STEADY SEASIDERS SECURE SUCCESS

Penarth 22-8 Cardiff Quins (HT 7-3)

Showing several changes from the previous week, the Seasiders fielded a competent-looking side against visitors Cardiff Quins. To add to an already long injury list, the first substitution arrived within minutes as outside-half James Candy was helped from the field to be replaced by James Docherty.

The Quins moved quickly to exploit the disruption by camping out in the Penarth 22, but although their pack forced their way over the line, the number 5 was successfully held up. The tapped penalty was followed by another penalty which the visitors converted for an early 0-3 lead.

This was about as good as it got for the Quins, as the hosts easily dominated the remainder of the half despite playing into fierce low sun. However, a combination of handling errors and puzzling refereeing interventions prevented another score until the half-hour. The visitors were throwing on to a line-out on their own 22, but the Seasiders won a turnover at the next ruck. Quickly recycled, the ball was shipped along the line to Cam Sultana, who calmly claimed the first try.

Early in the second half, Penarth moved in for the kill, as a driven maul was taken over the line, but once again the ball carrier was held up. Then a huge line-break from Miles Jones led to a kickable penalty which was also missed, then another, which Josh Hurley converted.

All the pressure was coming from the Seasiders, but a bout of white line fever prevented further scores until Hurley took matters into his own hands with a no-nonsense drive to the line. With twenty-five minutes remaining and leading 17-3, Penarth looked set for a comfortable win, but as so often happens, the game limped along from stoppage to stoppage and Quins managed to pull an unconverted try out of the hat as their left wing touched down in the corner.

With the chance of a bonus point having long departed as the clock ran down, the Seasiders had the last word as Ellis Shewring scored the third try straight from a scrum 25m out. Feinting to pass infield, he accelerated though a gap and finished off a classic scrum-half’s try under the posts for a final score of 22-8.

PENARTH:

Rhys Morgan ©, George Roberts, Andy Richards, Josh Hurley, Jim Crothers (Josh Powell), James Candy (James Docherty), Ellis Shewring, Harry Wood, Mason Good, Geraint Williams, Andy Lang, Ben Heywood, Cam Sultana, Josh Barden (Richie Bowen), Miles Jones, Thaine Baker

Scorers:

Cam Sultana Try, Josh Hurley Try Pen Conv, Ellis Shewring Try, Andy Richards Conv