Saturday 13th December 2025
Old Penarthians 13 v Cardiff Met 47
Whilst this is primarily a report of the Old Penarthians 1st XV Division 5 East Central league match at home to Cardiff Met on 13th December, the initial focus must be on the Club’s Youth XV in their Cardiff Region Cup Semi Final. Looking for revenge over a Merthyr Youth XV, who beat them in the final of this competition last season, the Club gave the sides the use of the main pitch at Cwrt-y-vil to showcase their talents and the large crowd were not disappointed by the performances of both teams.
The match stated in favour of the visitors who scored the first try of the contest but thereafter Old Penarthians dominated the match with adventurous rugby that saw them score five tries in an emphatic victory by 35 points to 8. Coaches John Bryant and Robert Sidoli were full of praise for their players, led by captains Gabe Chandler and Harvey Bryant, in the post match celebrations and they now look forward to the final which is to be played at Cardiff Arms Park on Sunday 21st December.
Returning to the 1st XV match it was always going to be a challenge to play against a Cardiff Met team, who by the inequalities of the competition rules are allowed permit up to seven players from their Premiership side who play in a league six divisions higher than Old Penarthians. That said Old Pens put in a very spirited performance against a talented and well organised Met team which was not reflected in the final score of 47-13 to the visitors.
In fact, the match started with a Penarthians kick off gathered by James Reynolds and supported by his fellow forwards who took play into the Met twenty-two. Several phases of play later a penalty was awarded to the home side and Ollie Moir stepped up to convert the three points. Play then see-sawed between the teams with attacking opportunities created but strong defensive tackling coming out on top and no real advantages were gained. On 13 mins, Cardiff Met put in a relieving kick out of defence that was caught just outside his own twenty-two by Ieuan Harris. Harris sent a spiralling kick back which bounced into touch inside his opponents twenty-two thus earning a Penarthians throw-in at the line out.
The throw from Liam Brooks was caught one-handed by Will Davies and he set up a maul that the forwards carried towards the try line. The ball was recycled through Ethan Galsworthy onto Connor Christie but when he was stopped and no advantage was apparent the referee awarded a penalty to the home side which was again successfully kicked by Moir and Old Pens led 6-0
Cardiff Met were soon back on the attack but they were met with outstanding defence led by Charlie Wheatley, Tyler Carter, Joe Francis-Oaten, Liam O’Brian and James Reynolds in the forwards and Cae Williams and Galsworthy in the three-quarters. From one of those defensive efforts the ball was stolen by Reynolds but the clearance kick went into mid-field into the arms of a Met centre who returned the ball at pace and broke through a couple of tackles to score. The conversion was missed but Cardiff Met were on the scoreboard.
They would add to that lead after 25 minutes when two dominant scrums led to the number 8 crashing forward and stretching out to score. The try was converted and Met led 12-6. The second scrum led to the departure of Brooks to be replaced by Zac Gilbert but he could do nothing to prevent the next try which saw the Met outside half collect the ball in open play and send a cross field kick in the direction of his sprinting winger, who collected on the full to race through to score a converted try for a 19-6 half time lead.
At half time coach Jason Lewis made a couple of changes in the pack with Nathan Harris replacing Jack Chandler and Laitham Coombes replacing an injured Will Davies. But it was not to be the best of starts to the second half with the kick off dropped and a dominant Cardiff Met scrum providing easy ball for a well rehearsed backline move that saw the Met score another converted try for a 26-6 lead.
The amount of defensive work having to be undertaken by the Old Pens was now beginning to take its toll and a series of penalties awarded to the visitors at the contact area resulted in another try to the Met and a scoreline of 33-6 in their favour.
But Old Pens were not finished when a good kick out of defence by Richie Moir, celebrating his 150th appearance for the 1st XV, resulted in an attacking line out. The forwards controlled the ball and after a series of drives the outstanding Wheatley touched down for a try which was converted by Ollie Moir.
The last ten minutes of the match was dominated by the Met and despite good goal line defence against the younger and fitter Met forwards the Old Pens could not keep their tryline intact and Met scored two further converted tries for a final score of 47-13.
The result may suggest that it was a one-sided contest but it was far from it. There were many favourable aspects to the Penarthians efforts, notably in defence and the intent to attack whenever possible, and the overall spirit in the team to keep fighting to the final whistle was enough to suggest that positive results will follow provided the players commit themselves to each other in the next couple of months of the season.
Next Saturday Old Penarthians travel to Cardiff Saracens for their next league fixture at Roath Park Recreation Ground and then on Sunday the Club Youth XV feature in their Cup Final at Cardiff Arms Park against Aberdare Youth, kick off 5.00pm