Penarth win CDRU 7s Shield
After a gap of 24 years the Cardiff and District Rugby Union have relaunched the popular CDRU 7s tournament, which commenced in 1951, with Cardiff RFC, led then by the new Wales outside half Cliff Morgan, defeating Longcross RFC 11-5 in the final. Similar to the original 1951 event it was Cardiff RFC who won the Ivor Lake Cup, defeating the hosts St. Peter’s RFC in an entertaining final. However, unlike the earlier tournaments, the teams defeated in round one went on playing for the “CDRU Shield”, having been offered “a second bite of the cherry to win some pre-season silverware”, as Cardiff and District Union Chairman Gareth Thomas explained. The event was an outstanding success, though the 16-club draw was slightly upset by the withdrawal of Old Penarthians, Llanrumney and CIACs. Though the seaside club has only commenced training a week ago, head coach Paul Williams decided to enter a team, to help, as he put it, build up momentum for a new and demanding season.
Indeed managed by former captain Gary Power and coached by Williams the 12 Penarth players: Scott Mackie (captain), Nathan Smith, Stuart Clark, Alex Thau, Richard Howells, Ben Donovan, Gareth Mathias, Mason Good, Kieran Carpenter, Matt Allen, Riyad Auckbarelly and Tom Hillman played their hearts out and brought back home the first piece of silverware this century. There is little doubt their first match was always going to be the most demanding, taking into account both the shortage of match fitness as well as the lack of seven-a-side experience. Indeed the Seasiders, playing a brand of physical rugby more akin to an unrefined version of 15s than the enterprise and finesse of Seven-a-side rugby, lost their first game 19-35 to a fired-up Cardiff Quins. It was a blessing in disguise for the Seasiders who found themselves moved into the second section of the draw, playing for the Shield rather than the Cup. That meant that they took on Tongwynlais RFC in the quarterfinal, whom the defeated 29-12, which saw them in the semi-final against arch-rivals and former holders of the Cup Fairwater, who had a bye the previous round. It was an amazing match which Penarth won 21-14 with Nathan Smith playing a flawless game, either kicking or with the ball in hand, and Gareth Mathias tackling like a man possessed.
As the referee blew his whistle to bring the semi-final match to an end, what started like a pleasurable Sunday stroll a few hours earlier, turned for a short while into an intense “must win” mode. It did not last long, simply because for the coach and most of the players, reaching the final was already mission accomplished, and also, because the other finalist, Barry RFC had been playing an educated and skilful brand of Sevens, which, Penarth players have come to admire during the previous rounds. But then, just as the final started, Alex Thau sneaked in for his fifth of the day, which was soon cancelled out by a speedy Barry touchdown.
The key moment of an otherwise intensely fought and ultimately entertaining final was the amazing piece of defensive work by Ben Donovan who crossed the field at lightning speed to shove into touch the Barry right wing, as he was about to dive over. A Penarth try levelled the score at 19-all, and as the match entered its final minute, coach Williams produced a masterpiece of fun management by bringing on the “kids”, as the newly-recruited members of the Youth section are known. The newcomers maintained the same “hustle and bustle” approach that took the Seasiders that far in the tournament, with Matt Allen ending a day to remember under the Barry posts for the final try. Great fun was had by all!
Photo Caption: The Winning Penarth Team:
Standing (l-r) Paul Williams (Coach), Richard Howells, Nathan Smith, Kieran Carpenter, Stuart Clark, Ben Donovan, Mason Good, Matt Allen,
Kneeling (l-r) Riyad Auckbarelly Scott Mackie (captain), Alex Thau, Gareth Mathias and Tom Hillman
