SEASIDERS HIT THEIR STRIDE TOO LATE

Abercynon 27 Penarth 19 – Saturday 6 December 2014

The first game following the Autumn International Series break saw Penarth playing away from Home at Y Parc, Abercynon last Saturday.

Abercynon being that much faster to the breakdown. On the occasions when the visitors attempted to move the ball, the hosts were also comfortable in defence. Nevertheless, it was not until ten minutes of the game had gone by and the Penarth three quarters were caught offside that Abercynon actually took the lead. Kurtis Williams their number 14 converting the penalty from 30metres.

Despite Penarth trying to gain ground any progress was consistently halted by the home team who continued to put the visitors on the back foot with a well-drilled defence. At the other end of the park, things weren’t going quite so well. When the Seasiders won possession inside their own 22 metre area that they attempted a long miss pass to the right wing, this was not gathered and Matthew Turner the Abercynon left wing was able to gain possession and score in the corner. The try was converted by Kurtis Williams and the hosts led 10-0.

Penarth had the opportunity to gain ground once they got into the opposition half, but the ball was lost at the breakdown. Abercynon were consistently putting in some excellent tackles and gaining ground within the visitors’ half of the field. Once again the referee caught Penarth players in an offside position and the penalty was again converted by Williams to make the half time score 13-0.

As the second half opened, the Seasiders presented a much stronger approach and began to put real pressure on the Abercynon pack.This brought immediate reward,as a Scott Mackie try, converted by James Docherty, pulled the score back to 13-7. Maintaining the from the restart, Penarth moved the ball through the forwards and across field to the right wing where Kevin Maddox went over in the corner, the attempted conversion hitting the right upright.

With the score standing at a healthier-looking 13-12, Abercynon hit back.  An attacking drive by the Seasiders broke down and from their own line, the hosts moved the ball quickly out to their left wing, where an overlap allowed left wing Turner a clear run to the line, the try again converted by Williams and taking the score on to 20-12.The home side pushed on and went further ahead with a similar move on the right creating an overlap for right wing Kurtis Williams to score, convert his own try to make the score 27-12.

By now, despite to two opportunistic which had put the game beyond reach, Penarth had really hit their stride as a number of replacements took the field. They continued to batter away at the home team’s try line and a score had to come. It was replacement hooker Simon Barry who came up with the goods, Docherty again adding the extras for a final score of 27-19.

A month after the previous league match at the beginning of November, the Seasiders now have to wait until next year for the following Div 2 SEC encounter, away at Porth Harlequins on Saturday 3rd January 2015. However, they need look no further than Boxing Day for their next competitive match, as the annual game against neighbours Old Penarthians, a morning kick-off at Cwrt-y-Vil this year, is sure to be hotly contested as always.

PENARTH Rhys Morgan, James Halpin, Kevin Maddox, Tom Luck, James Crothers, Nathan Smith,
GarethMathias. Jerome Bryan, James Docherty, Sean Sullivan, Richard Howells, Mike Clare, Louis Chandler, Alex Thau, Scott Mackie [C]
Replacements Richard Merrett, Stuart Clarke, Eliott Smith, Tom Hillman and Simon Barry.