Penarth RFC celebrate the end of the 2016-17 season

Nearly a hundred current and former players, club officials, supporters and friends attended the Penarth RFC Annual Dinner at the club Headquarters at the Athletic Field on Lavernock Road.

The after-dinner entertainment was provided by veteran comedian Bob Webb while club Chairman Mike Gooding made the presentations.

Twenty-two year old prop forward Alan Doyle, in his second year of senior rugby, has won the coveted “James Lot Thorn” shield which rewards the club’s Player of the Year. “Doyler” as he is called by his teammates, has joined Penarth seniors last season and played a total of 56 matches since. He has become a regular feature of Penarth front row this season, playing in all but one match, and topping the table with 26 appearances. He is a product of the Penarth Minis and Juniors section and played for Vale of Glamorgan U15s, Cardiff Blues U16s and Cardiff and District Youth, before making his senior debut for the Seasiders. Another former Youth player Matthew Allen, has won the Most Promising Player award, making 13 appearances in the second and back row of the club, having played for Blues U16s and Blues U18 development, as well as Cardiff and District Youth.

“Clubman of the Year” Chris Mortimer, who is a product of Bath Academy and won his “cap” two years ago,
made this season 16 appearances at centre, flank-forward, scrum-half and even hooker.

Two back-row players, Alex Thau and Eliott Smith (who was unable to attend the ceremony) have been presented with the ceremonial “cap” which rewards 100 club appearances. Smith played in 22 matches mostly at No8, though making occasional appearances in the second row, while Thau made 24 appearances in the back-row scoring 11 tries, a club record for the season. The resilient wing three-quarter James Crothers, who celebrated his 300th game for the club, has also made 24 appearances this season, similar to club captain Tom Luck, who made 24 appearances either at centre or on the wing. Overall, 53 players turned up for the club making between 1-26 appearances. Six former Youth players Caleb Docking, Deklan Grotz, Oliver Shore, Harison Pughsely, Rhys Evans and Morgan Smith have joined the Senior section, which has commenced training this month.

Overall, the team coached by Head Coach Matthew Bolton and backs coach John Colderly, has played 27 games, of which 22 in the East Central Second Division, winning nine, for 12 defeats and a drawn match.