SCRATCH SEASIDERS BUCKLE

DOWLAIS 34 PENARTH 17 – Saturday 9 April 2016

After last week’s encouraging performance against second-placed Llantrisant, the Seasiders, searching for a first win since early January, made the trip up to the Heads of the Valleys to face promotion challengers Dowlais.

This was always going to be an uphill struggle for yet another hastily-assembled team showing several changes from the published squad, but they made a superb start. Alan Doyle ran back the Dowlais kick-off and quick possession was delivered to Nathan Smith at inside-centre who dummied inside before releasing Alex Thau, who beat two defenders to score.

With James Docherty adding the extras, Penarth were in the exhilarating position of enjoying a 7-0 lead within the first minute. Then they almost immediately lost Smith to a shoulder injury, with Owain Rees coming on at scrum-half while Rhys Morgan moved out to centre.

Dowlais were now dominating possession, but couldn’t keep up any sort of momentum as the referee was giving them no leeway at the breakdown. A youthful Penarth eight, despite facing a gnarled and experienced home pack, were holding their own in the tight, which is why it came as a surprise when Dowlais equalised after 15 minutes with a penalty try.

The Seasiders then experienced what was a decisive blow as Tom Luck, playing at blindside flanker, took an accidental knee to the temple and was naturally not allowed to continue. In the middle of a light hailstorm the hosts took quick advantage and full-back Tom Griffin put his side 14-7 ahead after 24 minutes.

Dowlais were moving the ball well, led by a lively number eight in Jon Pinch and although Penarth were struggling to make their tackles count, they set up a tidy-looking maul as half-time approached, winning a penalty. Docherty converted and the sides turned around with the Seasiders trailing by a creditable 4 points.

The second half closely resembled the first and the hosts increased their lead on 49 minutes from forward pressure, lock Jon Davies the scorer. Scrum-half Darryl Jenkins added another six minutes later and replacement Ceri Morgan turned up with the fifth on the hour.

The remaining 20 minutes were more evenly contested, but as Dowlais had secured the winning bonus, it was far too late for the Seasiders to make any real impression. Wing Bleddyn Rees added a sixth with 14 minutes to go and it wasn’t until the dying minutes that Penarth gained any field position.

Owain Rees, who had delivered an assured debut performance, hacked ahead and nearly scored as a cruel bounce took the full-back out of the equation under his own posts. Swift covering by Dowlais regained possession for them, but as they tried to run the ball out of the 22, the Seasiders applied such pressure that a panicky handling error set up quick-witted Rhys Morgan for a consolation second try.

PENARTH Huw Elias, Tom Smith, Keiron Carpenter (Morgan Smith), Nathan Smith (Owain Rees), James Crothers, James Docherty, Rhys Morgan, Jerome Bryan, Mason Good, Alan Doyle, Owain James, Scott Mackie, Tom Luck, Alex Thau, Louis Chandler

Scorers: Nathan Smith (Try), Rhys Morgan (Try), James Docherty (2 Conversions, penalty)