Saturday 10th January 2026
Old Penarthians 12 v Tref-y-Clawdd 40
The first game of 2026 for Old Penarthians 1st XV was played at home to Tref-y-Clawdd last Saturday and the visitors 180 mile round trip through the poor Mid Wales weather conditions was certainly worthwhile as they returned with a 40 points to 12 victory to enhance their playing record to six wins out of seven games played.
It is however not such a rosy picture for Old Penarthians as the loss shows them at the wrong end of the league table with only one win from eight games as they sit eighth in the ten-team league. With so many games postponed in the season so far, there are still ten games to play and chances to move up the table remain but the general feeling is that it will take a full commitment from the playing squad to improve the situation.
The game could not have started more brightly for the Old Pens with a good kick off from Ollie Moir being caught on the full by the always impressive James Reynolds who drove into the opposition. He found support and further carries from Jack Chandler and Mike Jones saw the home team deep into the opposition twenty-two but a release to the threequarters saw lack of commitment to a loop-move and a dropped pass for Tref-y-Clawdd nearly open the scoring at the other end of the pitch.
A turnover by Jones however secured the ball for Penarthians and the pressure was relieved. From an attacking line out soon after the ball was won cleanly by Laitham Coobes and scrum half Ethan Galsworthy released the threequarters but another error in midfield saw an opportunity lost. Not disheartened the backs next attack was more promising when Rhys Stout was put into space and a kick ahead by Connor Christie saw the bounce of the ball just elude winger Richie Moir’s hand for a first score of the day.
Unfortunately, it was the visitors who would take their limited chance and score the first of their six tries after 17 minutes when they created space and an overlap wide out on the left which at this stage of the game was probably against the run of play.
The score encouraged Tref-y-Clawdd and seven minutes later they scored their second converted try from a rumble through their forwards. Old Pens continued to play some positive rugby with forwards and backs combining but decision making was not accurate enough and when a kick across field was caught by the defending Tref-y-Clawdd winger he found support from two other players and they combined to score wide out. The conversion was awarded by the home touch judge, Robert Crimp, but was correctly overruled by the referee when he submitted his final score sheet. Tref however led 19-0 at the half time whistle.
At the interval experienced campaigners Jon Crimp and Josh Alcock replaced Ollie Moir and the injured Tyler Carter respectively, to join substitute Jon deClaire who had replaced Coombes much earlier in the game, who sustained a hand injury which later require treatment in hospital.
The second half was however to be struggle for the home team with Tref-y-Clawdd playing some direct hard running rugby through their inside centre, number eight and flanker orchestrated by their half backs, and particularly the outside half. Despite the onslaught the defensive effort of the home team could not be faulted and time and again the forwards led by captain Joe Francis-Oaten, Liam O’Brian and Alcock repelled the attacks.
It was however going to be inevitable that the visitors would open the second half scoring and after seven minutes this was the case and a converted try resulted and a 26-0 scoreline. It was followed on 14 minutes by the first score of the afternoon for Old Penarthians when a scrum, which had been strong throughout, was won and Galsworthy passed to Crimp. He put Christie into space who ran direct and broke the defensive line to send Ieuan Harris away on a 30m rum to score. The conversion from Crimp was good and Penarthians were on the scoreboard.
As is common for the Old Pens a good series of play is followed by a disappointment and almost straight from the restart Tref-y-Clawdd scored another converted try to increase their lead to 33-7. The break in play saw the introduction of Harry Edwards at scrum half making his Senior debut for the Club and Dan Jones for the injured Nathan Harris
Penarthians continued to defend well and when a ball was dropped by Tref-y-Clawdd during an attack just outside the Penarthians twenty-two the loose ball was collected by Cae Williams and he put Reynolds into space. He found the energy to sprint away from the defenders and carry to within 5m of the tryline before being tackled. His inside pass did however not go forward to Christie who crossed for an unconverted try.
Tref were to have the last say with their final converted try and a final score of 40-12 in favour of the visitors.
Next Saturday Old Penarthians make the journey north to Mid Wales to play league leaders Brecon in a game scheduled to kick of at 2.20pm