Fixture

Old Penarthians v Canton Match Report

Saturday 9th September 2017

For their first home fixture in Division 3 East Central (B) last weekend Old Penarthians entertained Canton. Both sides had recorded bonus points in defeat the previous weekend and a tight contest was expected.  And that is what a fair-sized crowd, enjoying the afternoon sunshine, witnessed.

It was however not the result that the home spectators wanted and despite some attacking flair supported by good defensive organisation by the Old Pens the visitors went away with the victory by 18 points to 10.

In reality, it was a match that should have been won by the Old Penarthians but in two moments of madness the excellent work in the first 70 minutes of the game was thrown away when two Old Pens players were shown red cards.  In the first instance a yellow card, perhaps incorrectly awarded for collapsing a maul when none had been formed, was turned into a red card for excessive argument.  Secondly the referee saw an infringement between two opposing players that he considered warranted a straight red card.  

Both players defended their innocence and apologised after the game to both the referee and to their team mates but by that time the damage to the scoreline could not be undone.

Before the unfortunate ending the match had started well with Old Penarthians, playing with a stiff wind at their backs, exhibiting strong running lines from the threequarters with Rob Gill and Jon Crimp prominent.  The defensive work of the forwards was also well organised and with stand in captain Trevor Blake leading by example in the absence of Rhys Lakin.  He was well supported by debutant prop David Fellows, Tom Sidford and Rhys Blake.

After 20 minutes, a turnover at a ruck by Joel deClaire earned a penalty and from 30m David Lakin stepped up and slotted the kick for a 3 – 0 lead

As has become a trait in recent seasons the team then switched off from the Canton kick-off and territory was conceded deep in the Penarthians twenty-two.  Canton won the line out and after a series of forward attacks, a penalty was conceded for off-side at a ruck.  The visitors took the three points on offer to level the scores.

Penarthians were however soon on the offensive and after effective use of the wind through kicks by Lakin and then Nathan Facey territory was gained near the Canton tryline.  A series of controlled mauls and rucks by the forwards with deClaire, Sam Hall and Josh Allcock to the fore eventually saw Gareth Clancy release the backs.  Lakin however sensed his fellow threequarters to be under pressure and pushed a deft grubber kick forward over the tryline.  Crimp won the race to touch down and Lakin converted the try for a 10 -3 lead that was to last until half time. 

The second half was a repeat of the first with good interaction from the forwards and backs with one move involving all the threequarters including Rowan Allcock coming into the attack from the opposite wing position standing out.  Another attack from deep led by Clancy also looked promising but on both occasions the final pass to Facey went astray and the momentum was lost.

The combination of forwards and backs attacking from distance did however lead to deClaire crossing the line but it was brought back by the referee as he deemed that he had interfered with the play and therefore prevented Canton from making a tackle.  The ensuing scrum to the Old Penarthians did not provide the same outcome.

After 25 minutes, the defence of the pack was again put under pressure by the big Canton forwards but again they were repelled when a Canton five metre scrum was pushed back by the Old Pens and a penalty was awarded to the home team.

At this stage, some changes were made and the tiring Stuart Gunnarsson was replaced by the younger Mark Smart in the second row and Chris Cobbold replaced Josh Allcock at flanker.

Then came the scenarios that changed the game when firstly a penalty try was awarded for collapsing a maul and Rhys Blake was dismissed.  The score was then 10 points all.

Five minutes later with an attack launched by substitute winger George Kynaston and with the possession in the Canton twenty-two, Facey was dismissed and the team was down to thirteen players.

This set back to Penarthians gave Canton just the lift they needed and with the clock running down an attack along the touchline against a depleted defence led to an unconverted Canton.

The final blow was landed eight minutes into injury time when another attack from Canton led to a well taken drop goal and a final score of 18 – 10.  The kick therefore depriving the home team of even a consolation losing bonus point.

This point however should not have been a consideration if the discipline had been maintained and the home win that was merited for most of the match could have been completed.

Next weekend both senior teams play at home.  The first XV play in the WRU Bowl competition against Fairwater and the second XV start their CADRU League 1 campaign at home to Pontyclun.  Both fixtures are scheduled to kick off at 2.30pm.