Fixture

Match Result:  Old Penarthians 33 Gwernyfed 7

Old Penarthians 1^st XV played their first home fixture of the WRU Division 3 South East Central (B) league season against Gwernyfed last Saturday and ran out worthy winners by 33 points to 7.  In scoring five tries on a very cold windy day they also earned a bonus point.

Penarthians started the game strongly in the opposition half with good forward carries by James Beaton and Tom Sidford but were then subjected to sustained pressure on their own line for 5 mins. This was defended well by the combined efforts of the forwards and threequarters until Joel DeClaire was able to steal the ball with a strong jackal tackle under the posts.

Play then reverted to the Gwernyfed half and carries by Josh Mellor and Stu Clarke released the threequarters and gave Ben Donovan a chance to run down the right touchline.  He was stopped but a quick release allowed Tom Hillman to pass to deClaire who gave a long pass to Beaton who slipped the ball to Evan Morgan to race over from 20m to score the first try of the afternoon after 15 minutes.

Jon Crimp playing his 200^th game for the 1^st XV slotted the conversion and Penarthians led 7-0

Old Pens continued to assert themselves in the loose and with a strong scrum pressure continued to mount on Gwernyfed until they gave away a penalty on halfway after 25 minutes.  A quick penalty was taken by Clarke who found captain Chris Poole on his shoulder and the offload saw him break clear of two defenders and run in from 40m to score.  The try was converted by Crimp.

Gwernyfed were however back on the attack and the half ended with the Old Penarthians tryline under threat but Jake Thomas, playing his debut for the club, marshalled the defensive effort and the score remained at 14-0 in favour of the home team

The second half started brightly for Old Penarthians with Rhys Lakin, Crimp and Morgan combining well to enter the  Gwernyfed twenty-two.  The forwards continued the move but were held up short of the line and the ball was turned over.  Under pressure the visitors kick out of defence was however ineffective and it only went into midfield where it was gathered by Mellor. Mellor then ran aggressively from the 22m line, breaking tackles and carrying the opposition with him before ‘slam dunking’ the ball over the tryline for his first try in his first season of rugby. Crimp converted and Old Pens led 21-0

Penarthians then used some of their substitutes bringing on Sam Hall, Scott Mackie and Ben Kizza, playing on permit from Old Illtydians, but this did nothing to dent their efforts and on 17 minutes a scrum on halfway saw deClaire pick up from the base of the scrum to feed Gareth Clancy.  He passed to Poole who sent Morgan away from 40m to score his second try after outpacing the defenders.  The conversion was unsuccessful.

Further substitutions followed with Jordan Williams, a further permit player from the Old Illts, coming into the backline and Ryan Davenport going into the backrow in place of the inspirational Thomas.

Gwernyfed continued to play attacking rugby but on 25 minutes a stray pass was intercepted by Poole who scored under the posts for Crimp to convert.

Again, Gwernyfed refused to roll over and in the dying moments of the game they were rewarded with a try scored and converted by James Brute to make the final score 33-7

It was therefore a happy Old Penarthians team that returned to the warmth of the changing rooms for a well-earned hot shower after a performance that warmed the spectators must more that the Arctic winds of Storm Arwen

Next week the 1^st XV travel to Ynysowen where they hope to build on last week’s success.  Kick off is scheduled for 2.30pm.