News

11/01/2016

11 Jan 2016

SEASIDERS RISE TO THE OCCASION

PENARTH 9 DINAS POWYS 8 – Saturday 9 January 2016

For the Seasiders’ third local derby in as many weeks, the outlook wasn’t entirely promising. Despite heavy rain for two hours and pooling in parts of the pitch, both sides and referee Ben Porte from Bristol agreed the game should go ahead.

Surprisingly, the game opened with a try, as the Villagers returned the kick-off with interest and some slick handling saw outside-half Ben White over in the corner. Thankfully, common sense soon re-established its grip on proceedings and the game settled down into a grim mud-spattered death struggle: one for the connoisseurs.

The next score came from a passage of play that typified the way the contest was conducted . As Dinas tried to neutralise the slight edge that Penarth had in the scrum by trying to steal a march, as collapsed scrum allowed James Docherty to make amends for an earlier miss by converting a penalty from 22 metres.

Ball-handling by both sides hit new depths of ineptitude as the rain fell ever greater quantities and although the visitors always looked sharper in the back division, this was the forwards’ day and the hosts consistently threatened, only for the slippery ball to frustrate any attempts to force a score.

A fresh tactic finally pushed the Seasiders into the lead on the half-hour as they drove a scrum just over half-way and the retreating Villagers’ pack conceded a penalty. Docherty coolly converted from 40 metres for a 6-5 lead, only for White to reply for Dinas six minutes later and his side went into half time two points to the good.

As the rain eased in the second half, White took the Johnny Sexton role of the Villagers and pinned the Seasiders back in their own half for long periods. Penarth also tried to vary things by keeping the ball in hand and one of the Dinas backs was adjudged to have committed a deliberate knock-on to foil such an attack and departed with a yellow card. This was the visitors’ second sending-off of the proceedings and made a serious dent in their ability to maintain their narrow lead.

The game eventually turned on a Penarth substitution after 50 minutes, as veteran loose-head Richard Merrett arrived to terrorise the Dinas front row. The game was never really the same afterwards and moved inexorably in the direction of a home win. Nathan Smith tapped a quick penalty and was stopped in a dubious fashion just short of the line, then two collapsed five-metre scrums failed to result in a penalty try. A third scrum was eventually completed, but as the ball was spun wide and the Villagers’ last-ditch defence prevented a score, they nevertheless conceded a penalty which Docherty slotted over with 15 minutes remaining.

Desperate Dinas, probably feeling that a one-point lead was indefensible, threw everything into a short-passing game which inevitably fell apart as they lost the ball in the tackle. However, fortune smiled on them with minutes remaining as they gained a mystery penalty, 40 metres out and at an angle. As the world held its breath, even White’s previously impeccable kicking couldn’t save his side and the attempt drifted wide.

Penarth’s win hoisted them back up to fourth place in the division and they must now wait a fortnight for their next game which will be against Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd at Llandaff Fields on Saturday 23rd January.

PENARTH James Docherty, Huw Elias, Adam Lewis, Tom Luck, James Crothers, Nathan Smith, Gareth Matthias, Jerome Bryan (Richard Merrett), Mason Good, Sean O’Sullivan, Scott Mackie, Stuart Clarke (Owain James), Alex Thau (Matt Sutton), Matt Allen, Elliott Smith.

Scorers: James Docherty (3 penalties).

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01/01/2016

01 Jan 2016

SEASIDERS CLAIM THE INAUGURAL RICHARD THOMAS SHIELD

PENARTH 20 OLD PENARTHIANS 3 – Saturday 26 December 2015

A new tradition began on Boxing Day as near neighbours Penarth and Old Penathians continued their annual contest (which has been going since the dawn of time, of course), only this time competing for the Richard Thomas Shield. This trophy has been presented by a group of former Penarth & Old Pens. players to commemorate Richard Thomas, a former No 8 for both clubs.

While the two clubs have not opposed each other in the same division for some years now, recent years have seen an increasing interest in presenting a real spectacle in what has traditionally been a closely-fought game and this year something approaching first-choice XVs were fielded.

Penarth started with the strong breeze from the Lavernock Road end. It was soon evident that their pack were going to be the deciding factor, as they took early control of both scrum and lineout. The first score duly arrived within the first ten minutes from a forward drive that saw hooker Mason Good touching down and James Docherty converting. With this score, the outside-half broke Craig Miller’s all-time Penarth club points record of 1171, setting a new mark of 1181 by the end of the game.

Although the territorial advantage lay firmly with the home side the Old Pens defended well and were able to stop numerous assaults which really ought to have resulted in further scores. The only additional points scored were 2 penalties from the boot of James Docherty which opened up a half- time lead of 13-0 for the hosts.

As the teams changed ends, there was naturally speculation as to whether the wind advantage to the visitors would be worth more or less than 13 points. Within the first 5 minutes, Old Pens had secured a penalty and John Crimp reduced the arrears to 13-3.

Fortunately for the hosts, the Penarth forwards continued to dominated proceedings, forcing the Old Pens back into their own half. The occasional handling errors with the slippery ball by both sides resulted in promising moves falling short.

Rhys Lakin teamed up with Lloyd Davey in the Old Pens’ back division and made several attempts to breach the Penarth defence, but without success. The stalemate continued right up to the final move of the game, as Penarth moved the ball smoothly through the forwards to the three-quarters and Alex Thau touched down under the posts, with James Docherty adding the extras.

Next Saturday brings a return to league action for Penarth as they visit 11th-placed Pontyclun. The hosts have not enjoyed the best of campaigns, having won only two games and lost the earlier corresponding fixture at the Athletic Field 27-11.

Division 2 East Central

Saturday 2nd January 2016

Pontyclun v PENARTH

Windsor Field, Llantrisant Road, Pontyclun

Kick-off 2.30pm

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21/12/2015

21 Dec 2015

SEASIDERS FAIL TO RISE TO THE OCCASION

PENARTH 3 BARRY 29 – Saturday 19 December 2015

After a couple of well-constructed wins against opposition from the lower end of the table, this was probably a re-arranged fixture too far for Penarth. Second-placed Barry turned up still hurting from a

25-9 home defeat inflicted by the Seasiders in September with a simple game plan – hard running and plenty of it.

For a while, with the wind at their backs, the visitors looked as if they were going to make short work of Penarth, as the home side absorbed wave after wave of attacks in their own 22. Although the

tackling was sound, the old weakness at the breakdown was still in evidence and they simply couldn’t lay their hands on the ball.

In a way, it was lucky that Barry’s ambition didn’t extend much beyond executing the game plan and they were happy with a couple of penalties and a 6-0 lead for much of the first half. The Seasiders’

luck held until the half-hour, when the visitors finally launched a determined assault on the line. This was halted, but at the cost of losing Harry Roberts for the remainder of the half. Barry naturally

elected to scrummage from the penalty and secured their first try and a 13-0 lead.

Penarth came back strongly as Nathan Smith tapped a penalty near half-way, but was injured as he was tackled on the 22m line. He converted the penalty, but gave way to James Docherty at half-time

as the visitors restored their 13-point advantage with another penalty.

The second half began in frantic fashion, as both sides indulged in a flurry of handling errors. The visitors nevertheless managed to gain field position and an early penalty to lead 19-3. They added to

this with another on the hour, as the game moved slowly away from Penarth, who had yet to work out how to gain any useful possession.

The final quarter petered out in a succession of injuries and downright poor play by both teams, but it was Barry that retained the scoring habit securing a fifth penalty and finally a second try after 74

minutes.

The Seasiders are now scheduled to face Old Penarthians at the Athletic Field on Boxing Day with an

11.30am kick-off before travelling to Pontyclun on Saturday 2nd January.

PENARTH Huw Elias, Ben Donovan, Adam Lewis, Tom Luck, James Crothers, Nathan Smith, (James Docherty), Gareth Matthias, Jerome Bryan (Owain James), Simon Barry, Alan Doyle (Sean O’Sullivan), Elliott Smith, Scott Mackie, Alex Thau, Harry Roberts.

Scorers: Nathan Smith (penalty).

Saturday 26th December 2015

PENARTH v Old Penarthians

The Athletic Field

Kick-off 11.30am

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16/12/2015

16 Dec 2015

SEASIDERS RISE TO FOURTH

PENARTH 24 ABERCYNON 13 – Saturday 12 December 2015

The wind divided this rearranged fixture into a game of two halves, but the Seasiders carried on where they’d left off last week in Talgarth and expertly navigated the conditions to secure a seventh win of the season and climb to fourth in the table.

The visitors started with the wind at their backs and it took them only seven minutes to work themselves into a scoring position. Wing Liam Cooper-King brushed past some worryingly ineffectual defence to touch down in the corner.

Penarth weren’t simply content to sit it out though and took the game to Abercynon for most of the first half. The only problem was that they couldn’t gain any momentum at the breakdown, where the visitors’ superior technique snuffed out most of the Seasiders’ attacking moves. Despite being penned in their own 22 for long periods, Penarth kept their line intact and Abercynon were only able to add a couple of penalties to lead 13-0 at half-time. The wind continued unabated and certainly looked as if it was more than a 13-pointer. So it proved.

Within 2 minutes of the restart, the Seasiders had gained a 35m penalty, which Nathan Smith duly converted. Still no joy at the breakdown, but then a rare Abercynon fumble allowed Scot Mackie to launch a break and while Nathan Smith seemed to have put James Crothers in from 15 metres out, the winger was tackled into touch.

A further Smith penalty on 53 minutes closed the gap to 7 points, but Penarth had to wait until well into the final quarter before they finally got into their stride. Tom Luck made the decisive break, but got turned over in the tackle, yet continued pressure yielded a 5 metre scrum, from which Alan Doyle scored the equalising try.

At 13-13 it made perfect sense to wait for the penalties to come, rather than attempt anything too ambitious and this is how the Seasiders played it.. The only problem was converting them, but at the third attempt Smith popped one over from 20 metres and Penarth had their noses in front for the first time with four minutes remaining. Three minutes later the outside half pushed them a further three points ahead and Elliott Smith finally entered the fray with little time to make his mark. As usual, he made all the difference, setting up two mauls near the line, the second of which led to a second try, this time by Mike Clare.

This coming Saturday, 2^nd-placed Barry are the visitors to the Athletic Field in another re-arranged fixture, having lost their SWALES Plate tie away at Porth Harlequins 6-38.

A week later, the traditional Boxing Day fixture this year against the Old Penarthians will be held at the Athletic Club on the 26th with an 11.30am kick off. This year, the game will be played for the Richard Thomas Memorial Trophy, in memory of the sad and unexpected loss of Richard ‘Dickie’ Thomas who starred for both clubs in the 80’s and 90’s. Added spice is given to the fixture this year as both clubs (having very successful seasons) have agreed to play full first XV’s in a fully competitive match.

PENARTH Huw Elias, Paul Collett (James Docherty), Adam Lewis, Tom Luck, James Crothers (Ben Donovan), Nathan Smith, Gareth Matthias, Jerome Bryan, Simon Barry, Alan Doyle (Sean O’Sullivan), Owain James, Mike Clare, Scott Mackie, Matt Allen, Tom Bartlett (Elliott Smith).

Scorers: Doyle, Clare (tries), Nathan Smith (3 penalties, one conversion).

Division 2 East Central

Saturday 19^th December 2015

PENARTH v Barry

The Athletic Field

Kick-off 2.30pm

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07/12/2015

07 Dec 2015

DETERMINED SEASIDERS FIGHT BACK – Saturday 5 December 2015

GWERNYFED 10 PENARTH 22

There were lessons to be learned from losing their unbeaten home record against Dowlais the previous week and this time the Seasiders came out top of the class with a spectacular away win at windswept Talgarth.

Once again it was bound to be a game of two halves and this time Penarth had first use of the wind, with a clear need to rack up some points. They got into their stride early on as James Docherty slotted over a penalty after three minutes. With Gwernyfed fighting hard for whatever possession they could grab hold of, the Seasiders struggled to impose themselves and although Ben Hill made a couple of encouraging breaks, the only scoring chance came from a second penalty, which came back off the post. The hosts claimed possession, but almost immediately got turned over. Penarth shipped it smartly left, where Hill skinned the cover to score on the corner, Docherty converting expertly from the touchline.

The Seasiders’ pack was almost immediately in trouble, losing two scrums against the head, but then had a real let-off as the home scrum-half was done for feeding the put-in, allowing Penarth to launch a sustained assault on the Gwernyfed line. The hosts managed to clear their lines, but the Seasiders were straight back on the attack from the ensuing line-out, as Elliott Smith broke for the line and Alan Doyle followed up to score.

Turning to face the wind leading 15-0, it looked as if Penarth hadn’t got their noses far enough in front and when Gwernyfed pulled 5 points back with a try almost from the kick-off, the writing was on the wall. It didn’t quite turn out this way and the Seasiders quickly demonstrated that they’d worked out how to make progress in the teeth of a stiff breeze and worked their way into the home 22 with a precise short-passing game. No further score ensued for nearly thirty minutes, as Penarth continued to fight every inch of the way, and Elliott Smith turned in a man-of-the-match performance retaining possession time and again at the base of a beaten scrum. With ten minutes remaining, Gwernyfed finally gained a platform in the Seasiders’ 22 and a string of penalty advantages ended with Harry Roberts in the bin. The hosts resumed with a five-metre scrum and easily drove the depleted Penarth scrum over the line for a second try.

Penarth now led by only 5 points and the game was surely up; except that wasn’t quite how they saw it. Instead of manning the barricades and hoping for the best, they threw everything into a mixture pick-and-drive and short passing which saw them back into the home 22. What happened next exceeded all expectations as the Seasiders conjured up the try of the game. With the breakdown secured 15 metres out and the home defence all in place, Rhys Morgan took his time in satisfying himself that everything was in place before releasing the ball to the back row where Smith and Alex Thau drove clean through to the line, with Thau the scorer. Docherty completed the formalities with another finely-executed conversion and the Seasiders had their second away win of the season, rising again to fifth in the table.

This coming Saturday, 8th-placed Abercynon visit the Athletic Field in a re-arranged fixture, having lost their last two games away at second-placed Barry and bottom club Pontyclun.

PENARTH James Docherty, Ben Hill, Adam Lewis, Tom Luck, Paul Collett, Nathan Smith, Chris Rhys Morgan, Owain James [Mike Clare], Mason Good, Alan Doyle, Jerome Bryan, Lloyd Huxton [Harry Roberts], Scott Mackie, Elliott Smith, Alex Thau

Scorers: Hill, Doyle, Thau (tries),

Docherty (penalty, two conversions).

Division 2 East Central

Saturday 12th December 2015

PENARTH v Abercynon

The Athletic Field

Kick-off 2.30pm

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02/12/2015

02 Dec 2015

SEASIDERS OUTWITTED – Saturday 28 November 2015

PENARTH 8 DOWLAIS 15

The Seasiders played well and kept their line intact for 40 first-half minutes in appalling conditions, but ultimately lost the plot with the wind at their backs in the second and were decisively beaten by a better-organised Dowlais side.

When you play a game like this with high winds and torrential rain, it’s usually a game of two halves, but not like this one. Best to take it in chronological order.

Dowlais made first use of the weather and The Seasiders were pretty well unable to get out of their half, as it was impossible to make more than 10 metres with the boot. With such an advantage and their opponents stuck for long periods in their own 22, it should have been a matter of how many points Dowlais could rack up and whether it was too much for Penarth to overhaul in the second half.

The answer, as it turned out, was none at all. Superb last-ditch defence by the Seasiders kept the visitors out and thirty half-drowned players made their way back to dressing rooms at half time.

No change to the conditions in the second half and Penarth clearly fancied themselves as Nathan Smith returned the kick-off 60 meters down-range and James Docherty put the hosts in front with a well-struck penalty.

The promise of more to come was soon dashed as Dowlais began to experiment with what little opportunity playing into the teeth of a gale presented. As it turned out, they were quite good at it. First it was the short-passing game, followed by a garryowen which Nathan Smith cleverly marked, but then they struck gold with a 30-metre maul which ended 5 metres short of the line with Alex Thau in the bin. Dowlais chose to scrummage from the penalty and drove over for the opening try.

In a brief show of defiance with the wind at their backs, the Seasiders pressured Dowlais in their own 22 as the outside half’s clearance slewed into touch ten metres behind where he’d kicked it from. Penarth lost the line-out, but recovered the ball in the ensuing ruck and hurried it along the threequarter line to Huw Elias, who skilfully drew the defence before accelerating to the corner.

8-5 was a good as it got. The Seasiders rang the changes as a complete new front row entered the fray in spotless kit and Elliott Smith came on to steady up the base of the scrum. Also making a welcome return after injury was Gareth Mathias.

Meanwhile, Dowlais had perfected their playing-into-the-wind technique and mauled their way to a further two unconverted tries to lead 15-8 with thirteen minutes to go. By this time, Penarth were in disarray, their scrum beaten and the backs making all sorts of weirdly wrong decisions in a vain attempt to get back into the game. In the end, there was no question as to which team had adapted better to the conditions, just a little puzzlement as to why they made such hard work of playing with the wind at their backs in the first half.

Hopefully better conditions await Penarth at Talgarth next Saturday as they travel to meet 10^th-placed Gwernyfed, who were beaten 15-13 at the Athletic Field on the opening day of the season and have since lost another seven games.

PENARTH James Docherty, Huw Elias, James Candy, Tom Luck, Paul Collett, Nathan Smith, Chris Mortimer [Gareth Mathias], Jerome Bryan [Owain James], Mason Good [Simon Barry], Sean O’Sullivan [Alan Doyle], Richard Howells, Stuart Clarke, Scott Mackie, Alex Thau, [Elliott Smith], Tom Bartlett

Scorers: Elias (try), Docherty (penalty).

Division 2 East Central

Saturday 5^th December 2015

Gwernyfed v PENARTH

Trefeca Road, Talgarth, Powys

Kick-off 2.30pm

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24/11/2015

24 Nov 2015

Match Report – Saturday 21 November 2015

LLANTRISANT 36 – PENARTH 10

It was captain Scott Mackie’s 100^th appearance for the club on Saturday but despite his putting in his usual 100% effort there wasn’t much else to celebrate.

After a couple of weeks weather-induced lay off the teams had bright, dry conditions to play in although the ground was still soggy and the breeze across the Cefn Mably park was bitter.

There was a young look to the Penarth starting line up with a number of the experienced players on the bench. Whilst it’s sensible to give young blood a chance the inexperience showed ominously from the first set scrum, Penarth being shoved emphatically backwards. This problem wasn’t resolved in the first half so the back division didn’t have the chance to show its’ capabilities.

Early exchanges were even-stevens despite a penalty to the home side but the first signs of their most successful tactic were evident. They possess a lively set of backs who move the ball slickly but more tellingly have in outside half Lewys Montague a very good judge of the chip into space.

The breakthrough score came on twenty minutes. The struggling Penarth eight were pushed off their own put in and after spreading ball wide the home backs fed supporting second row Ryan Harrison who crashed over at full tilt.

Not disheartened Penarth stuck to the task with half backs Rhys Morgan and Nathen Smith either encouraging the troops forward with solid clearance kicks or using centre Tom Luck to gain hard yards up the middle. So territory was gained along with a penalty to allow Penarth to drag the score back to 10 – 3.

At this juncture Penarth looked to be grafting back into contention. But fate had other plans. Out of defence home full back Jack Bunyan failed to gather a pass cleanly and as he succeeded at the second attempt the defence stood off waiting for a knock on to be awarded. But the judgement was contact off the leg not the hand so there was no whistle and a delighted Bunyan sped past his audience to touch down unopposed.

This set back was compounded immediately by desperate defence on the Penarth line being judged as sufficiently illegal for the immediate award of a penalty try and a yellow card to Alex Thau.

So in ten minutes from looking back in the match Penarth found themselves going in at half time 24 – 3 down.

The second half saw Penarth take the precaution of introducing Elliot Smith, Simon Barry and Stuart Clarke. This steadied the scrum as well as helping Rhys Morgan with Elliot Smith doing his trade mark tidying up around the base of the set piece.

So for a long period the home attack was blunted by solid defence and the possession gained worked upfield by the Penarth back row and centres. Confidence steadily increased and the home 22meters area was where the game was being. Defence became steadily more urgent and penalties were conceded and sensing Penarth ascendency Scott Mackie steadily declined easy three point offerings in favour of quick tap penalties.

As so often happens this brave policy backfired, Llantrisant kicked and chased a relieving penalty and Montague, inevitably, capped the move with an irresistible side step to gain their bonus point try.

Penarth heads did not drop and the long siege of the home line was recommenced, reaping reward at last with wing Rhys Goodfellow squeezing in at the corner.

The home side added a breakaway score at the death to gain themselves a merited but flattering 36 – 10 result and a distinctly chilled crowd trooped off to be greeted by a most welcome promotion by the local Glamorgan brewery dispensing samples from the back of a commandeered milk float.

Penarth:- Sean O’Sullivan; Mason Good; Alan Doyle; Lloyd Huxton; Jerome Bryan; Scott Mackie (capt.); Tom Bartlett; Alex Thau; Rhys Morgan; Nathan Smith; Ben Hill; Tom Luck; Mike Gubb; Rhys Goodfellow; James Docherty. Substitutes used Elliot Smith; Simon Barry; Stuart Clarke

Next Fixture; 2:30 pm Saturday 28^th November at home versus Dowlais

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25/10/2015

25 Oct 2015

Match Report – Saturday 24 October 2015

PENARTH 45 – TREHERBERT 7

There was an interesting take on the ‘game of two halves’ cliché at the Athletic Field on Saturday. I suspect that no one who has been following the fortunes of the two combatants this season can have been surprised by Penarth’s total domination of the first forty minutes. What was a surprise was the slip into general confusion and mayhem in the second forty.

Penarth fielded a side with a couple of notable absentees and positional changes but nevertheless looking strong enough. And so it transpired. A failed drop goal attempt by the visitors allowing keenly aware Nathan Smith to chip, juggle and collect then feed Adam Lewis on his shoulder who crossed the line unopposed.

The chip and run tactic worked yet again within minutes. This time it fell to Rhys Morgan to wrong foot the defence with a snappy change of direction. Wing Tom Hillman at the end of quick, clean passing found his wing partner James Crothers available to add the final touch.

So after fewer than ten minutes the combined dexterity of the home back division had created a 14 point advantage. From then on the result was never in any doubt.

However for a while Treherbert worked their way into home territory, successfully using their tall tight head prop Wes Brown as an unexpected line jumper. They exerted a sustained period of pressure but could not resist enhancing this with a bit of fisticuffs which allowed Penarth to regain a position well up field from where they set up their trademark driving line out and drove second row for the day Jerome Bryan over.

Not to be excluded the back division were straight back in the action. Yet another chip ahead was collected by Adam Lewis for his second and the side’s bonus point try. All this meaning that after only 20 minutes play 5 points were in the bag.

Ominously more fisticuffs followed and the referee gave the first of his several warnings to the team captains.

On the restart an absolute gem of a try was created. Lovely soft hands from Jerome Bryan in the line out were followed by a perfectly weighted cross field kick from Nathan Smith which only left Tom Hillman with a dazzling side step to execute before gliding over the line.

Two dismissals followed. Treherbert scrum half Sam Hodder collected a yellow card for a high tackle but the referee was taking increasing exception to Richard Merrett’s scrummaging and just on half time he collected a matching yellow card with Penarth leading 33 – 0.

A couple of adjustments by Penarth after the break saw James Docherty on as replacement. But no change was made to compensate for prop Merrett’s absence. At the first scrum Bryan moved from second row to his more familiar position.

Then fresh legs from the bench came on in a bunch with three substitutes, Owain George, Simon Barry and Mathew Alan taking the field.

For a while though Penarth took their foot off the accelerator. This and a series of penalties against conceded Treherbert field position. Ultimately this pressure was relieved by strong ball carrying from Richard Howell and there ensued yet more fisticuffs, more warnings from the referee and a yellow card for Tom Luck.

For a while this series of substitutions coupled with yellow cards made it impossible to clearly check who was involved and who was not and a quick unofficial headcount midway through the half it appeared to show that the game was being played 13 a side.

Thankfully the confused and increasingly niggly atmosphere was relieved by a devastating burst from replacement Kieran Carpenter. Collecting loose ball well inside his own half he set off weaving through the traffic to score through a series of vain attempts to stop him. A flash of lightning in the gloom of a messy stalemate.

Back in scoring mode Penarth relaxed again and allowed a soft consolation try. But straight away responded and left us with a scintillating climax of veteran Richard Merrett at full belt and clear of all the defence with only 25 metres remaining to cover. Not fancying the remaining trip he declined the score and he fed his skipper Scott Mackie who did the necessary.

The ref judged that any further proceedings would serve no good purpose and opted not to add any stoppage time.

Penarth:- R. Merrett; M. Good; A. Doyle; J. Bryan; O. James; R. Howell; A. Thau; S. Mackie (capt.); R. Morgan; N. Smith; J. Crothers; T. Luck; A. Lewis; T. Hillman; J. Candy. Replacements used M.Alan; S. Barry; O. George; J. Docherty; K Carpenter.

Penarth’s next league fixture is Saturday 7th November away at St. Peters.

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19/10/2015

19 Oct 2015

NO CUP RUN FOR SEASIDERS

PENARTH 12 BRECON 30 – Saturday 17 October 2015

This SWALEC Plate tie against Div. 1 East Central Brecon was a lot closer than the score suggests, but once again the Seasiders played well, showed promise, but nevertheless lost.

To be fair to Brecon, they probably won the game in the first five minutes with two unanswered tries. The first arrived after only 24 seconds, as some neat work from the kick-off by the half-backs set up centre Eifion Jones for a clean cut-through on an angle and full-back Jake Newman took the scoring pass. Penarth struck back from the restart with an excellent James Thatcher break up the left flank, but a poor inside pass in the Brecon 22 was decked and scrum-half Blake Parata needed just two well-judged hacks ahead to score at the other end of the pitch.

The Seasiders didn’t seem too worried by these set-backs and set about working their way back into the game with a will. James Crothers narrowly avoided scoring in the corner and the side were generally dominating proceedings from the position a being two scores adrift. The Penarth scrum had already established their accustomed dominance over the visiting eight, but the backs simply couldn’t turn this into points.

Pressure thankfully told in the end, as a scrum penalty in the Brecon 22 was kicked to touch, with the catch-and-drive leading to a Scott Mackie try after 25 minutes. The hosts continued to press for the remainder of the first half, but the only further score was a Brecon penalty on the single occasion they visited the home 22 and the teams turned around at half-time with the visitors leading 17-5.

The Seasiders began the second half poorly as errors handed field position to Brecon, who ended up with a 5m line-out. Clean ball off the top was delivered to number 8 Cashel Chilvers who broke round the front of the line-out and scored in the corner.

Penarth finally woke up at this point and started playing some rugby. They put together a wonderful mixture of forward and back play, featuring driven mauls, a clean break from Alex Thau and finally a handling movement that resulted in a second try for Mackie which brought the arrears back to 12 points as Brecon led 12-24

That, unfortunately, was as good as it got for the Seasiders; the replacements were sent on and it was Brecon’s turn to dominate the remainder of the tie. An extensively re-shuffled Penarth pack gave an excellent account of themselves, but errors in the back division eliminated any chance of closing the gap and the visitors secured a further two penalties to finish comfortable winners, despite scoring only three tries to two.

The Seasiders may find next week’s opponents more to their liking, as bottom club Treherbert are visitors to the Athletic Field following a catastrophic 0-94 defeat in their SWALEC Plate tie away at Barry.

PENARTH James Candy, Adam Lewis, James Thatcher, Tom Luck, James Crothers, Nathan Smith [James Docherty], Rhys Morgan, Owain James, Mason Good, Alan Doyle, Robert Rees, Lloyd Huxton [Simon Barry], Scott Mackie, Elliott Smith, Alex Thau

Scorers: Mackie (2 tries), Docherty (conv).

Division 2 East Central

Saturday 24^th October 2015

PENARTH v Treherbert

The Athletic Field, Lavernock Road

Kick-off 2.30pm

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12/10/2015

12 Oct 2015

SEASIDERS SECOND BEST

PORTH HARLEQUINS 22 PENARTH 8 – Saturday 10 October 2015

An exciting and positive Penarth side narrowly failed to bridge the gap between first and second at the Welfare Ground last Saturday, as leaders Porth Quins continued their unbeaten charge to promotion.

Admittedly the score doesn’t suggest a close game, any more than a 4-1 try count does, but the Seasiders were in the game from start to finish and really should have secured a losing bonus point. Unfortunately, a significant number of superb individual performances, while giving huge encouragement for the rest of the season, didn’t add up to enough points.

The early signs were that Quins were quite good, but Penarth were ignoring this and concentrating on their own counter-rucking game to good effect. It was going to take something special to crack the visitors’ defence and this turned out to be No.8 G.Lewis running on to a suspiciously forward-looking pass after 18 minutes.

The Seasiders struck back from the restart as Alan Doyle forced a penalty on the home 22 and James Docherty converted. Although under pressure due to the wind and slope, Penarth insisted on the passing game, rather than risking kicks upfield. However, a harsh penalty decision on half-way proved their undoing, when a catch-and-drive from the 22m line-out was driven over for a try by loosehead S.May.

Trailing 10-3 at half-time, there was some expectation that the Seasiders could exploit the conditions, but an early move by Porth that preyed on the visitors’ defensive frailties put the hosts on the way to their sixth win in row. Blindside flanker R.Downes broke down the right flank and although Mike Gubb covered across from full-back and stopped him on the 22, tight-head D.Wilcox picked up proved unstoppable as he trundled to the line.

Penarth came back at pace and a try went begging as the final pass went behind Ben Donovan, but then Mike Gubb launched the try of the afternoon from his own 10-metre line. The full back fielded a clearance and then set off on a mesmerising solo run, jinking past four tacklers in turn before setting up supporting flanker Harry Roberts for the charge to the posts.

At 17-8, this should have provided a launch-pad for a big come-back, but once again Porth went up a gear, stretched the Seasiders’ defence one way and sent winger D.Hitchins in at the opposite corner.

Both sides pursued the game into the final quarter at breakneck speed, but no further scores ensued. All the pressure was coming from Penarth, but the try that would have secured them a losing bonus point simply wouldn’t come and they now drop back to third place as St.Peters’ 33-26 defeat of Abercynon carried them up to second.

Next Saturday’s visitors to the Athletic Field in Round 1 of the Swalec Plate are last season’s Div 2 East Central champions Brecon, who lost 13-25 to Penarth in their last home game of the season back in April.

PENARTH Mike Gubb, Ben Donovan, James Thatcher, Tom Luck (Riyad Aukbarally), James Crothers, James Docherty, Rhys Morgan, Richard Merrett (Sean O’Sullivan), Mason Good, Alan Doyle, Richard Howells, Lloyd Huxton (Simon Barry), Joe Page, Scott Mackie Harry Roberts

Scorers: Roberts (try), Docherty (pen).

SWALEC Plate, Round 1

Saturday 17^th October 2015

PENARTH v Brecon

The Athletic Field, Lavernock Road

(Kick-off tba.)

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League 1 East Central
Season: 2024-2025

Next Match

Llanishen – Penarth

6. Match Day

02/11/2024, 2:30 pm

Table

Pos		Team	Pld	W	L	Pts
1	•	St Josephs	5	5	0	25
2	•	Abercynon	5	4	1	22
3	•	Rhydyfelin	5	4	1	22
4	•	Penarth	5	4	1	21
5	↑	Llanishen	5	2	3	14
6	↓	Llanharan	5	3	2	13
7	•	Abercwmboi	5	1	4	5
8	↑	Barry	5	1	4	5
9	↓	Rhiwbina	5	1	4	5
10	↓	Porth Harlequins	5	0	5	2

News

SEASIDERS RISE TO THE OCCASION

SEASIDERS CLAIM THE INAUGURAL RICHARD THOMAS SHIELD

SEASIDERS FAIL TO RISE TO THE OCCASION

SEASIDERS RISE TO FOURTH

DETERMINED SEASIDERS FIGHT BACK – Saturday 5 December 2015

SEASIDERS OUTWITTED – Saturday 28 November 2015

Match Report – Saturday 21 November 2015

Match Report – Saturday 24 October 2015

NO CUP RUN FOR SEASIDERS

SEASIDERS SECOND BEST

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