SEASIDERS NARROW LOSS
Penarth 14-15 Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd (HT 7-10)
It’s not easy to accurately describe this chaotic game overall, just as you can’t quite put your finger on where Penarth actually lost it. Was it in the first fifteen minutes, when they couldn’t quite live with Clwb Rygbi’s handling game? Or was it in the second half when they’d settled down a bit, had lots of possession, but simply couldn’t work out how to break down the visitors defence?
Fair play, the weather conditions were atrocious, but the Cymry always seemed to be slightly more comfortable and all the effort the Seasiders put in gained precious little reward.
From the kick-off, the wind and rain dominated, it was a messy game with lots of handling errors from both sides. However the visitors’ backs were alive to any opportunities and took the lead after 12 minutes. A pass inside as the ball-carrier was tackled into touch on half-way, a couple of neat kicks ahead down the tramlines and their inside centre touched down near the posts.
This really should have been an up-the-jumper nine-a-side game, but neither team showed the slightest inclination to take this route. Alex Shore was forced to retire early with an injury and Richie Bowen was the replacement. Minutes after the first score, there was yet another turnover at the breakdown and Clwb had put-in to a scrum 10m out, from which their hooker added a second try. There was no conversion again, as their kicker contrived to miss every place kick – obviously not his strong suite.
The Penarth line-out wasn’t going well either and it was only when they actually won a line-out after 20 minutes that they made some real progress. By contrast, the scrum went really well all game, pushing the Cymry eight back every time, but without once being awarded a penalty or gaining a turnover.
By now Andy Richards had been forced to withdraw, being replaced by Josh Powell and the Seasiders finally put some passes together, the ball reaching Bowen outside the 22. In characteristic fashion, the flanker combined side-steps with breaking tackles to force his way to the line allowing Penarth to reach half-time a mere 3 points adrift.
The second half opened with the rain having eased off and the sun trying to come out. Now playing with the wind at their backs, the visitors were finding field position easier to come by and a stunningly simple three-quarter move starting from the home 10m line resulted in the right winger touching down in the corner.
At this point the Seasiders finally came alive and dominated the remainder of the game. They even managed to claw their way back to within a point on the hour with a penalty try, but for all the pressure, they never really looked like scoring again. A penalty would have done the trick, as Clwb had pretty well shut up shop, despite being a single point ahead, but it all came to nothing.
There will now be a two-week hiatus as the Six Nations kicks off on Saturday and Penarth will travel to Tylorstown on the 19th of February.
PENARTH:
George Kynaston, George Roberts, Andy Richards (Josh Powell), Josh Hurley, Ben Wellington, James Docherty, Rhys Morgan© (Aled Reece), Geraint Williams (Harry Wood), Tom Griffiths (Mason Good), Ryan Jones, Matt Allen, Cam Sultana, Mike Lang, Miles Jones, Alex Shore (Richie Bowen)
