A step towards Division Three ?
Penarth RFC 22 – Llantwit Fardre RFC 41 – Saturday 24 March 2018
With four matches left to play Penarth RFC are still hoping to avoid relegation at the end of a long and uneven season that saw the team battling to stay afloat from the outset. For a short while, during the second half of the season, it looked as this was achievable, but a couple of reverses by one score or less and the absence of a competitive front-five unit doomed the team’s better efforts. The shortcomings of the Seasiders were exposed by the single-minded visitors, also racing to avoid relegation and therefore determined to make the best of their away game at the Rec, with the locals blowing hot and cold against a determined and well-tuned opponent.
The Fardre forwards dominated the set pieces with authority, using the driving maul effectively to score and ultimately batter Penarth into submission. Five of their six tries were scored at the end of well-drilled driving mauls, which left the gallant Penarth forwards with few options to defend. A symbol of the Penarth spirited efforts was 20-year old loose-head prop Harrison Pugsley, in his first year of senior rugby, who was voted by his peers as the Seasiders’ Man of the Match. Meanwhile, as Penarth head coach Matthew Bolton observed, “Penarth played at times some very good rugby, but they were let down by their set piece, when reaching the vital areas of the field to capitalize on their ascendancy.”
Penarth tackled like dervishes to limit the first half score to a manageable and somewhat flattering 10-22 score line, with captain Alex Thau going over for a try, converted by James Docherty, who added a penalty goal. They increased the pressure after the break and with 20 minutes to go they had added two more tries through James Thatcher and James Docherty, to level the score 22-22. With Penarth tiring, the visitors reverted to their effective driving maul tactics, scoring three further tries (19 points) for a final score line of 22-41. “Penarth is now in the relegation zone and the players are aware there is a lot to play for in the remaining four games to avoid it.” Coach Bolton observed.
The next league match of the Seasiders is against their Cardiff archrivals St Peters, which has been rescheduled for Tuesday April 3rd, to kick off at 7.15 pm. Before this game, on 30th March, the annual Good Friday fixture will be fulfilled by the successful Penarth Youth who take on a Cardiff and District Youth XV. Penarth Youth are currently top of their Blues League and have enjoyed another successful season winning 17 of the 20 matches played so far. The match kicks off at 2.30 pm and the entrance is £2.
Penarth 1-15
Harrison Pugsley, Mason Good, (Iwan Baker), Sean O’Sullivan (Dave Thomas), Scott Mackie, Matt Allen, Alex Thau (Captain), Richie Bowen, Miles Jones, Rhys Morgan, James Docherty, Alex Fulton, (Morgan Smith), Chris Mortimer, James Thatcher, Ben Hill, Tom Smith (Owain Lord)
Scorers: Tries Thau, Thatcher, Docherty, Pen Docherty, Cons Docherty 2
