forty minutes, had suddenly lost their inhibitions and turned the tables on the bewildered visitors.

The key to the miraculous Penarth recovery were the two half-time changes: the return of Mason Good at hooker for the first time this season and the entry of Richie Howells in the back row, taking over the open side berth vacated by the injured Owain George – who had earlier singlehandedly turned over the rampaging Clwb captain, as he was going over the line in the closing stages of the first half. Then there was the half time pep-talk of coach Bolton who urged his players to build the phases near and in the opposition twenty-two, making sure that the carries suck in their defence.

After the break, a six point deficit (9-15) was turned into a six-point lead, as Penarth front five Merrett, Good, O’Sullivan, Seal and Thomas took control of the scrummaging and whole pack including the rest of the back row of Jones and Davenport revelled in the Howells-led onslaught in the loose. Merrett and Morgan capitalised on all that by scoring the tries with Docherty kicking the points. Why 38 minutes, rather than 40? Simply because, with 3-4 minutes left on the clock and Penarth leading 21-15, the match was there to be won, a much-needed win after a dreadful start of the season. Then, two minutes later, Penarth lost the plot, taking a couple of puerile options, instead of closing the game and jealously guarding the possession. Disaster struck as they were turned over, which was followed by the habitual penalty given away, and ended up with a CRCC try converted by the jubilant visitors. There was still time to perhaps snatch an increasingly improbable win, but all of a sudden Penarth of the old took over, as haste, lack of composure and poor options replaced the earlier controlled approach.

It was distressing to see the Seasiders snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, but then perhaps handling success in this increasingly tough battle for survival in the second division is another lesson they will have to learn. Another positive aspect of an otherwise exciting day was the quality match-management of Francesca Martin, the first female official to handle at a match of the senior fifteen in Penarth.

Penarth: (1-15) Richard Merrett, (Harrison Pugsley) Liam Richards, (Mason Good) Sean O’Sullivan, Owen Thomas, Dan Seal, Miles Jones, Owain George, (Ritchie Howells) Nick Davenport, Rhys Morgan, Rhys Lloyd, Rhys Beynon, Owain Lord, Tom Luck (capt), Tom Smith.

Scorers: Tries: Merrett, Morgan, Pens Docherty 3, Cons Docherty

Match Report

Barry RFC 32 – Penarth RFC 12 – Saturday 9 September 2017

There is perhaps no coincidence that both Aberdare and Barry, the Penarth opponents in round one and two respectively of Division Two East Central of the 2017-18 season are top of the table with ten points each after two rounds, while pointless Penarth struggle at bottom of the 12-team pyramid. For about a season Penarth, blowing hot and cold, has been work in progress, with the team battling to achieve the degree of consistency and reliability that should have enabled it to navigate towards the higher echelons of the table. Although Penarth lost 32-12 to a well-drilled Barry side, a virtually identical score to last year’s home game (lost 32-8), there is very little doubt that the team coached by Matt Bolton has been making incremental progress.

One should not forget that last season Barry finished third in the league after the promoted Dinas Powys and Llantrisant, with Penarth very much in the relegation zone in the eighth position, a repeat of the previous seasons finish. The loss of the trio Alex Thau, Gareth Mathias and Morgan Smith to injury in the opening match against Aberdare, has had a significant impact on team composure and physicality and should not be underestimated. During the past season Head-coach Matt Bolton has been struggling to inject an element of confidence and discipline into this youthful side and to a large extent has succeeded, though quite often the team tends to buckle under pressure of more physical and intimidating opponents.

This is what happened last weekend, with the Penarth forwards, traditionally the team’s most potent attacking tool, struggling under pressure of a well-drilled Barry pack. Although the Penarth veteran front row trio of Richard Merrett, Chris Mortimer and Sean O’Sullivan played their hearts out, the Barry pack remained in control, even when one of their wing-forwards was given the matching orders (red card) for gouging. There was a marginal improvement in the line-out, as coach Bolton observed, but overall, the issues identified during the previous week’s match against Aberdare, as coach Bolton observed, “…lack of composure when in possession, poor tackling technique and lack of confidence at crucial moments,” have persisted and had a spoiling effect on Penarth possession and opportunities. Shortage of quality subs is also an issue, but the emergence of several newcomers, including loose-forward forward Nick Davenport is a genuine bonus.

There are good news about the back division, with the good work of the half backs, and the educated performance of young Rhys Beynon as the cherry on the cake, ( winning him the club Man of The Match award), not to mention the excellent contribution of try-scorer Rhys Lloyd, who impressed with his explosive runs and brisk sidestep. Captain Tom Luck, a couple of days short of his 25th birthday, had a storming game and scored a try. There is little doubt that Penarth will eventually turn the corner, given the genuine wealth of talent available and the desire of this group of young men to do well. Next weekend Penarth take on the third placed Gilfach Goch, enjoying so far an unbeaten season. Making sure we defend sagely avoiding early scores, while managing the possession properly and I honestly believe that nothing is impossible for this young and determined Penarth team.

Penarth line-up; Mitch Hickey, Ben Hill, (Rhys Beynon), Tom Luck (Cpt), Owain Lord, Rhys Lloyd, James Docherty, Rhys Morgan (Owen Rees), Miles Jones, Owain George, (Nick Davenport) Scott Mackie, Matt Allen, Owen Thomas, Sean O’Sullivan, Chris Mortimer, (Liam Richards), Richard Merrett

Scorers:
Tries: Tom Luck, Rhys Lloyd, Cons J Docherty

Photos by Alun Roach

1) Determined hand-off by Rhys Lloyd keeps Barry defender at bay

2) Skipper Tom Luck on his way to the first Penarth try

COMPETITIVE SEASIDERS GELLING NICELY

CAERPHILLY 35 PENARTH 24 – Saturday 19 August 2017

A hastily-assembled Penarth squad boasting a number of debutants faced a powerful-looking Caerphilly side with ambitions of moving up from Division 2 (E) in search of past glories. The hosts certainly looked confident, but were knocked back briefly as the Seasiders took a scrum against the head in their own 22. Making their debuts in the pack were Liam Richards at hooker, Miles Jones on the openside flank and the distinctive figure of Wales international Ben Evans on the tighthead.

This scrum was definitely a marker put down for the rest of the eighty minutes, but didn’t stop Caer on this occasion as they moved into a 7-0 lead with a try from their left wing.

The home side’s strength was clearly in the midfield, where they persistently worked ball quickly to the wings and tested the Penarth defence. After narrowly missing a second try, they were rocked back on their heels by a James Candy break from his own 22, taking play into the Caerphilly half for the first time after 20 minutes. The Seasiders took the 35-metre scrum with something to spare and Alex Thau made a storming break, shaking off several tackles before scoring in the corner.

It was all looking very even all of a sudden, but despite another exhilarating break from Candy, the Seasiders yielded possession in a ponderous attack and Caer’s quick hands in midfield saw the ripped ball delivered to their left wing who ran in his second try down the tramlines. The rest of the half was dominated by the Seasiders and Caerphilly were relieved to hang on to their 14-5 lead come half-time.

Making changes at lock and outside-half for the second period, Penarth were pressing hard in the home 22 before gaining a scrum which they drove to the line for a second Thau try. But the hosts had been making their own changes and it was a real shock when they, too, took a scrum against the head. Confusion reigned in the Seasiders’ defence as a result and the home loose-head popped up for his side’s third try.

Trailing by nine points, Penarth surprised everyone by pulling the score back to 21-19 with a cracking try by Owain Lord, making his debut in the centre with Rhys Lloyd. A clean line-break was followed by exchanged passes with Holder and Owen Rees before he crossed the line

By now the teams were slugging it out toe-to-toe in a match that looked more like a top-of-the-table clash than a friendly and a hard-fought ruck on the Caerphilly 10 metre line was decisively won by Penarth and Thau ran clear to score his third, putting his side into the lead for the first time at 21-24.

Having lost their earlier control of the scrum, the Seasiders were sadly unable to contain a determined home side in the final quarter as their other prop muscled over for their fourth and the full-back scored the fifth in the corner after another slick bout of midfield handling had given him the overlap.

A try-count of 5-4 to the hosts was a good reflection of the contest, but this Penarth side gelled impressively and gave a real indication that they can be a force in Division 2 (East Central) this coming season.  The Seasiders travel to Trelai Park next Saturday to meet Caerau-Ely in their second pre-season friendly.

PENARTH        James Candy, Mitch Hickey, Owain Lord, Rhys Lloyd, James Crothers (Ben Hill), Tom Smith, Gareth Mathias, Matt Holder, Liam Richards, Ben Evans, Matt Allen, Anthony Pine,  Scott Mackie, Alex Thau, Miles Jones

Scorers:           Alex Thau (3 tries), Owain Lord (try),

James Docherty (2 conversions)

Photo Caption: Penarth Team after the Caerphilly Match – Top (l-r) Liam Richards, Rhys Lloyd, James Crothers, Tom Smith, Miles Jones, Ben Hill, Mitch Hickey, Caleb Docking, Anthony Pine, Ben Evans, Coach Matt Bolton , Nathan Smith

Bottom (l-r). Owain Lord, Matt Allen, Matt Holder, Owain George, James Candy, Alex Thau (captain),  Gareth Mathias, Alex Fulton, Owen Rees, James Docherty