WINNING IS A HABIT FOR SEASIDERS

Pentyrch 13-14 Penarth (HT 10-7)

The final act of this momentous season for the Seasiders will be played out at the Dairy Field on Friday night as Llanharan simply need a win against Pentyrch to claim the championship. A defeat at Parc y Dwrlyn would have rendered that fixture an irrelevance and so a Penarth win was vital.

Thinking back to the 27-21 home win back in February, it was obvious that a bonus point was feasible for high-scoring Penarth, but the ‘Tyrchs had ambitions of their own. This match was either going to be a free-flowing game of many tries or a grim arm-wrestle in the unseasonable mud. It turned out to be both, in a way.

The first 16 minutes produced three tries. The Seasiders were dominating proceedings, but it was slow going. Then a penalty award produced an attacking line-out and as Owen Lloyd drove into the 22; quick hands spun it out right to where Josh Hurley broke the line and flung it out of the tackle to George Roberts, who opened the scoring.

The hosts struck back within minutes. A couple of aimless clearances gave them field position as their well-drilled backs quickly gained ground. Penarth stole their attacking line-out, but Pentyrch ripped it back. Moved rapidly out to the right corner, where Josh Powell nailed the tackle on the wing, but the outside centre looped round to score.

Straight from the restart, the Tyrchs piled relentlessly into the Seasiders’ defence. Penalty, line-out and quick hands to the full-back, who also scored in the corner, moving his side into a 10-7 lead.

End of try-fest, start of arm-wrestle. The remaining 24 minutes of the half was a scrappy mess of error-strewn play and refereeing interventions. Neither side gave an inch nor scored any points.

The second half began in a frantic fashion as both sides tried to inject some urgency into the proceedings. Pentyrch were looking more likely to score with more ferocious attacking play and they moved further into the lead with a converted penalty after 51 minutes. This seemed to galvanise the Seasiders as replacement outside-half Joe Williams upped the pace.

A penalty award gave them the opportunity for a line-out in the home 22 and as all hands piled into the maul, the hosts somehow managed to stop the drive on the line, but Matt Allen picked up and drove over.

With the score on 13-14 after 55 minutes, the stage was set for an almighty struggle for the points. Pentyrch held the upper hand in the scrums, while Penarth were comfortably on top in the line-outs, but all to no avail as two of the three best sides in the division fought each other to a standstill. In what turned out to be the last play, the Seasiders were defending stoutly as the Tyrchs were going all-out for the win. A penalty for not releasing in the ruck allowed the visitors to clear to half-way where Nathan Frost caught the throw and Spencer Robinson heaved the ball into touch.

This was a huge team effort and while not reflecting the free-scoring excesses of a 108-try league season, underlined the reasons why this excellent group of players and coaches have enjoyed well-deserved success and promotion to Division 2 for season 2023-24.

© Peter Weston 08-May-23

PENARTH:

Josh Hurley, George Roberts, Harry Williams, Osian Coates, Josh Powell, James Docherty (Joe Williams), Spencer Robinson, Geraint Williams, Bradman Williams, Sam Sully, Matt Allen (Mason Good), Cam Sultana, Nathan Frost, Owen Lloyd (Andy Lang), Tom Griffiths.

Scorers: George Roberts (try), Matt Allen (try), Josh Hurley (2 conversions).