Fixture

Old Penarthians v Treherbert Match Report

Saturday 23rd September 2017

Last Saturday Old Penarthians visited Treherbert who after two matches of the Division 3 East Central (B) season were unbeaten, gaining bonus points on each occasion for scoring four or more tries.

Despite being situated 20 miles north of the M4 the Treherbert pitch was bathed in balmy sunshine more associated with being 20 miles inland from the Spanish coastline, and was nothing like the sign on the grandstand which was writ large with ‘Welcome to hell’.

Old Penarthians were not put off with this welcome in any way and for 25 minutes dictated the play with accuracy and tempo.  From the first kick off by David Lakin, Mike Nash competed for the ball and deflected it back to the onrushing forwards.  They committed the opposition but were penalised for joining the ruck from the side.  This was to be one of many infringements in the first half that were awarded against the visitors by the referee who was late arriving and as a result the match started 20 minutes after the scheduled kick off time.

The penalty count for innocuous and silly errors did not deflate the Old Pens and they continued to attack in controlled phase play.  Bursts from the returning Chad Wilson, Andy Hilbourne and Joel de Claire were recycled at the breakdown by Gareth Clancy and both Rhys Lakin and John Patterson created chances that could not be finished.  Even from more scrappy play a chance was created from an attacking grubber kick by Clancy that just beat the dive of Jonathan Crimp.

Dave Lakin was another to try to break the Treherbert defence but he was upended by a strong, but fair tackle and only good support play by the Blakes, Rhys and Geraint secured the ball.

All the pressure did not however result in any points and it was obvious from the start of the game that the Treherbert scrum was very strong and exerting pressure on the Old Pens front row in which Tom Sidford was starting only his second match.

As in previous matches opportunities not taken at one end led to defensive errors at the other and from one such instance after 30 mins on the 22m line, Old Penarthians conceded a scrum which was shunted backwards and a kickable penalty awarded.  The successful kick made the score 3 – 0.  

Some midfield play followed the restart with no one dominant although Mike Nash ran aggressively out of defence and nearly broke through the tackles to release Rob Gill.  Gill also had opportunities but often from in his own half.

The deciding series of plays came in the last 5 minutes of the half when a scum was again penalised.  Treherbert opted for another scrum this time with their put-in.  Another dominant scrum saw the number 8 drive and pass to the supporting scrum half to score a try, converted by the outside half.

Penarthians again competed for the kick off and for probably the first time in the match were awarded a penalty.  This was kicked to the corner and from a good lineout catch by de Claire from a Rhys Blake throw play was carried into mid field.  A second penalty was awarded and this time David Lakin kicked for goal.  Unfortunately for the team and the scoreline Lakin missed his first kick of the season and the half time whistle soon blew with a ten-point advantage to the home team.

The pressure in the scrum saw the replacement of not Sidford but the loosehead prop Sam Hall to be replaced by Tony Kemp.  Because he was front row cover but for the tight head position it meant that the remainder of the game was played with uncontested scrums.  The referee rightly determined that this did not stop Old Penarthians from using their other substitutes as the game progressed.

This partially negated the Treherbert forward effort but not the probing from their lively scrum half, and it was he that harried the defence into conceding another penalty after 15 minutes of the restart and the outside half converted for a 13 – 0 lead.

Penarthians kept trying and captain Rhys Lakin was to the fore on a couple of occasions carrying the ball into contact but not quite making the necessary break.  Coach Simon Hurley introduced Albert Miles, Fearghas Gough, Josh Alcock and debutant David Cooper into the contest during the second period but It was however not to be the Old Penarthians afternoon and in the last fifteen minutes Treherbert were able to score two more tries, one of which was converted, for a final score of 25 points to 0

This was a much-improved performance over the previous week and was more representative of the game plan that the team want to play.  A little more confidence in the final quarter of the pitch will undoubtedly bring tries and with it the results that play warrants.

Next week Old Penarthians first team host newly promoted Ferndale at Cwrt-y-vil with the confident seconds entertaining Sully View after a 69 – 12 victory over Rhiwbina last weekend.  Both matches kick off at 2.30pm.