Fixture

Saturday 28^th October 2017

Last Saturday Old Penarthians travelled to Cowbridge who were unbeaten in WRU league division 3 East Central (B) and top of the table.  The final score of 10 points to 6 in favour of the home team may have been a true reflection of the narrow difference between the teams but does not do any justice to the the fifteen Old Penarthians players’ defensive efforts and commitment to the cause.

All the players who represented the Club can be rightly proud of their performances with Tom Rogers, Rhys Blake, John Patterson and Mike Nash all playing on through injuries that on other days may have seen them leave the field.  Rogers, in particular, played the last 20 minutes in obvious pain with a shoulder injury that meant he could only tackle on one side.

The fact that only 15 players could represent the Club was because the team could not field a qualified front row and therefore the league rules stipulate that substitutes are not permitted. This is never a preferred situation but with 12 potential front-five players unavailable the coaching team, who welcomed back Anthony Davies to their ranks this week, and captain Rhys Lakin were forced into the decision.

The game started well for Old Penarthians with Cowbridge’s frustrations of the passive scrum situation vented on the referee who penalised them three times in the opening five minutes.  From two of those penalties lineouts were won comfortably by Rogers and with support from Joel deClaire and Geraint Blake the forwards made advances towards the tryline.  The ball was released to the backs but firstly Lakin was denied and then, unlikely second row, George Kynaston was tackled short of the line.

Cowbridge dominated the next ten minutes of the game and it was only good tackling in mid field by Jon Crimp, Lakin and Josh Allcock that prevented further advances.  When Cowbridge did score it was somewhat fortuitous when a ball won successfully by Old Penarthians at the breakdown was passed back to Nathan Facey who had his clearance kick charged down.  The supporting Cowbridge flanker picked up the loose ball to score the try and make the score 5 – 0.

It was unfortunate for Facey who otherwise had an exceptional day with his touch-finding from ball in hand, often gaining distances of over 50m to relieve pressure

Penarthians responded with good play of their own with carries by Tom Sidford, deClaire and Gareth Clancy, playing in the forwards rather than his customary scrum half position.

One attack resulted in a penalty kick opportunity after 22 minutes from 30m out from the posts which Crimp accepted to narrow the score to 5 – 3

As so often happens with the Old Penarthians one score often brings a second, usually to the opposition, and the same thing occurred again. A poorly taken restart led to Cowbridge gaining territory and they made it pay after a series of forward rumbles with a second unconverted try.

There was still time left in the half however for Old Pens to return on the attack and Lakin and Sidford combined to make ground and earn another kickable penalty.  Crimp was again successful, and the half time whistle blew with a 10 – 6 advantage to the home team.

In the second half Old Penarthians showed a lot of pride in each other when time and again Cowbridge attacks were thwarted with well-timed tackles by Albert Miles, Crimp, Alex Lewis and Lakin and foraging in the loose by Allcock, deClaire and Blake.

There was even one opportunity on 35 minutes when Old Pens could have stolen the match.  A series of rucks gave Miles the chance to release Crimp.  He passed on to Lakin who threw a 20m miss pass to the fast approaching Facey who was five metres in from the left touchline and 30 metres from the tryline.  With the Cowbridge full back approaching Facey did not see or hear the supporting Nash on his shoulder and instead his kick ahead was harried into touch by the defending cover.

That would have been a worthy score to support the full-bodied effort put in by all the players but it was not to be and Cowbridge were the victors by 10 points to 6

On Saturday Old Penarthians first team play at home to second placed Tylorstown with the 2^nd XV attempting to arrange a home fixture.  Both matches will kick off at 2.30pm.