THE BIG SHOWDOWN: SEASIDERS WIN, JOES PROMOTED
Fourth-placed Penarth finally got around to welcoming second-placed St.Joseph’s to the season’s final fixture at the Athletic Field this term. The Joes needed a single point to get past Abercynon and claim promotion, while the Seasiders needed at least a win to give themselves a chance of overtaking Rhydyfelin into third place after their final fixture next week.
Two well-matched sides faced each in front of a large crown of nearly 1,000 spectators, but after an early Rhys Mottram penalty, the Joes slowly took control. They levelled the scores with a penalty of their own, but went into the lead with a well-taken unconverted try from a line-out drive. The rest of the first half was quite messy, as the sides’ efforts largely cancelled each other out and busy though everyone was, no further scores ensued and St.Joseph’s led 11-3 at half-time.
While the Seasiders still looked comfortable, the Joes suddenly burst into life from the second half kick-off. Their full-back simply ran clear through the home defence to score and put his side further ahead at 3-16. Were the Joes edging their way to a comfortable win and the Division 1 (EC) title, or was it that the Seasiders were simply biding their time?
Part of the answer lay in the dominance of the Penarth line-out as this well-oiled machine delivered a stream of possession in the away half of the pitch. The hosts were starting to look purposeful and their patience paid off in the 50th minute as a line-out drive to the line yielded a try for captain Miles Jones.
Further scoring chances were narrowly missed as St.Josephs clung on to their eight-point lead and it was all Penarth as we approached the hour mark. The visitors were under pressure and rushed a short clearance to touch, allowing the Seasiders to launch another attack. Ben Jones hurled a long flat pass out to Spencer Robinson and the scrum-half perfectly timed his delivery to wing Harry Williams, who scored in the corner. An excellent touch-line conversion by Rhys Mottram brought the scores nearly level at 15-16.
Once again, it was the Joes who struck next against the run of play as the full-back sliced through and set up a ruck 30m out. Quick ball set the left wing running and a converted try to extend the lead to 15-23. This didn’t seem to affect the dominant Seasiders at all, as they resumed their assaults in the Joes’ 22. An exchange of line-outs proved decisive as St.Josephs fumbled their throw and Penarth mauled quickly to the line, where Spencer Robinson darted over by the posts.
The last five minutes seemed to be going the Seasiders’ way as the pack dominated, but a Joes penalty was kicked to touch, their back failed to exploit line-out possession and Mottram kicked ahead, securing and converting the match-winning penalty.
With the championship now settled in St.Joseph’s favour due to their losing bonus point, Penarth’s attention now turns to their own final league game next week at Abercwmboi. A bonus-point win there (the Seasiders won 47-24 earlier in the season) would take them past Rhydyfelin into third place.
PENARTH:Ben Jones, George Roberts, Andy Richards (Luc Keane-Adams), Rhys Beynon, Harry Williams, Rhys Mottram, Spencer Robinson, Geraint Williams, Tom Griffiths, Alan Doyle (Sam Sully), Owen Lloyd (Will Odgers), Cam Sultana, Kian Lloyd, Miles Jones ©, Harry Roberts
Scorers: Miles Jones (try), Harry Williams (try), Spencer Robinson (try), Rhys Mottram (2 penalties, 2 conversions).
