SEASIDERS’ LAST-MINUTE HEARTACHE

Fairwater 38-25 Penarth (14-15)

There are always mixed feelings associated with a visit to Fairwater Park, but one thing’s nailed on – it will inevitably turn out to totally different from any other fixture (and not necessarily in a nice way).

The Seasiders took the field already short of two players from the published team, but with able deputies in Ellis Shewring and debutant Osian Coates. Bright sun and low temperatures brought a rash of handling errors and the first of thirteen penalties awarded against Fairwater. Unfortunately the first line-out which Penarth successfully won led to a handling error which the hosts’ strangely classy outside centre exploited to run all the way to the posts at the other end of the pitch.

Andy Richards struck back almost immediately from a penalty and soon added a second as Fairwater continued to dispute decisions. The other thing they could do, though, was suddenly up the pace and cause the Seasiders to engage in a mad scramble to prevent a score. After 19 minutes and a quick-fire backs move the home outside-half slipped past a despairing tackle and grounded his own grubber.

The run of play was still overwhelming in favour of Penarth and a stirring 50m break by Miles Jones led to yet another penalty, which Richards coolly slotted over to bring the score back to 14-9. Another regular feature of these games had by now established itself as Tom Luck and Tom Griffiths departed injured.

With half-time approaching, the Seasiders patiently built the phases and converted the penalties. With time up, they finally eased into the lead as Coates found Richards with long flat pass and Jim Crothers nearly made the corner before Fairwater conceded yet another penalty. Half-time score: 14-15

The second half began well for Penarth as they totally dominated successive scrums, but after more penalties brought them within 5 metres of the posts, Fairwater withdrew a prop and the remaining scrums were passive. The Seasiders had little option but to kick the penalty and stretch the lead to 14-18.

Fairwater again responded by going up a gear from the restart and claimed a third try, regaining the lead and extending to 24-18 with a rare penalty of their own. Thus encouraged, they hustled their way into the Penarth 22 and claimed the bonus point as they worked an overlap for their left wing to cross unopposed.

Facing a 13-point deficit, the Seasiders came storming back as a monumental break by Geraint Williams brought them to the try line. Penalty to Penarth, tapped and over. To all appearances the referee had awarded a penalty try, but eventually persuaded Andy Richards he had to convert the try, which was awarded to Miles Jones.

With fully 15 minutes remaining, the Seasiders threw everything into bridging the 6-point gap with a match-winning try, but to no avail as chaos ensued with Fairwater losing players to injuries, yellow cards and, eventually a red card. But they kept Penarth out and, with the last move of the game, as the visitors looked as if they were finally going to cross in the corner, forced a turnover and an 80-metre break for their fifth try, so not even a losing bonus point.

PENARTH:

Rhys Morgan ©, Osian Coates, Andy Richards, Tom Luck (Aled Reece), Jim Crothers, James Candy, Ellis Shewring, Harry Wood (Geraint Williams), Tom Griffiths (Mason Good), Alan Doyle, Andy Lang, Ben Heywood (Cam Sultana), Josh Barden, Miles Jones, Thaine Baker

Scorers: Miles Jones T, Andy Richards 6P, 1C