SEASIDERS SO CLOSE

St.JOSEPH’S (5) 28 PENARTH (5) 25 

Well, the dust has settled after a thunderous top-of-the-table clash and Penarth will have to be satisfied by only falling two points behind St.Joseph’s in the race for promotion. Satisfied in having more-or-less delivered on their promises and enjoying a 4-3 advantage in tries scored.

The Seasiders dominated the opening exchanges, as the Joes weren’t able to break out of their own half. Twice Penarth got the ball over the line, but no try awarded. Then on 10 minutes, St.Joseph’s got as far as half-way and showed their class in a scrum with a massive shove. A swift exchange of passes and they were on the goal line, two more phases and they’d scored.

For the rest of the half, play swung backwards and forwards with neither side gaining the upper hand. Until… Until on the stroke of half-time Sam Sully, breaking out from his own twenty-two, shrugged off (well, dumped) a tackler and then proceeded to jink his way up to the home 22. No, he didn’t quite make it to the line, but the ball was quickly recycled out to the right corner where George Roberts completed the formalities.

The sides turned round at 5-5 with all to play for. The Joes came out of the traps with a rush and camped out on the line with penalty advantage. Not needed; they crossed for the try and led 12-5. Minutes later, fresh replacement Joe Williams broke down the left touchline and charged the defensive line on the twenty-two. However, it was the supporting Ben Jones who appeared with the ball on the other side, zig-zagging at speed to the posts.

Penarth came closest to claiming the next score as a clever line-out move from Miles Jones almost put Tom Griffiths in at the corner flag, but instead it was the hosts who put a player in space at the other end, who finished well despite being tackled on the line. On their next visit, they benefitted from a ‘hands-in-the-ruck’ penalty in front of the posts to extend their lead to 22-12.

The Seasiders were by no means beaten yet and gained a penalty which was sent to touch inside the 22. The throw missed Cam Sultana, but Brad Williams tidied up nicely, Tom Griffiths was stopped on the line. A smart recycle and a long pass out to Roberts on the wing brought the third try.

No further score until the closing minutes, with St.Joseph’s leading by 5 points. A series of handling errors from speculative punts upfield and scrum resets ate up the minutes and when the Joes were finally awarded a penalty, they happily went for the posts and a 25-17 lead.

Another penalty came from the restart, this time for Penarth. Go for the posts and a losing bonus point?  Yes please; 25-20. Penalty St.Joseph’s – posts again to take back the bonus point? Yes please, 28-20.

Final play: Seasiders’ scrum. Out to Spencer on the wing, he makes ground before passing to George. He’s caught at the line, but Joe Willams is there to follow up and score! Two bonus points to Penarth and just four points for the win to St.Joseph’s!

Penarth: Ben Jones. George Roberts, Andy Richards, Rhys Beynon, Harry Williams (Joe Williams), Rhys Mottram, Spencer Robinson, Geraint Williams, Tom Griffths (Mason Good), Sam Sully, Owen Lloyd (Will Odgers) Dom Owen, Cameron Sultana, Miles Jones ©, Harry Roberts

Scorers: Joe Williams (try), George Roberts (tries), Ben Jones (try), Rhys Mottram (2 conversions, 1 penalty).