SEASIDERS STAY CALM IN BREATHLESS ENCOUNTER

LLANISHEN (21) 33 PENARTH (26) 50

This game had almost everything. A high-speed, highly-skilled contest between two good teams and a sublime performance from the referee. Amber Stamp was simply superb and received well-deserved applause as she left the field.

We’re already well acquainted with the Seasiders’ ability to score tries, but we weren’t quite prepared for the mesmerising variety and outright pace of the Lions’ attacks. The first ten minutes of this breathless encounter featured three tries and it was Penarth who took an early lead as Harry Roberts finished off a slick move. The hosts struck back quickly from a tapped penalty and a dazzling run from their right wing, but Roberts was back within minutes as Llanishen fumbled a defensive line-out and his second try put the Seasiders 7-14 up.

There was no let-up in the scoring rate all the way to half-time. The Lions’ ability to create tries from anywhere on the field netted them two more before Penarth were able to steady the ship when Tom Griffiths set off from half-way and Ben Jones completed the score.

Llanishen now led 21-19, but the Seasiders were concentrating on the handling game and notched up two more tries before the break. First Alan Doyle tidied up a line-out on half-way and quick ball to the onrushing Harry Williams took play onto the home 22. A rapid interplay between him and Ben Jones created the space for Mason Good to score from close range. The magic was now flowing for Penarth and another slick move found George Roberts out wide with no room for manoeuvre, but he nevertheless beat several defenders for a spectacular score in the corner. The half-time break arrived the Seasiders looking good for their 21-31 lead.

This didn’t last long after the restart, as yet another high-speed build-up was finished superbly by the Lions’ full-back, but Penarth were finally getting the upper hand (and penalties) at scrum time and this led to Alan Doyle’s try on 47 minutes. A two-scores lead should have meant nothing in a game like this, but as Penarth emptied the bench, it was nearly 15 minutes before the scoreboard moved again.

The Seasiders were clearly flying by the seat of their pants by now and when Llanishen finally battered their way over for their fifth try, the lead was reduced to a fragile three points. The Lions’ tails were up, but had they broken Penarth’s nerve? The game hung in the balance for the remaining 11 minutes, then, with four minutes to go, one fatal slip from Llanishen and the Seasiders were driving into the home 22. Tom Griffiths is the master in such situations and completed the score with ease.

The two-score advantage was back in place, but there was to be no nail-biting finish. A Lions’ attack down the left flank faltered as they knocked-on and Griffiths pounced on the advantage, almost strolling to the line for the eighth and final try for Penarth. This gave us an almost unbelievable final score of 33-50.

The Seasiders have now risen to third in the table as next week’s opponents Rhydyfelin were beaten at home by Abercynon.

Penarth: Ben Jones. George Roberts, Harry Williams (James Candy), Andy Richards, Ben Wellington,  Rhys Mottram, Josh Mitchell, Harry Wood (Geraint Williams), Mason Good (Alex Abel), Alan Doyle (Sam Sully), Owen Lloyd (Tom Griffiths), Dom Owen, Cameron Sultana, Miles Jones ©, Harry Roberts

Scorers: Harry Roberts (2 tries), Tom Griffiths (2 tries), Ben Jones (try), Alan Doyle (try), Mason Good (try), George Roberts (try), Rhys Mottram (5 conversions).