Penarth Shine Under Lights
Penarth 60-10 Old Penarthians (HT 20-10)
After three consecutive defeats this local derby was an absolute must win for Penarth but the performance they gave putting local rivals the Old Pens to the sword was above expectations. In front of a big local crowd the Seasiders recorded 10 tries with an excellent display of running rugby which will give them a huge boost in the remaining 3 matches of this WRU Bowl Round Robin phase of the season.
With the Old Pens having a few old heads back from the team that lost 48-7 at Cwrt y Vil back in August and Penarth racking up an impressive injury list it was expected to be a tight affair. However, from the off Penarth asserted their dominance in the set piece and in the loose and were soon ahead on the scoreboard with Tom Griffiths going over from the back of a rolling maul.
The Old Pens pulled 3 points back from the boot of Steffan Crimp but soon found themselves 15-3 down as first Miles Jones and then Griffiths, again, crossed the whitewash. The Old Pens were struggling to cope with Penarth’s high tempo hard running game which was being brilliantly orchestrated by skipper Rhys Morgan at fly half.
The Old Pens did manage a try of their own from a predictable source as the ever dangerous Chris Poole came in off his wing to slice through the Penarth defence and go under the posts to make it 15-10, and despite Penarth’s dominance it looked like it may yet be a tight match.
But that was as good as it got for the visitors as Penarth started to motor through the gears. Jones got his second try after a delightful piece of handling from second row Ben Haywood put him clear on the right wing just before half time and in the second half Penarth really opened up.
First Spencer Robinson made a trademark snipe to stroll in under the posts before Griffiths completed his hat-trick, both converted by the returning James Candy who had a good game at full back. Harry Wood then turned on the style as he took the ball flat on the gainline and let loose an outrageous side step that saw him scythe through the hapless Old Pens defence and over the try line for Penarth’s 7th try.
Next in on the act was second row Alex Shore, who had carried relentlessly all game, and then Ryan Jones peeled off the back of another dominant rolling maul to bounce his way through a few tired tacklers and over the line. Proceedings were wrapped up by that man Robinson who glided through for his second and Penarth’s 10th with Candy adding three more conversions.
There is no doubt that this will be a huge confidence boost to the Seasiders, however they will be aware that for all the heart, grit and determination shown by the Old Pens the challenge that awaits them in the remainder of the Bowl competition and in the League season to follow, starting in November, will be a significant jump up in quality.
On Saturday the Athletic XV travelled to Llandaff in EDRU Division 1 and came away with a resounding victory by 38-7. Tries from Aled Rees (2), Xavier Cranwell, Nik Haymes, Aurther Mills and Ellis Shewring who also added 4 conversions, saw Penarth cruise to a comfortable but well earned victory.
This weekend sees the Athletic host Canton at the Athletic Field whilst the 1st XV have a rest week.
PENARTH: James Candy, George Kynaston, George Roberts, Danny Davison (Ellis Shewring), James Crothers, Rhys Morgan (Aled Rees), Spencer Robinson, Harry Wood, Tom Griffiths (Liam Richards), Alan Doyle (Ryan Jones), Alex Shore, Ben Heywood, Josh Barden (Josh Spragg) Harry Roberts, Miles Jones.
