Saturday 11th April 2026
Glyncoch 24 v Old Penarthians 26
Old Penarthians penultimate game of their WRU Division 5 East Central season was played last Saturday away to Glyncoch and they came away with a 26 point to 24 victory, in what could prove to be a very important result in their battle to survive in the division.
The win and bonus point for scoring four tries puts the team on 30 league points with five wins and into sixth place in the 10-team league. With two teams to be relegated, the bottom team Treherbert are on 13 points with two games remaining and cannot catch the Old Pens and the other team currently in the other relegation place, Cardiff Saracens, have three games remaining and sit on 16 points. Mathematically Saracens could escape if they were to win all their remaining games with a bonus point in each but one of their fixtures is against table toppers Brecon Athletic who are looking to secure the league title. These results would have no effect on the Old Pens if they could take something out of their last fixture of the season away to Llandrindod Wells, a side they recently defeated at Cwrt-y-vil.
Back to the game at Glyncoch, it was obvious from the start that the two teams were going to play in contrasting styles. The Glyncoch forwards were far heavier that their Old Penarthians counterparts and therefore they were going to try and outmuscle the visitors. In contrast the Old Penarthians threequarters were much more free running and determined to play an attacking game despite the windy and at times rain affected conditions. And ultimately it was the free running game that was the victor with three of the Penarthians tries coming from their backs with the other coming from a forward taking an inside pass from a threequarter move. All the Glyncoch tries came in the close contact areas of rucks and mauls, two of which were disputed as the referee seemed to be unsighted with the number of players either under or on top of the ball.
The match started with a good kick off from Jonathan Crimp contested by Will Davis which resulted in a Penarthians line out. This was won cleanly and Jac Davies was set free to run at the opposition but a scrum resulted and Glyncoch cleared their lines. Penarthians were soon back on the attack and a break from Craig Haines put Ieuan Harris into space who passed to Davies who cut inside the final defender on his way to score however he was pulled back for a forward pass.
It was then Glyncoch who had the chance to open the scoring after 15 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after a series of scrummage infringements. The kick from 35m was unsuccessful. The first score went to the visitors when from a lineout throw from Zac Gilbert to Davis, scrum half Ethan Galsworthy passed to outside half Crimp, who dummied to his forwards and instead passed to Haines. He broke a tackle and passed to Harris who made 15m before giving a scoring pass to Connor Christie. Crimp converted and Old Pens led 7-0
Three minutes later another line break form Harris set up the forwards for a series of pick-and-goes near the Glyncoch tryline. Attempts from Liam O’Brian (on as a replacement for injured Nathan Harris), Joe Francis-Oaten and Charlie Wheatley were repelled before Galsworthy passed wide to Crimp who found James Reynolds on his inside shoulder who broke two tackles to score. The kick was unsuccessful but Penarthians led 12-0
On the stroke of half time further dominant Glyncoch scrummages earned them a series of penalties and after some excellent goal line defence the home team went over the line to be awarded a try. The conversion was good and that brought the half time whistle and a score of 12-7 in favour of the Old Pens.
Glyncoch, now with the wind at their backs, started the second half as they finished the first with forward dominated drives and scrums and on 7 minutes a penalty kick in front of the posts was successful and the points difference was only two in the visitor’s favour. This lead was however lost five minutes later when Glyncoch crossed for their second converted try from another close-range forward effort and the hosts led 17-12.
Penarthians made some substitutions at this point with Jack Chandler replacing Sam McListon and Laithan Coombes coming on as a ‘blood-sub’ for Wheatley. This added a little more weight to the pack and for one of the few occasions Penarthians won a scrum penalty. The ball was moved quickly and Cae Williams coming in from his blindside wing gave a pass to Christie who broke two tackles to score. Crimp converted and Old Pens were back in front after 28 minutes. With the restart about to take place Tyler Carter replaced captain Francis-Oaten and Rhys Stout went on for Haines.
Indiscipline from the home team then passed an advantage and territory back to Penarthians which they gladly accepted when anther attacking move created by the threequarters put Harris away for a well-deserved bonus point try. Crimp converted and the visitors led 26-17.
Any thoughts of an easy last 5 minutes were however dispelled when with almost the last attack of the game Glyncoch crossed for their third try and a contentious conversion was granted when the touch judges disagreed about the success of the kick and the outcome was back in the balance. There was however only just time for the kick off which was again well judged by Crimp allowing his forwards to compete and under pressure Glyncoch knocked on and the referee called time on a 26-24 victory to Old Penarthians
The last match of the campaign sees the 1st XV travel to Llandrindod Wells next Saturday and all support is welcome to travel with the team on a coach that will depart the club at 11.00am