SEASIDERS STAND FIRM UNDER PRESSURE
Llanharan 20-15 Penarth (HT 10-8)
A trip to the Dairy Field on the opening day of the season is always going to be full of useful lessons and so it proved as Penarth emerged narrowly second-best. In a fascinatingly intense and closely-fought contest, the Seasiders gave as good as they got, but came up short by a penalty and a conversion.
Llanharan’s approach wasn’t a surprise,as they always prioritise speed and pressure over accuracy, but Penarth’s response was up to the task and despite enjoying the majority of possession, the hosts had to wait until the 40th minute to cross the whitewash.
In fact, it was the Seasiders who took an early lead against the run of play with a 3rd minute Josh Hurley penalty, Llanharan, on the other hand, were struggling with their discipline at the breakdown and persistent offside.
The hosts drew level on 20 minutes with a penalty and it wasn’t until the 30th minute that Penarth were allowed to play some actual rugby as Rhys Beynon and George Roberts combined down the right flank as far as the home 22.
The half ended in a flurry of tries as Penarth re-took the lead. With the ball worked to midfield from a line-out, George Roberts had come off his wing to take it into the 22 before putting a grubber through. The home defence were looking for players on the left flank, but it was Roberts himself who burst through to score an inspiring solo try.
However, Llanharan were needled into action and spent the remaining two minutes of the half laying siege to the Penarth line. After a string of penalties and resolute defence from the visitors, outside-half Scott Jones pulled a try out of the hat with a cross-field kick to the corner where left wing Stuart Griffiths scored for a 10-8 lead.
The second half saw the Seasiders holding firm, although the pace of the game had noticeably slowed. The hosts showed their frustration by resorting again to the long cross-field kick, but this time Harry Williams was wise to it and snuffed out the threat.
The stalemate continued until, with twelve minutes remaining, home outside-half Jones was forced to try for the posts from 50 metres and stretched his side’s lead to 13-8. The Penarth restart went out on the full and this provided the critical momentum for Llanharan to attack down the left flank and despite fierce resistance from Penarth, blindside flanker Jack Thomson forced his way over in the corner.
With a losing bonus to gain, the Seasiders battled their way into the home 22 for a series of line-outs and on the stroke of full-time, a maul went over the line with Rhys Beynon the ball-carrier, needing only a Hurley conversion to reclaim the bonus point.
PENARTH:
Josh Hurley, George Roberts, Andy Richards, Rhys Beynon, Harry williams, Morgan Williams, Spencer Robinson, Harry Wood (Geraint Williams), Tom Griffiths, Bradman Williams, Cam Sultana, Dan Cahalane (Andy Lang), Mike Lang, Miles Jones, Harry Roberts.
Scorers: G.Roberts (try), Beynon (try), Hurley (conversion, penalty)
