SEASIDERS RETURN IN COMMON ROMP

Dinas Powys 7-59 Penarth

It’s important to keep things in proportion and context is everything. For the large contingent of travelling supporters, a return to actual rugby would have been enough, but when their team was looking as irresistible as this, it was really rather confusing.

Context: this was a friendly run-out at near-neighbours Dinas Powys (from Division 1 East Central) and it was four short periods of ten-a-side totally about 40 minutes of rugby. Both clubs had fielded senior squads and there were no scrums.

Having said all that, the ensuing hour soon took on a surreal air as the Seasiders hit the ground running and never really stopped. This young squad looked fit and intent and if a few scoring passes went astray, everything else ran like clockwork.

The score was a little difficult to follow, as most drop-kicked conversions were missed, so the details, if not the overall size of the result, need to be taken with a pinch of salt. By the end of the first period, a totally dominant Penarth starting 10 were leading 15-7, following scores by Spencer Robinson, Harry Williams and George Roberts.

In the second period, a much-changed line-up faced a better quality of Dinas opposition, but despite losing a player to a yellow card, they still managed another couple of scores through Robinson and Mason Good.

In the third period, while the crowd were still waiting for Dinas to live up to their billing, the Seasiders cut loose in spectacular fashion, adding a further five tries to the five already scored. Alex Thau, Owen Lloyd and Alan Doyle were the scorers, with the latter completing the score with a conversion. Further scores by lock Ben Heywood and an irrepressible Rhys Beynon, pushed the score out to a probable 7-54 (approx.) before a quieter fourth period where the highlight was George Kynaston taking a perfect line to score the final try.

It was all a bit strange and exhilarating, but it certainly gave us every impression that Penarth are fit and ready for whatever this coming season brings us.

It seems likely that there will be a ‘round robin’ start to a WRU Bowl competition in August, with the likelihood of a shortened league season, starting in mid-January after a winter break. As soon as this all becomes clearer, we’ll report it.

One last bizarre statistic after a deeply strange pre-season, post-lockdown friendly run-out: out of 11 tries scored, only Spence scored two. Are things looking up for Penarth? Probably.

PENARTH SQUAD:

Miles Jones, Ben Heywood, Sam Davies, Mason Good, Tom Griffiths, Alan Doyle, Owen Lloyd, Alex Thau, Alex Shore, Rhys Jones, Rhys Powell, George Kynaston, Jim Crothers, Rhys Beynon, Andy Richards, Rhys Morgan, Spencer Robinson, James Candy, George Roberts, Harry Williams, Danny Davidson, Will Hardy, Aled Rees, Matt Wiltshire

LATE RALLY, BUT NO WIN FOR SEASIDERS

Tylorstown  31-24 Penarth (HT 15-9)

Penarth started this game without a handful of key players, but looked well set to win this one against old rivals Tylorstown as they eased into a comfortable 9-point lead in the first half-hour. The Tigers had barely set foot outside their own half as James Docherty converted steady pressure from the Seasiders into points with three penalties.

All that was missing was a try, but when the hosts gained good field position for the first time, it was their right wing who squeezed in at the corner. Penarth were straight back on the offensive, but everything went against them in the remainder of the half.

A long clearance by the Tigers as the Seasiders coughed up possession in the home 22 resulted in a kickable penalty and when Richie Bowen was summarily yellow-carded for something or other at the breakdown, the driven scrum was immediately rewarded with a penalty try and the hosts led 15-9 at half-time.

With lights now on along the downhill side of the ground and making precious little difference  in the gathering mist, Tylorstown ventured into the Penarth 22 for the only the third time. Missed tackles ushered them through to the line for their third try. Things were beginning to look a bit grim for the visitors, who had arguably dominated proceedings, but simply failed to register enough scores.

A penalty from the restart, expertly converted from 45 metres by Docherty, certainly helped matters, but despite enjoying the bulk of the possession for the next 20 minutes it was the Tigers who were getting the benefit of the sheer quantity of decisions and they regained their 13-point lead with another penalty.

The Seasiders instead had to rely on sheer inspiration to make any progress, but after an inspired break, George Roberts was forced to retire after a chest-high tackle brought the move to a jarring halt. Penarth nevertheless pulled a score back as a short siege pulled the home defence out of position and Josh Spragg crossed in the corner.

Penarth failed to deal adequately with the restart and conceded a penalty in their own 22, allowing the Tigers to extend their lead, but the final session almost belonged to the visitors. Still trailing by 11 points, they drove straight through the Tylorstown scrum in the 22, but no advantage was allowed and there were only six minutes remaining when the Seasiders finally secured their second try.

A dismissal was once again involved and this time it was Tiger’s right wing departing with a red card for dangerous play. With fingers crossed that they would be allowed to complete the move, Penarth opted for another scrum and as Mason Good scored in the corner and Docherty converted from touch, the lead had been reduced to 28-24.

While it looked as if the Seasiders might yet steal the win, they eventually conceded yet another penalty, which the hosts converted to secure their win. The only consolation for the visitors being a losing bonus point. No further league action for Penarth until 15^th February due to the first two rounds of the Six Nations.

PENARTH:

Josh Hurley, George Roberts, Owain Lord, Andy Richards, Ben Hill, James Docherty, Rhys Morgan © (Owen Williams), Harry Wood (Geraint Williams), Tom Griffiths (Mason Good), Alan Doyle, Matt Allen, Alex Shore, Thaine Baker (Josh Spragg), Miles Jones, Richie Bowen

Scorers:  Josh Hurley (try), Mason Good (try), James Docherty (4 penalties, 1 conversion).

SOLID SEASIDERS BATTER BADGERS

Pontyclun 5-16 Penarth (HT 5-9)

While last week’s comfortable home win against Clwb Rygbi signalled a lively return to form, this visit to 2^nd-placed Pontyclun was expected to be a completely different sort of test. The Badgers were co-favourites for promotion after a storming start to the season, scoring 43 tries in ten games, exceeding 30 points in six of these, including their 39-12 defeat of Penarth at the Athletic Field in October.

So much for form, then. Coach Matt Bolton sent the team out with firm instructions to compete for everything and the Seasiders simply went out and did just that. Pressure was exerted from the kick-off and Pontyclun could barely lay a hand on the ball for ten minutes.

However, when the Badgers did gain possession, they shipped it quickly wide to right wing Sam Davies, who showed us what his team were all about by accelerating smoothly from half way to score in the corner. But that was as good as it got for the hapless hosts. Penarth completely dominated the remaining 70 minutes.

Pontyclun didn’t know what hit them, sometimes quite literally. A storming follow-up from George Roberts won a penalty after 20 minutes, which Josh Hurley coolly converted and, in the second quarter, it was only handling errors by the visitors that allowed the Badgers to play any part in the game at all. Hurley added another two penalties before half-time for a 9-5 lead at the break.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, the Badgers took to kicking long for field position, but got no change out of the Seasiders with that tactic either. The problem was that despite having the upper hand in all aspects of the game, Penarth weren’t actually getting much in the way of rewards and had to settle for pounding away in the home side’s own half. Their patience was exemplary and it took them until the 68^th minute to be allowed enough continuity to extend their lead.

Spencer Robinson had been bringing his usual urgency to proceedings throughout, but as yet another scrum was driven to the line, he made the decisive intervention. Driving towards the posts with several defenders in close attendance, instead of going to ground, he pivoted with the ball above his head and found centre Owain Lord in support, who crashed over from 5 metres for the try. Hurley converted for a 16-9 lead.

Pontyclun belatedly realised that their ambitions had shrunk to chasing a losing bonus point. As they trailed by 11 points, only a try would suffice, but they were still having trouble getting out of their own half. They finally managed this in the last minute, only for an attacking line-out on the Seasiders’ 22m line to be overthrown and booted into touch.

Next Saturday brings Penarth up against 9^th-placed Old Illtydians for the first time this season. The Illts made a solid start to their campaign with four straight wins, but have only a solitary win against bottom club Cardiff Quins to their credit in the last six. In the corresponding fixture last season, the Seasiders registered a thumping 50-22 win, with a Matt Allen hat-trick of tries taking pride of place in an eight-try total.

PENARTH:

Rhys Morgan ©, George Roberts, Owain Lord, Rhys Beynon, Josh Hurley, James Docherty, Spencer Robinson, Harry Wood, Mason Good, Alan Doyle (Geraint Williams), Andy Lang, Alex Shore, Thaine Baker, Miles Jones, Richie Bowen

Scorers:  Owain Lord (try), Josh Hurley (3 penalties, one conversion).

Boxing Day rugby – keeping the tradition alive!

Bolton XV 22 v 22 Morgan XV

By Chris Thau

This was one of those rare occasions in rugby, when the two sides got engaged in combat with a smile on their faces, yet determined to apply the basic rules of rugby warfare by making no allowance for the previous’ day indulgence. The Boxing Day match between Matt Bolton’s XV and Rhys Morgan’s men, was fast and furious from the moment go, with the 50-odd participants tackling each other with relish, while attacking with the ball in hand at every opportunity. It was very much a huge family reunion, with fathers and sons, brothers and cousins, veterans and newcomers, former players and stars of the future joining the entertainment. “This reminded me of my senior debut back in 1964, in the Boxing Day match, while I was still a Youth players,” Club President John Davey recalled. “This was a fixture that started just before the Second World War, so for us, fulfilling it was a matter of keeping the tradition alive. It is a great occasion, producing a fabulous mix of players, young and old, friends and family members,” he added.

Bolton’s men, helped by some searching runs from former captains Alex Thau and Tom Luck, with the young guns Harry Williams, George Roberts and Spencer Robinson adding pace, guile and dash, looked as if they were going to run away with the game. Somehow, the generous Christmas spirit that reigned on the day helped even the odds by allowing Morgan’s troopers to battle their way back into the game, to snatch an improbable, yet thoroughly deserved draw, with the two sides scoring four tries and one conversion each. “At the beginning it felt that the match was getting a bit pear-shaped and we were in for a right thrashing” said scrum-half Tom Parkinson, also a wicket keeper with the Penarth cricket team and captain of the club’s second hockey XI. “But then, the anticipated disaster did not materialise, as we fought our way back into the game, and levelled the score,” he added

“I have never had such fun in my whole career,” said former Penarth and Cardiff lock forward Jason Allen, who started alongside his teenage son Ryan for Morgan’s XV. “I just went down with the ball in a tackle and hoped that support would materialise, when I saw Ryan on top, locking the ruck, like in a team practice. Absolutely superb,” said Allen senior who is one of the coaches of a highly successful Penarth Youth team. “I remember how I started playing alongside my late dad Ken in a festive match at Dinas Powys, many years ago,” added Allen.

“It was great fun. So nice to play with the boys after two years,” confirmed former Penarth and Wales U20 backrower Owen Lloyd, who is currently studying for a sports science degree at Loughborough University. “It was brilliant to play with the boys again” confirmed Morgan Humphreys, a former Youth player, nowadays a talented club cricketer, who had joined rugby club regulars Miles Jones and George Roberts on the touchline. “If you think of it, this was very much a nice mix of rugby, cricket and hockey players, which is what an Athletic club is all about”, Spencer Robinson observed.

“I loved every minute of it! It was great fun. We enjoyed it on the field and the crowd responded in kind from the touch line”, said prop emeritus and former skipper Richard Merrett, who together with Matt Bolton and young Harry Wood formed an impressive front-row unit. However, neither them, nor the opposite trio of Dai Morgan (one of the Youth coaches), Gary Power, a former club captain and hooker and young Geraint Williams, had many opportunities to lock horns with Bolton’s men, simply because referee Chris Hunt, very much in the spirit of the day, allowed the game to flow, rather than penalise every infringement. As the time wore on, more front rowers took the field, including the current Penarth regulars, Alan Doyle, Rhys Jones, Mason Good as well as Lloyd Ellis and Jerome Bryan, not to mention the young Rhys Newman, the grandson of club legend Paul and son of Mike, the third generation Newman to wear Penarth colours. “The referee made all the difference. He has got a great sense of humour and entered the spirit of the occasion”, said Doyle.

“In fairness the ref did a great job. He is a farmer in Chepstow and had to get up very early to milk 500 cows before coming to Penarth for an early noon kick-off,” said rugby fixture secretary Peter Docherty who is also a fine cricketer and Chairman of the Cricket section, and played a big part in organising the fixture. His son James Docherty, the rugby club’s secretary, made a rare appearance at No.8 a move away from his regular number 10 spot. The 10 shirt was filled by former club fly-half Gareth Davies, a top Fleet Street journalist by trade (Breaking News Editor with the Telegraph), who was watched with legitimate pride by his father, the former Penarth hooker Phil Davies.

Another club official to make a cameo appearance was Director of Rugby Paul Williams, a former Neath and Penarth player and coach, who was a member of the successful 1989 Welsh Schools touring side, the last Welsh team to have the better of their New Zealand counterparts in an international.

The game was a delightful melange of holiday rugby and fun that entertained the sizeable crowd, probably the biggest at the Athletic Field, since Good Friday, the other major crowd pleaser of Penarth rugby faithful. Similar to Good Friday rugby, the Boxing Day match is part of the Penarth rugby DNA and the unanimous verdict of both participants and spectators at the end of the match was sheer delight. “Absolutely superb! Let’s have more of this!” was the verdict of former Penarth players Matt Sutton, Louis Chandler and Rhys Goodfellow. The presence of 30-year old Rhys Goodfellow, who had recently undergone lung and liver transplant at the Queen Elisabeth Hospital in Birmingham, was particularly moving, as the two neighbouring Penarth clubs had organised a series of auctions and raffles to help raise funds for his aftercare.

“In many ways”, says skipper Rhys Morgan, “other than the presence of the club’s former players, this abundant turnover is a consequence of the club’s successful recruitment campaign, which includes the integration of the new boys, joining us from a very productive Youth section as well as the development of a full fixture list for the Seconds. The new boys have been brilliant. They have all joined into the spirit of the club and have really added to the whole atmosphere, both on and off the field.

The 2nds have also had a huge impact on the club as a whole. Boys are getting games week in week out, which boosts training numbers massively, and pushes the boys in the first team. We have a lot of options now in certain positions which can only be a good thing. We’ve had a few narrow losses which were disappointing. But overall we can be happy with how the season has gone so far. A few tweaks here and there and the future could be promising.”