SEASIDE TEST FOR SEASIDERS

Mumbles 29 Penarth 46

Well, here was a sterner examination of the new-generation Seasiders, provided by Division 2 West Mumbles RFC. While it confirms all the good things we already knew about them, it still leaves plenty for the coaches to get their teeth into before the league season starts next Saturday.

This squad of 25 featured several returning familiar faces, but the all-action style remained the same. All the same, successful defence requires a little more than enthusiasm and Mumbles went ahead after only two minutes. Penarth soon levelled things as Rhys Morgan chipped to the corner for Ben Hill to complete the score.

The pick-and-drive game was going well, but as the hosts latched on to a dropped pass, Morgan was forced to start again on his own 10 metre line, where Spencer Robinson was on hand to run in one of his specials from about 50 metres. Despite going into the lead, errors were giving Mumbles field position and they pulled another try back after 17 minutes.

This swapping of blows continued up to the end of the first period, as Miles Jones broke down the right for George Roberts to score the Seasiders’ third with a neat cut inside, while the hosts also registered a third of their own.

After a few changes, play resumed in the second period, with the Penarth pack looking that bit sharper. A James Docherty penalty eased the visitors further in front, but a combination of coughing up penalties and the boot of Mumbles’ outside-half meant more useful field position for the hosts and their fourth try put them in front for the first time.

Still, you could always depend on the Seasiders to make their own luck. George Kynaston made progress down the left and as Hill controlled well, Rob Rees picked up to drive over and put visitors back into a lead they were not to relinquish.

Not for the first time, the referee intervened by allowing Mumbles to play on and score after he’d blown the whistle, but it was already too late for the hosts as Hill replied immediately, taking a long pass to score in the corner.

In the short final period and leading 34-29, Penarth took full control of proceedings. First out of the blocks was Leon Appiah, catching a Mumbles restart following a missed penalty, then skipping past about five tackles to score under the posts. Robinson capped it all off as the hosts conceded a line out from his own kick ahead and then received the ball from a smartly-executed catch-and-drive to score his second try in the corner.

The 2019-20 league season begins next Saturday as Penarth travel to visit newly-promoted Canton.

PENARTH         George Roberts, Ben Hill, Leon Appiah, James Crothers, Andy Richards, George Kynaston, Kevin Maddox, James Docherty, Rhys Morgan, Spencer Robinson, Harry Wood, Tom Griffiths, Liam Richards, Mason Good, Iwan Baker, Sean O’Sullivan, Alan Doyle, Geraint Williams, Alex Shore, Matt Allen, Ben Heywood, Sam Davies, Miles Jones, Josh Spragg,