SEASIDERS’ LATE RECOVERY

LLANTWIT FARDRE 26 PENARTH 22 – Saturday 14 April 2018

Penarth’s end-of-season run-in has been played out on a theme of ‘too little too late’ and this entertaining romp was no exception. Having performed remarkably well with yet another makeshift team, they’d fallen behind 26-3 with ten minutes to go, but scored three late tries to claim a losing bonus point.

They even led 3-0 after only three minutes as James Docherty opened a good afternoon’s kicking with an early penalty. The pack was also having a better time than of late, taking a scrum against the head and all-in-all it was the Seasiders making all the early running. Llantwit naturally secured the game’s first try after 18 minutes as they drove an attacking line-out up well and loose head prop G.George rolled out of a tackle to touch down.

The next phases were evenly contested, but the Rhinos took the game away decisively in the final ten minutes of the half. The writing was on the wall for Penarth as it took a superb tackle by full-back Tom Cotter to prevent a certain try, so when a line-out was taken against the throw on halfway, the hosts lost no time in breaking clear. Hooker L.Benjamin took it deep into the Seasiders’ 22 before setting up blindside flanker G.Godwin for the score.

Another turnover led to the third try and although centre R.May was held up over the line, the ball was swiftly recycled and lock O.Hughes crossed at the fourth time of asking.

Aaron Ellis replaced an injured Owain George at the start of the second half and again Penarth made all the running, only to be foiled in an attacking scrum with a referee’s decision of ‘wheeling’. As if this wasn’t bad enough, having foiled the next Rhinos attack, they were working it upfield nicely until home right wing S.Cooper suddenly emerged with the ball on the Penarth 10m line and ran clear to score.

There was the bonus point for the hosts, leaving the Seasiders 23 points adrift with 30 minutes to go and little to play for but their self-respect. At least they managed to salvage that, finally getting the bit between their teeth and unexpectedly dominating what remained of the match.

Fierce counter-rucking from Penarth saw off home number 8 M.Edwards with a yellow card on the hour. A scrum penalty was tapped by Rhys Morgan, feeding Ben Hill before taking the return pass and being bundled into touch. Then Docherty put a grubber through to the posts, but was taken out off the ball. Another yellow card, but no penalty try. Tap-and-go again and at the third drive to the line Ellis span over from 1 metre.

Morgan continued to inject relentless pace in his usual fashion and put Docherty through a gap, leading to a third yellow card for the Rhinos. The Seasiders took some time to exploit a two-man advantage (the first offender had returned by this point), but when they won another turnover under the posts, the ball was spun wide to James Crothers who shook off two tacklers to finish superbly for his side’s second try.

Now there was a losing bonus point on offer and maybe even a totally unexpected win, Penarth really piled on the pressure. The hosts conceded successive penalties as if they couldn’t work out what was happening, but in the end, it was the clock that beat the Seasiders. All the pressure led to an inevitable third try from Matt Allen in the last minute, but time was up.

PENARTH Tom Cotter, Ben Hill, James Crothers, Chris Mortimer (Matt Bolton), Alex Fulton (Rhys Lloyd), James Docherty, Rhys Morgan, Harrison Pugsley, Mason Good, Sean O’Sullivan, Matt Allen, Nick Davenport, Scott Mackie, Alex Thau, Owain George (Aaron Ellis)

Scorers: Tries: Aaron Ellis, James Crothers, Matt Allen. Penalty: James Docherty Conversions: James Docherty (2)

Division 2 East Central

Saturday 21st April 2018

PENARTH v Cambrian Welfare

The Athletic Field, Lavernock Road

Kick-off 2.30pm