SEASIDERS FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS
Penarth 59-0 Old Illtydians (HT 26-0)
Another weekend, another total demolition job from Penarth RFC as they crushed the Old Illtydians by 9 tries to build on the momentum started at Cardiff Quins. In reality the result was no surprise, the Illts have struggled in each of the last 3 seasons, but the manner of the performance was yet more confirmation that this is a side that is coming together well and could make a real impact this year.
Following a minutes applause for Stewart Humphreys, who sadly passed away a few weeks ago, the tone of the match was set from the off as Penarth took under 5 minutes to methodically work their way up the pitch into the teeth of strong breeze and exploit an overlap on the narrow side courtesy of some beautiful handling from prop Bradman Williams who put George Roberts over in the corner.
The big crowd didn’t have to wait too long for more of the same as two more tries came in quick succession as first captain Miles Jones and then full back Josh Hurley were the beneficiaries of some lovely handling, and some elusive Illts defending, as Penarth raced into a 21-0 lead, with Hurley adding all the extras.
The Illts dug in and used the howling wind at their backs to establish some field position but in truth they never really threatened the Penarth line. They did manage to hold the Penarth attack at bay for a good 15 minutes before getting trapped in their own 22 and finding their scrum retreating at a rate of knots as Penarth turned the ball over and Mike Lang was on hand to pick and go from the base of the ruck to secure the bonus point try in under half an hour.
Any relief that the visitors may have felt at reaching half time without conceding another point soon dissipated when they realised that their only means of escape in the first half had been stripped from them as they turned to face the wind for the remaining 40 minutes. The spectators at the Lavernock Road end would have been justified in feeling hard done by as the ball rarely ventured into that half of the pitch in the second half.
Joe Williams was first to cross the whitewash for Penarth in the second half as he eased through a gap forged through a series of forward power plays that left the Illts short of defenders. Tom Griffiths added a 6th try with a barnstorming run shrugging off three defenders before powering through and going under the sticks.
Penarth’s 7th try may prove one the mostly costly of the season as powerhouse second row Owen Lloyd barrelled his way over from short range only to break his ankle in the act of scoring. The size, dynamism and handling he showed both in this game and last weeks victory at Cardiff Quins showed what an enormous asset he was to Penarth, and why he was on the fringes of the Cardiff RFC premiership side. Everyone at the club wishes Owen a very speedy recovery.
Proceedings were settled with further tries coming from Josh Powell, after a great break down the left flank from Harry Williams, and Miles Jones who stormed off the back of yet another dominant Penarth scrum in the 80th minute which Hurley converted to round off a personal 17 point haul.
The result sees Penarth into 4th position behind early undefeated leaders St Albans and Pentyrch. Whilst the last two weeks performances and results have been hugely enjoyable there is no doubt that the real tests of Penarth’s title credentials come in the next three games as they face table toppers St Albans away next weekend followed by Fairwater (H) and Pontyclun (A) sandwiched around two more Division 3 Cup games. There is no doubting Penarth’s ability and know they just have to show that they can mix it with the top end of table as well as they can ruthlessly dismantle those at the bottom.
The Club would like to express its thanks to Match Day Sponsor – FINE WINES DIRECT of Penarth Road www.finewinesdirectuk.com and post-match beer sponsors DCW Group.
Penarth: Bradman Williams, Tom Griffiths (Ben Jackson), Ryan Jones (Sam Sully), Owen Lloyd (Dan Cahalane), Cam Sultana, Mike Lang, Harry Roberts, Miles Jones (C), Spencer Robinson, Joe Williams, Ben Wellington (George Kynaston), Rhys Beynon, Harry Williams, George Roberts (Josh Powell), Josh Hurley
Scorers: G Roberts (T), M Jones (2T), J Williams (T), T Griffiths (T), M Lang (T), O Lloyd (T), J Powell (T), J Hurley (T,6C)
