Saturday 17th October 2026
Old Penarthians 24 Glyncoch 15
Since the last written report of Old Penarthians progress in season 2026/27 the 1st XV has played two fixtures, one in the WRU Division 5/6 Cup which was a loss away to Llandaff North by 16 points to 13. The other match played was against Tref-y Clawdd in the league which resulted in a loss by 15 points to 43. This was a game which was decided in the first 15 minutes when Old Penarthians conceded 19 unanswered points. Thereafter the game was competitive with the team scoring three tries, none of which were converted.
This left the team one place from the bottom of WRU Division 5 East Central with only one point, earned as a bonus point in a defeat against Llandrindod Wells. Last Saturday’s game against Glyncoch was therefore very important, as they too were towards the bottom of the division. Fortunately, in a game strewn with errors and poor decision making the home team came out on top by 24 points to 15, thereby earning the team four league points with their first victory of the season.
Old Penarthians began impressively. The front row of Sam McListon, Kyle Garnett and Liam O’Brien secured solid scrum possession, earning early penalties and valuable territory. Glyncoch nevertheless took the lead with a penalty from 30 metres, directly in front of the posts.
Old Penarthians responded well with attacking moves led by Ieuan Harris and Cai Williams. One such attack put Tyler Carter into space but he was forced into touch and the move came to nothing. On another occasion Theo Simmons was running free but was pulled down with a high tackle that earned the offending Glyncoch player a yellow card and a penalty in front of the posts. In the absence of a kicking tee that was delayed entry onto the field Williams converted the penalty with a drop goal.
After 28 minutes of the game Old Penarthians launched another attack through outside half Richie Moyer who offloaded to Harris. He ran strongly into space and passed to Simmons and on to Riley Lake. Lake still had 20 metres to the try line and when the defending fullback approached, he straightened and charged through the tackle to score wide out. The conversion was unsuccessful but Penarthians now led 8-3.
As has become customary however the kick off was not collected properly and Glyncoch were awarded a scrum. From the resulting set piece Glyncoch ran wide created space and only a great cover tackle by Simmons and Williams stopped a try being scored. The referee had however deemed that there was an offside infringement and Glyncoch were given another opportunity to scrummage. This time their scrum was strong and they were awarded a series of penalties. From one of these they created a blind side overlap and scored a try which was unconverted to level the scores at 8 all. Penarthians did however have the last say in the half with another Williams penalty for a half time score of 11 points to 8.
The second half started strongly for old Penarthians with line out possession near the opposition goal line. The throw in from captain James Reynolds was taken cleanly by Will Graham and passed down to scrum half Rhys Stout, he passed into midfield where the ball was knocked forward under the posts and the opportunity was lost.
Glyncoch then went on the attack and gained territory in the opposition 22. Their scrum was now the dominant party and they were awarded a penalty. The scrum half took a quick tap penalty and through the forwards and missed tackles by the defending team scored a try under the posts which was converted. Glyncoch then led by 15 points to 11.
Old Pens continued to press and forward drives by the impressive Jak Davis and Josh Alcock gained territory into midfield. Charlie Wheatley continued the move and eventually a penalty resulted which Williams converted to narrow the gap to one point. A turn around in fortunes at the scrum meant that Penarthians were now in control and they were awarded a penalty which was again converted by Williams for Penarthians to take the lead by two.
Then came the deciding moment of the match with Glyncoch attacking Theo Simmons intercepted the ball under the shadow of his own posts and ran 95m to score under the posts at the other end of the pitch for a converted try and a lead for Old Pens by 24 points to 15 with seven minutes of the match remaining.
Glyncoch did not give up and they returned to the attack. Old Pens defended valiantly and were rewarded when Glyncoch kicked into the home team twenty-two for James Reynolds to call ‘Mark.’ His kick, unlike others in the match, reached touch and it was the last play of the game for Penarthians to end up deserved winners in a hard-fought contest.
The 1st XV do not have a fixture next weekend but the 2nd XV take on local rivals Penarth at the Athletic Field in an East District Division 1 league fixture. All support for a 2.30pm kick off would be welcome.