Scoreless Seasiders Ship Six

Dowlais 30 Penarth 0 – Saturday3 November 2012

Dowlais are good, but they’re no Pontyclun. But let’s be fair, it’s not about them, is it? No, it’s the Seasiders we need to talk about, if only because once again they found themselves two tries down after only ten minutes.

This is getting to be a bit of a habit and as the defence took time to settle, the Dowlais centres cruised through for a try apiece and the only consolation was the outside half’s inability to convert either, a skill he was to hone to perfection as the game developed.

Of course, Penarth had an answer to this all the time and the familiar pick-and-drive was wheeled out to some effect. Unfortunately denied a score when Henry Mitchell was adjudged offside from a James Docherty chip ahead, they conceded ground from the penalty and then a third try as the scrum half strolled through a static defence from the subsequent line-out. Within two minutes, the outside half had given the defence the slip and put his inside centre over for the bonus point.

Two sudden bursts of scoring had effectively ended the game before half-time, but the Seasiders fought back to produce a 45-minute stalemate which only served to underline their earlier defensive failings. In fact, Dowlais had become so neutralised that they were never going to score again unless the resolute visitors suffered some terrible misfortune.

Sure enough, in swift succession, Henry Mitchell was ordered off for ten minutes and Mike Hurley limped off injured. Without further replacements, Penarth were reduced to 13 players and when Chris Mortimer took a blow to the knee, they were effectively down to 12 although the scrum half determinedly continued.

At this point the hosts were understandably allowed to run in another brace of tries to complete the scoring with ten minutes to go. In a stirring finish, those ten minutes belonged entirely to the Seasiders. Dowlais had already lost their scrum half for back-chat and they couldn’t get out of their own 22 as the Penarth pack patiently went through the phases and thrust after thrust was held up at the line as the home defence held firm.

The fact remains that here was another match where Penarth allowed the opposition to score six tries where they probably didn’t need to have conceded any at all. Unless something is done to address these defensive frailties, the Seasiders’ season will be reduced to hoping that Nantymoel and Tonyrefail keep losing as well.

With the onset of the Autumn international series, there’s no game this coming Saturday and the next league game will be at the Athletic Field on Saturday 17th November when fifth-placed Brecon are the visitors. Since Brecon’s four recent wins have come against lowly opposition, this may very well be a challenge a rested Penarth squad can meet effectively.

PENARTH James Candy, Henry Mitchell, Mike Hurley, Mike Rowe, James Crothers, James Docherty, Chris Mortimer, Richard Merrett [Paul Williams], Joe Page, Brad Cole [Tom Gent], Mike Clare, Dan Hofmann, Adan Cole, Scott Mackie, Matt Sutton