Seasiders downed by league leaders
Penarth RFC 12 – 39 Pontyclun RFC (HT 5-10)
It’s often said in rugby that the forwards decide who wins the match and the backs decide by how many. Unfortunately for Penarth on the weekend forward dominance was not enough to prevent Pontyclun’s flying backs from deciding the result and margin as the unbeaten league leaders stretched their winning run to 5 games.
Whilst the scoreline looks convincing it is more a reflection of the visitors lethal finishing than the balance of play, although it would be fair to say that in the final reckoning Penarth simply didn’t do enough to take anything from the game. Having heard much about the Pontyclun back line from other teams around the league it would appear the whispers were not without merit as full back Rhys Morgan, wing Iwan Price-Thomas and outside half Lloyd Wilkins ran Penarth ragged. It is no surprise that all three Pontyclun products are currently training with premiership side Pontypridd.
The early signs for Penarth were good, total dominance in the scrum and some successes in the tight phases of play found them some decent field position but in the absence of Alex Shore the lineout faltered under pressure and with their first opportunity Pontyclun broke free to opening the scoring through Price-Thomas.
Penarth were causing problems for the visitors but they just weren’t able to push home their advantage, in the main this tended to be due to small errors knock-ons and turnovers being particularly to blame although the leniency shown to the retreating and crumpling Pontyclun pack by the referee did little to allow Penarth really exploit their main area of dominance.
A second Pontyclun try extended the lead before Penarth struck back before half time with James Crothers finishing a well worked move which included some nifty handling from George Roberts who has clearly been watching the All Blacks in the World Cup.
With just a 5 point gap at half time Penarth were right in the game but as the second half wore on it slipped through their fingers. An early try from the visitors followed by a silky set piece play that saw the Pontyclun flanker under the posts for a bonus point stretched the gap to 22-5.
Penarth then had a five minute error free period and showed what they were capable of. A turnover put the visitors under pressure before a penalty was fired into the corner. Lineout taken the Penarth forwards marched forward and after a couple of phases Man of the Match Geraint Williams came up with the ball and James Docherty added the extras.
But that was as good as it got. Pontyclun stretched their lead with a penalty before Penarth surged forward, having gotten within 10m metres of the line the ball was stripped and Pontyclun proceeded to sprint 90 metres to seal the win. A further try came at the end of play as the impressive Wilkins sailed through a very leggy looking defence to add salt into the Penarth wounds.
Once again there was plenty to be taken from the match despite the result. The form of young loose-head Williams in particular is a huge fillip and the fact that Penarth tested the now out and out favourites for the league should build not hinder this young side’s confidence. Yes they need to tighten up in a few areas but there is no doubting the foundations for success are laid but there is plenty of building work to do.
Next week sees Penarth travel to the only other unbeaten side in the league the Old Illts. With only 2 league fixtures being played due to cup commitments a win could see Penarth rise as high as 3rd in the league but it is sure to be yet another stern test.
Penarth: G Williams (H Wood), M Good (T Griffiths), A Doyle, A Lang, M Allen, J Spragg, S Davies, R Bowen, S Robinson, J Docherty, J Crothers (C Mortimer), G Roberts, B Hill, R Morgan (c) (K Maddox)
Scorers: G Williams (t) J Crothers (t), J Docherty (c)
Athletic back to winning ways
Penarth RFC 2nd XV 34-14 St Albans RFC 2nd XV
With scheduled opponents Pentyrch unable to raise a side for the Division 1 League fixture Penarth were grateful to St Albans for stepping into to ensure that rugby was available to the Athletic XV who had a record 23 players available this weekend.
It proved to be a cracking game with the “Buns” fielding a big pack with plenty of experience against Penarth’s slick and youthful backline. The first half was a real tussle and the Penarth front five of O’Sullivan, Richards, Jones, Heywood and the returning Pugsley put in a big shift to maintain parity in the tight phases to free up the ball for the backs who were expertly marshalled by Morgan Smith.
As the game developed a definite pattern emerged with the visitors trying to keep it tight and build through the phases whilst Penarth looked to exploit their superior speed and dynamism which was fuelled by the tireless work of Thaine Baker, Rob Rees and impressive debutant Mike Lang at number 8.
Tries from Smith, the ever impressive James Walsh and Tom Venn opened up a 17-7 lead at halftime which Penarth never relinquished. The second half was more of the same as Caleb Docking made a welcome return in the second row and imposed himself on the opposition. Whilst out back the pace of Jake Briscombe and Leon Appiah on the wings was a constant source of menace for the Buns defence and Alex Fulton was a reassuring presence at full back.
The Second half brought a further try each from Smith and man of the match Walsh and front row power house Ryan Jones smashed his way over the sixth. Smith added an additional conversion and Penarth were victorious by 34-14. Penarth travel to St Albans in 2 weeks time in the league so this will provide a good trial run for that trip. Despite their lack of league action the Athletic managed to extend their lead at the top of the table as Taffs Well lost to Llandaff.
Next week sees the Seconds travel to reservoir Field in Barry to take on Barry 2nds in the Ron Lucock Cup, despite the fact that Barry have yet to win a game this season the fact that their 1st XV have no fixture will inevitably mean that it will be a tough game.
Penarth 2nds: Sean O’Sullivan, Liam Richards (c), Ryan Jones, Harrison Pugsley, Ben Heywood, Thaine Baker, Rob Rees, Mike Lang, Ben McCarthy, Morgan Smith, Leon Appiah, James Walsh, Tom Venn, Jake Briscombe, Alex Fulton – Bench Caleb Docking, Sam Harries, Ian Cabral, Lloyd Ellis
Scorers: M Smith (2t/2c), J Walsh (2t), T Venn (t) and R Jones (t)
