SEASIDERS HOLD THEIR NERVE
Cardiff Quins 20-27 Penarth (HT 10-12)
The Quins have had a terrible start to their season and may even think they were robbed. On the other hand, a patently superior Penarth outfit were a bag of nerves, tried way too hard, but still managed to get away with another bonus point win, rising to third in the table.
Overall, the game was a bonanza for yellow-card aficionados and while there were few moments of high drama, the Seasiders were, as usual, playing all the rugby,
Quins couldn’t get out of their own half in the first quarter, but as soon as a couple of missed tackles had allowed them this luxury, they were 3-0 and a man up as Penarth shipped the first yellow of the afternoon.
Alex Shore, despite ruling the line-out as usual, was getting penalised for stealing it on Quins’ throw and a steady supply of penalties gave the hosts field position and outside centre R Thomas scored a neat try to put his side 10-0 ahead.
The Seasiders’ frustration was beginning to show, but at least they channelled this into an irresistible maul, which was halted only by Quins’ lock S Harwood coming in at the side and getting a yellow card for his trouble. A clearly determined Spencer Robinson tapped the penalty and forced his way to dotting the ball over the line despite there being about three defenders in attendance.
On the stroke of half-time, the pack repeated the dose by driving a maul from a line-out fully 30 metres, where Andy Lang was the scorer for a 10-12 lead at the interval.
Both sides made a poor start to the second half, but it was Penarth who edged further into the lead on 53 minutes after winning a turnover in their own 22. Lang and Harry Wood combined to take it deep into the Quins half, before the backs whipped it across towards the far touchline where Thaine Baker abandoned his own claim to a try by shipping it out to Harry Williams, who made sure of the score.
As the Seasiders emptied the bench, they were still adjusting to the changes as the Harlequins mounted a quick siege and number 8 Ben Morris scored to bring the scores level!
As the game drifted towards the final quarter in an avalanche of yellow cards and erratic Penarth pressure, it was almost outrageous that it was actually Quins who edged themselves in front with a penalty on 73 minutes.
Just when it was about to go wrong again for the Seasiders, the team took a collective deep breath and concentrated on the job in hand. A lengthy forward siege was going nowhere until the decision was made to ship it out to the backs. Harry Williams fielded the pass, but instead of trying to reach the line himself, drove a neat grubber through for George Roberts to score in the corner.
This time James Docherty expertly converted from touch to general celebration and went on to convert a further penalty on the stroke of full time.
This coming Saturday Penarth welcome 10th placed Llanharan to the Athletic Field. The Dairy Field club have already registered an unlikely win here in the National Bowl, as the Seasiders conceded a barely credible three tries in the last 13 minutes as they apparently cruised to victory. Recent form suggests it ought to be different this time.
PENARTH:
Rhys Morgan ©, George Roberts, Harry Williams, Owain Lord, James Crothers (Ben Hill), James Docherty, Spencer Robinson, Harry Wood (Geraint Williams), Tom Griffiths (Mason Good), Alan Doyle, Andy Lang, Alex Shore, Richie Bowen (Hugh Leitch), Miles Jones, Thaine Baker
Scorers: Spencer Robinson (try), Andy Lang (try), Harry Williams (try), George Roberts (try), James Docherty (2 conv, penalty).