SEASIDERS BACK TO WINNING WAYS
PENARTH 22-19 Cowbridge (HT 5-7)
When was the last time that Penarth had a game against weaker opposition, a stroll in the park? It was probably the visit of Treharris to St.Cyres School in the middle of November, but the fact remains that the Seasiders’ position in the Division 2 East Central table is not based on facing clubs in the lower half of the table.
Saturday’s home game against 6th-placed Cowbridge was a case in point. This was serious opposition, who made life very difficult and denied Penarth the space they normally thrive upon.
Cowbridge are probably frustrated at coming away with just a losing bonus point, having matched the Seasiders in tries, with three each. Never mind, the boys struggled, but still won, which says a lot for the character of the team.
On a chilly afternoon with low sun and not a breath of wind, Penarth made a bright start with Charlie Rainbird making his first start and cutting a dash. After nine minutes, Evan Jones charged up-field, but was met by a crunching tackle that brought cheers from the Cowbridge fans. However, Rainbird was on the spot and sniping round the fringe, exchanged passes along the touchline and scored in the corner.
So far, so good and better was to follow minutes later as Ben Jones chipped ahead along the opposite touchline and won the race to ground the ball. Except no try was awarded.Anyway, the hosts were in the ascendency and Cowbridge had yet to turn up in any numbers. Perhaps the Seasiders were trying too hard to turn possession into points, but no further scores ensued until the half-hour point, when the visitors finally secured field position in the home 22, going through eight phases before getting over the line
The score remained on 5-7 as the teams went into the break, but it was Penarth who came out fighting (if not literally) in the second half. Mike Lang made a clean catch from a 5m line-out and was then in position to take a pass on the touchline and drive through three tackles to score.
Now leading 12-7 and keen to increase this slender lead, the Seasiders dominated possession for the next twenty minutes, but Cowbridge’s first-up tackles rained in with force and accuracy and the scoreboard refused to budge. Until just past the hour. Penarth were well set in the visitors’ 22 and had almost scored on five occasions before a scoring pass was spilled. Luckily, Ebbw Vale referee Paul Jones had been playing advantage and awarded a penalty in front of the posts. The home pack had already gained the upper hand in the tight, with Man-of-the-Match Geraint Williams putting in a huge shift on the loose-head, so a scrum was called and captain Miles Jones completed the formalities.
With a 19-7 lead and less than 20 minutes remaining, the hosts set about looking for the customary bonus point, but this simply never arrived. Cowbridge were back within seven points minutes later with their second short-range try and when the Seasiders finally gained a penalty in the visitors’ 22, they unsurprisingly opted to go for the points to restore the two-score lead at 22-12.
This proved to be a sound investment, as they struggled to hold on and Cowbridge secured their third try minutes before the final whistle. Penarth travel to Cilfynydd next Saturday, where the Taff Vale side are recovering from a 74-28 thrashing from Llanishen.
PENARTH: James Candy, James Crothers (Rhys Morgan), Spencer Robinson, Rhys Beynon, Ben Wellington, Ben Jones, Charlie Rainbird, Geraint Williams Harry Wood, Mason Good (Tom Griffiths), Sam Sully, Cam Sultana, Dan Calahane (Dominic Owen), Mike Lang, Miles Jones ©, Evan Jones
Scorers: Charlie Rainbird (try), Mike Lang (try), Miles Jones (try), Ben Jones (2 conversions,1 penalty).
