Saturday 6th December 2025
Cefn Coed 22 v Old Penarthians 15
After another three-week enforced break in the fixture schedule because of the Autumn Series of Wales internationals, Old Penarthains returned to Division 5 East Central league action away to Cefn Coed. The game only went ahead after the host side managed to locate an all-weather surface at the home of Merthyr RFC following the waterlogged nature of two other grass pitches that were inspected in the morning of the match
And it was just as well that the change of venue was arranged because the heavy rain showers and winds in which the fixture was played would have meant that a completed match would otherwise have been unlikely. The very competitive match was however completed with Cefn Coed coming out the victors by 22 points to 15
Whilst both teams may have been unaccustomed to the artificial surface Old Penarthians seemed to have taken a liking to it very quickly and from a good kick off from Ollie Moir and good harassing in the chase Old Pens were awarded a penalty which was kicked to the corner. A well rehearsed lineout throw from Liam Brooks to Will Davies saw the forwards create a maul and from the resulting drive Ethan Galsworthy touched down for a try. The kick was unsuccessful but after four minutes Penarthians led 5 – 0.
Penarthians were soon back on the attack and from forward drives from Joe Francis-Oaten, Jack Chandler and Tyler Carter, they were unlucky that the final effort was held up over the tryline and Cefn Coed were awarded a relieving drop out restart from under the posts.
In fact, it was not until the fifteenth minute that Cefn Coed entered into the Old Pens half where they exerted forward pressure of their own through some powerful scrummaging. One such scrum resulting in Chander having to leave the pitch to be replaced by stalwart Mark Smart. The Cefn Coed attacks continued and when a lineout resulted 10m from the tryline the writing seemed to be on the wall for a Cefn score. It was not to be however when Will Davies stole the line out and a defensive ruck was set up. Unfortunately, the relieving kick went into midfield where it was collected by the fullback with support from his centre who ran through some poor tackling to score under the posts. The try was converted and Cefn Coed led 7-5
Penarthains, who had been playing with the weather conditions in their favour, were still attempting to run the ball and an attack by Connor Christie was only stopped with a high tackle for which the defender was rightly penalised and Moir stepped up to kick the three points for Old Pens to retake the lead.
On the stroke of half time however Cefn Coed were back in control and from three or four forward drives Penarthians were penalised near the centre of the pitch. With the visitors expecting a kick at goal the Cefn Coed scrum half acted quickly by taking a tap penalty to himself and he breezed over from 10m out. The conversion was missed but at half time Cefn Coed led by four points.
The weather conditions in the second half did not improve and the experience of the Cefn Coed outside half was a major contributory factor in helping his side dominate the territory advantage in this second period with astute kicking and management of the ball for his forwards. In comparison Old Pens were slightly naive with their tactics and whilst finally deciding that it was best to try and run the ball back to the opposition it was not until after a cross field kick after a good defensive line out, again won by Davies, was sliced into midfield straight into the hands of the Cefn Coed winger who sprinted forward with support from the full back to score an unconverted try.
On twenty minutes a neat kick over the heads of the Penarthians defenders was taken after a favourable bounce of the ball by a Cefn Coed player and with support another try was scored and Cefn Coed led 22-8. It seemed ominous for the visitors at this time but with twenty minutes remaining they stuck to their tasks and an enterprising run out of their own twenty-two led by Cae Williams and Ieuan Harris nearly resulted in a length of the pitch breakaway.
This was not to be the last foray however and Penarthians managed to retain possession in the home team’s twenty-two for the last five minutes of the match aided by some good forward play and a defensive unit that could not withstand the pressure and committed repeat infringements. From one of the penalties Galsworthy found Christie in space for him to twist out of a tackle and score. Moir converted and the final score was 22-15.
It meant that Penarthians gained a bonus point in defeat but Cefn Coed would have been the happier team returning home through the winds and rains having picked up five league points and won their sixth game out of seven, to rise to second place in the table.
Next week Old Penarthians play the third placed team in the division when they host Cardiff Met Athletic in a match scheduled to kick off at Cwrt-y-vil at 2.30pm