FRUSTRATED SEASIDERS IN SEARCH OF A PLOT

Llanharan 40-18 Penarth (HT 26-6)

Of course this half-season is largely meaningless and of course the Seasiders have only dropped one place to fourth, but what a difference a week makes. Admittedly Llanharan were a rather different proposition to Canton, but Penarth’s response was so lacking in inspiration that it turned into a really hard 80 minutes for them.

Llanharan’s team weren’t markedly more skilful than the visitors, but they had a cracking pair of centres and, more importantly, a sense of purpose that the Seasiders seemed to lack entirely. The number of times a Penarth ball-carrier failed to find support and had to go into contact became monotonous.

Llanharan started the game at breakneck speed, hoping to hurry the Seasiders into errors, but the defence held firm until an overlap was worked in the corner and the right winger scored after 7 minutes.

Penarth were to enjoy some field position for a while and a clever chip ahead by Rhys Morgan to George Roberts nearly came off, but the only reward came with a Josh Hurley penalty after 14 minutes. The hosts went further ahead after 23 minutes as their openside flanker made a clean line-break out of nowhere and his supporting blindside dotted down under the posts.

Hurley again pulled back three points and there were no alarm bells ringing yet with half-time approaching. Then the roof fell in. Swift attacks from first a 5-metre scrum and then a devastating line-break from Llanharan’s irrepressible inside-centre brought two tries, a bonus point and the end of the Seasiders’ serious interest in the search for points.

With the game effectively out of reach at 26-6, Penarth made a lively start to the second period, but for all the effort the malfunctions in most parts of their game just brought frustration. A sterling last-ditch tackle effort from Ben Wellington delayed the hosts’ next score, but they stormed back immediately and a replacement enjoyed a stroll to the corner as the defence disintegrated.

Having emptied the bench, the Seasiders finally found some rhythm in the final quarter and claimed two late tries. First, a rare completed three-quarter move put George Kynaston into space down the right flank with George Roberts in support. The winger was tackled just short of the line, but Ben Wellington again appeared from nowhere to stretch out and score.

Llanharan had time to add a sixth try to their tally, before Aled Rees claimed a try in the corner with the last move of the game. No league fixture for a fortnight as the WRU Bowl knockout stages take over and Penarth will welcome visitors Clwb Rgybi Cymry Caerdydd to the Athlectic Field on 29^th January with the clubs level-pegging on 14 points.

PENARTH:

Josh Hurley (George Kynaston), George Roberts, Andy Richards, Rhys Beynon, Ben Wellington, James Docherty, Rhys Morgan© (Aled Reece), Harry Wood (Rhys Powell), Mason Good, Ryan Jones (Geraint Williams), Cam Sultana, Alex Shore, Josh Barden, Miles Jones, Tom Griffiths (Chris Mortimer)

Scorers:

Ben Wellington (try), Aled Reece (try), Josh Hurley (2 pens), James Docherty (conv).

Boxing Day Fun for the Bears

After the new Welsh Government Covid Restrictions put pay to the Annual Boxing Day match against the Old Penarthians, and what was supposed to be a big fundraising event for Marie Curie Hospice Holme Tower, Penarth’s players had to settle for an inhouse match with teams drawn out of hat. And so it was that at 12.30 on Boxing Day the imaginatively named Team A, led by club captain Rhys Morgan, took on Team B, led by vice captain Miles Jones.

As the game started so the sun made a well time arrival to ensure the game was played in glorious conditions. As well as many members of the first and second team squads it was also good to see London residents Nathan Frost and Tom Smith back in Penarth colours as well as Lloyd Clarke and Will Hardy who were back home from university for Christmas.

Team A made a strong start and went ahead early on as second row Cameron Sultana popped up on the wing to burst over to open the scoring. This was followed shortly after by a second for Team A as Leon Appiah showed a clean pair of heels to the defence. Team B came back into it with a breakaway try from Tom Smith. Leon Appiah picked up another two tries for Team A before half time with Aled Rees responding for Team B before Rhys Morgan had a try disallowed on the stroke of half time.

The game was an open flowing affair with plenty of gaps in defence due to a mixture of being 12 players a side and Christmas excess starting to take their toll, the refereeing of first team coaches Matt Bolton (first half) and Paul Williams (second half) also added to the spectacle with their interpretation of the laws. Team A were quickly of the mark again in the second half with Will Hardy and Joe Thomas getting their names on the scoresheet before Aled Rees picked up another try for Team B. Skipper Morgan go in on the act from a rolling maul as the game entered a most entertaining phase.

With scores adjudged to be tied after titanic hour long tussle the match went to the golden point with both sides having chances to take the spoils but not quite getting over the line. The winning points finally came from an unlikely source as Team A executed a well-rehearsed lineout move to put first team loosehead prop Harry Wood in the open to slot a magnificent drop goal worthy of winning any game, and seal his man of the match award.

League rugby remains on its festive break next week but returns on the 8^th January when the first team travel to Canton to take on the home team on their 4G artificial pitch, COVID restrictions dependant. At this stage with spectator numbers limited to 50 for community sports events it is recommended that supporters do not attend the match however the club will make announcements over their social media channels in the event that there are any changes.

The club will be moving its fundraising event for Marie Curie to its first home game of 2022 against Clwb Rygbi Cymru Caerdydd on Saturday 22^nd January 2022.

STEADY SEASIDERS SECURE SUCCESS

Penarth 22-8 Cardiff Quins (HT 7-3)

Showing several changes from the previous week, the Seasiders fielded a competent-looking side against visitors Cardiff Quins. To add to an already long injury list, the first substitution arrived within minutes as outside-half James Candy was helped from the field to be replaced by James Docherty.

The Quins moved quickly to exploit the disruption by camping out in the Penarth 22, but although their pack forced their way over the line, the number 5 was successfully held up. The tapped penalty was followed by another penalty which the visitors converted for an early 0-3 lead.

This was about as good as it got for the Quins, as the hosts easily dominated the remainder of the half despite playing into fierce low sun. However, a combination of handling errors and puzzling refereeing interventions prevented another score until the half-hour. The visitors were throwing on to a line-out on their own 22, but the Seasiders won a turnover at the next ruck. Quickly recycled, the ball was shipped along the line to Cam Sultana, who calmly claimed the first try.

Early in the second half, Penarth moved in for the kill, as a driven maul was taken over the line, but once again the ball carrier was held up. Then a huge line-break from Miles Jones led to a kickable penalty which was also missed, then another, which Josh Hurley converted.

All the pressure was coming from the Seasiders, but a bout of white line fever prevented further scores until Hurley took matters into his own hands with a no-nonsense drive to the line. With twenty-five minutes remaining and leading 17-3, Penarth looked set for a comfortable win, but as so often happens, the game limped along from stoppage to stoppage and Quins managed to pull an unconverted try out of the hat as their left wing touched down in the corner.

With the chance of a bonus point having long departed as the clock ran down, the Seasiders had the last word as Ellis Shewring scored the third try straight from a scrum 25m out. Feinting to pass infield, he accelerated though a gap and finished off a classic scrum-half’s try under the posts for a final score of 22-8.

PENARTH:

Rhys Morgan ©, George Roberts, Andy Richards, Josh Hurley, Jim Crothers (Josh Powell), James Candy (James Docherty), Ellis Shewring, Harry Wood, Mason Good, Geraint Williams, Andy Lang, Ben Heywood, Cam Sultana, Josh Barden (Richie Bowen), Miles Jones, Thaine Baker

Scorers:

Cam Sultana Try, Josh Hurley Try Pen Conv, Ellis Shewring Try, Andy Richards Conv

SEASIDERS START IN STYLE

Penarth 38-0 Old Illtydians (HT 17-0)

Penarth welcomed league rugby back to the Athletic Field for the first time since February 2019 in fine style with a bonus point win that seems them sit atop of Division 3A East Central, albeit after only one round of fixtures.

It was not a complete performance but it was a huge improvement on recent efforts which will be a much needed confidence boost for this team which seems to thrive on positivity.

The significance of the match was clear from the start with both sides having struggled badly in the Bowl competition and ended up footing their respective tables, although in Penarth’s case only because the Old Pens failed to complete the competition. What became clear in the opening salvos was that Penarth were a superior outfit but that nerves were certainly playing a part.

Penarth dominated territory and possession throughout the match but some poor handling and panicky decision making saw them take only 3 points, from the boot of Andy Richards, in the first quarter of the game. Things did improve slowly throughout the half and a now customary Spencer Robinson snipe around the fringes saw the scrum half break the defensive line and beat the cover to score Penarth’s first try of the afternoon.

There was more domination to follow from the home side, particularly in the scrum, and on the stroke of half time a 5 metre scrum was the platform for Robinson to feed Tom Luck with the big centre needing no invitation to cap his 100^th cap for the club with a try as he bundled over from short range.

The second half started as the first had ended with Penarth in complete control and on the offensive. A number of penalties deep in the visitors half cumulated in Alan Doyle seeing an opportunity to take a quick tap and power his way to Penarth’s third try of the afternoon.

There then followed a bit of a rarity as the Old Illts finally had a sustained period in the Penarth half. Unfortunately for the visitors they were unable to take any points or cause any real problems for Penarth in this period and the home side were easily able to absorb the pressure and ultimately relieve it completely.

The remainder of the game was some what of a procession for Penarth and first Tom Griffiths and then Richie Bowen put the icing on the cake with tries to secure the bonus point and the win. Andy Richards completed a perfect day with the boot by converting all 5 tries as well as his early penalty.

There will be much sterner tests than this to come for Penarth, not least of all against Fairwater next time out, but they can take much confidence from this solid performance although there is still plenty of room for improvement.

PENARTH:

Rhys Morgan (c), George Roberts (James Crothers), Andy Richards, Tom Luck, Ben Wellington, James Candy (Kevin Maddox), Spencer Robinson (Ellis Shewring), Geraint Williams (AJ Jones), Tom Griffiths (Mason Good), Alan Doyle, Andy Lang, Cam Sultana, Josh Barden, Richie Bowen, Miles Jones

Scorers: Spencer Robinson (T), Tom Luck (T), Alan Doyle (T), Tom Griffiths (T), Richie Bowen (T), Andy Richards (5C)(P)