Fixture

Match result:  Old Penarthians 11 Caerau Ely 10

With relegation still a real possibility, the penultimate league game saw Old Penarthians face already relegated Caerau RFC in what many saw as a ‘must win’ game at Cwrt-y-Vil

The home team made a very nervous start, resulting in many mistakes, which wasn’t helped by the very windy conditions which were played into in the first half. This was epitomised by a promising looking early play which took in six phases but ended with a penalty in the Caerau 22. Outside half Richie Moir kicked for the corner, only to see the ball caught by the wind and miss touch.

Some expansive play by Caerau saw them open the scoring after 8 minutes from 35 metres out, when a penalty awarded for an offside infringement was kicked with the benefit of the strong wind.

During the opening period of the game, it seemed the Old Pens played better without the ball than with it, as their defence stood up well, with permit player Aiden O’Donohue from Tylorstown RFC, and the entire backrow of Jake Thomas, Joel Declaire and Josh Alcock relishing the defensive duties.

The prop was also prominent in the scrummage, where the home side dominated, something the home fans hadn’t witnessed for some time.

Both teams found it difficult to cope with the strong wind, and with penalties or free kicks resulting from most scrums and linesout, there was little flowing rugby on offer.

The first try of the game came after 30 minutes, and it went to the away team. Good lineout ball was won on their own 10 metre line and the ball was spun across the three-quarter line. A speculative kick forward was timed to perfection, and the race to the line was won by the Caerau centre.

The half-time score was 10-0 to the visitors.

The Old Pens made a bright start to the second half but couldn’t seem to find the last pass to put away players in space. However, a penalty to the home team following a wheeled scrum after ten minutes of the half, saw their account open with a 35-metre kick converted by Richie Moir.

The Old Pens continued to play expansively when they were able and after another promising attack, the Caerau winger who had denied the home team scoring opportunities on two previous potential try-scoring occasions, again knocked the ball on, only this time it was deemed deliberate, and he received a yellow card.

A scrum in the opposition 22 after another promising attack came to nothing, saw Joel Declaire pick up from the base, pass to captain for the day Rhys Lakin on the blind-side, who put winger Henry Kynaston in at the corner for an unconverted try which saw Caerau’s lead reduced to 10-8.

The scrum was proving the strongest facet of the home team’s play and a further transgression at the scrum saw a penalty conceded under the posts, but Richie Moir was unable to convert and put his team in front for the first time.

With less than 10 minutes remaining, and following another penalty conceded at a dominant scrum, the Old Pens were awarded a penalty, and Richie Moir then made no mistake in successfully converting for an 11-10 lead.

The last 10 minutes of the game will live long in the memory of those who saw it. Neither side gave an inch, with Caerau determined to claim what would have been only their fourth win of the season, and the home team defending stoically. The last play of the game led to Caerau kicking for the corner to set up a driving lineout maul. However, the referee awarded the away team a penalty on the 15-metre line, 22 metres out, and an  opportunity to win the game with the last kick of the game. Through a deafening silence, the kick was missed, and the match ended 11-10 to the home team and four valuable league points won.

With other results not going their way, the Old Pens will still need to win their last league game away at already relegated Cefn Coed on 27^th April to escape from the drop, if Ynysowen manage to beat the same team next weekend.