SEASIDERS SECOND BEST
PORTH HARLEQUINS 22 PENARTH 8 – Saturday 10 October 2015
An exciting and positive Penarth side narrowly failed to bridge the gap between first and second at the Welfare Ground last Saturday, as leaders Porth Quins continued their unbeaten charge to promotion.
Admittedly the score doesn’t suggest a close game, any more than a 4-1 try count does, but the Seasiders were in the game from start to finish and really should have secured a losing bonus point. Unfortunately, a significant number of superb individual performances, while giving huge encouragement for the rest of the season, didn’t add up to enough points.
The early signs were that Quins were quite good, but Penarth were ignoring this and concentrating on their own counter-rucking game to good effect. It was going to take something special to crack the visitors’ defence and this turned out to be No.8 G.Lewis running on to a suspiciously forward-looking pass after 18 minutes.
The Seasiders struck back from the restart as Alan Doyle forced a penalty on the home 22 and James Docherty converted. Although under pressure due to the wind and slope, Penarth insisted on the passing game, rather than risking kicks upfield. However, a harsh penalty decision on half-way proved their undoing, when a catch-and-drive from the 22m line-out was driven over for a try by loosehead S.May.
Trailing 10-3 at half-time, there was some expectation that the Seasiders could exploit the conditions, but an early move by Porth that preyed on the visitors’ defensive frailties put the hosts on the way to their sixth win in row. Blindside flanker R.Downes broke down the right flank and although Mike Gubb covered across from full-back and stopped him on the 22, tight-head D.Wilcox picked up proved unstoppable as he trundled to the line.
Penarth came back at pace and a try went begging as the final pass went behind Ben Donovan, but then Mike Gubb launched the try of the afternoon from his own 10-metre line. The full back fielded a clearance and then set off on a mesmerising solo run, jinking past four tacklers in turn before setting up supporting flanker Harry Roberts for the charge to the posts.
At 17-8, this should have provided a launch-pad for a big come-back, but once again Porth went up a gear, stretched the Seasiders’ defence one way and sent winger D.Hitchins in at the opposite corner.
Both sides pursued the game into the final quarter at breakneck speed, but no further scores ensued. All the pressure was coming from Penarth, but the try that would have secured them a losing bonus point simply wouldn’t come and they now drop back to third place as St.Peters’ 33-26 defeat of Abercynon carried them up to second.
Next Saturday’s visitors to the Athletic Field in Round 1 of the Swalec Plate are last season’s Div 2 East Central champions Brecon, who lost 13-25 to Penarth in their last home game of the season back in April.
PENARTH Mike Gubb, Ben Donovan, James Thatcher, Tom Luck (Riyad Aukbarally), James Crothers, James Docherty, Rhys Morgan, Richard Merrett (Sean O’Sullivan), Mason Good, Alan Doyle, Richard Howells, Lloyd Huxton (Simon Barry), Joe Page, Scott Mackie Harry Roberts
Scorers: Roberts (try), Docherty (pen).
SWALEC Plate, Round 1
Saturday 17th October 2015
PENARTH v Brecon
The Athletic Field, Lavernock Road
(Kick-off tba.)
