After three weeks of inactivity due to cancelled fixtures and a previous elimination from the WRU Division 5/6 Cup competition, Old Penarthians 1st XV returned to Division 5 East Central league action on a rain sodden pitch in stormy weather conditions away to Treherbert. It was a day for heavy forwards and a direct no-nonsense tactical approach which suited the home team game plan to a tee.
Penarthians were by far the smaller team with greater ambition but ultimately forward power prevailed with Treherbert outscoring the visitors by two close range tries to one in a 12 points to 7 victory
The match did not however start in that fashion with Old Pens dominating the early phases of play with midfield breaks from Cae Williams and Elliot Dyment-Salmon which led to a penalty near the opposition try line after 8 minutes. Captain Joe Fransis-Oaten declined the easy kick at goal and opted for a scrum which was won comfortably and the captain himself drove forward. When he was stopped short of the line his fellow forwards were in support and the recycled ball was passed to winger Richie Moir, but he was bundled into touch at the corner flag and the chance was lost.
Despite the heavier Treherbert pack the Penarthian scrum was functioning well at this stage with front row Nathan Harris, Liam Brooks and debutant Ellis Halliday more than holding their own. Lineouts were also a big positive for the team with Brooks hitting his targets of James Reynolds and Josh Allcock for regular service to scrum half Ethan Galsworthy.
But it was Treherbert who used their possession the better with long range kicks up field to set up territory. Most of these kicks were safely fielded by full back Jon Crimp and he used his experience to send the ball back the way it came. Treherbert did however gain some advantages and were awarded a kickable penalty after 14 minutes. The kick was unsuccessful and the kick was gathered behind the tryline by Williams who launched a counterattack up to the twenty-two. His inside pass was taken on by Halliday but he was too quick for the support play and the opportunity for more progress up the field was lost.
Four minutes later Treherbert were back into the visitor’s twenty-two and from a driving line out and several close-range forays Treherbert crossed the line under the posts for a converted try and a 7-0 lead.
Almost immediately Treherbert arrived in the same part of the field for another attacking line out but this time the ball was knocked forward into the hands of Reynolds and he sprinted (galloped) 95m to score a try at the opposite end on the pitch. Josh Preece converted and the scores were tied.
Penarthains then had there most sustained period of play with driving lineouts of their own on the Treherbert tryline but the organisation amongst the forwards in the mauls was not controlled and no points resulted, for a half time score of 7-7.
With the weather further deteriorating Treherbert started to dominate the scrum with well managed use of the ‘rolling substitute’ rule that applies at this level of the game as they made constant changes of the big men in the front row. Penarthians did not have the same luxury and despite the use of their own substitutes the size differential eventually told and eventually Treherbert drove a 5m scrum forward and their number 8 scored an unconverted try after 18 mins of the second half.
The remaining time in the game was something of a stalemate with neither team fully mastering the conditions. Penarthians tried to be the more adventurous and winger Rhys Stout and replacement fullback Luke Ingram combining to start counterattacks from within their own half but they were often left stranded without full support from a by then tired set of forwards.
The final scoreline of 12-7 to Treherbert was probably not the way that Jon Crimp would have liked to celebrate his 250th game for the Old Penarthians 1st XV but it is still a great achievement to have reached this land mark, as he became only the 20th player in the club’s 102 year-old history to have appeared in this number of games.
It was also a day when three players, Ellis Halliday, Luke Ingram and Jamie Oaten, made their debuts and the club wishes them well in their fledgling careers as they attempt to attain similar numbers of appearances.
Next week the 1st XV are at home to Caerau Ely in their next league fixture with a scheduled kick off at 2.30pm.