Fixture

WRU Division South East Central (B) league action returned to Cwrt-y-vil Playing Fields last Saturday when Old Penarthians hosted Llantwit Major.  It is a cliché to say that the game was one of two halves but this encounter certainly fitted into that category with Llantwit racing to a 24 point lead within 23 minutes with two tries from Geraint David and one each from Gareth Watts and Callum Stevens.  Ethan Wood added two conversions

Old Penarthians did score before the break and then in the second half outscored the visitors by 14 points to 5 for a final score of Old Penarthians 19 Llantwit Major 29

It is becoming a familiar story for the 1^st XV unfortunately, with player unavailability causing selectorial headaches in the lead up to the game. This meant that there were five changes in the forwards from the side that started the week before against Tonyrefail with Gareth Boulton, Ryan Davenport, Nick Vagges, Joel deClaire and Owen Evans (on permit from Penarth RFC) coming into the team.

It is heartening that the club can still field a side calling on all their playing resources at a time when many other clubs around the local area and in the wider country are unable to fulfil league fixtures however the turnover of players does mean cohesive game plans are hard to develop.

Hence the poor start to the game on Saturday and the turn around when players became more familiar with each other.

It helps that the threequarters are a more stable unit and it was good to welcome back first XV captain, Chris Poole, following the birth of his daughter, Bella. In fact, the resilience of the backs defence as well as their attacking prowess was one of the reasons that the deficit in the first half scoreline was not greater.

Added to that was the overall game management and commitment in attack and defence of player/coach Jake Thomas who led by example throughout. His work rate is something that the rest of the team can surely learn from as the 1^st team approach the end of the season with three league fixtures to rearrange and an East District Cup semi-final to play

It was however good in this match that the first half ended with a try for Alex Lewis after a line break by Poole supported by Rhys Lakin who put the winger over in the corner.  Jon Crimp was unsuccessful with the touch line kick into the wind.

The try also brought substitutions with Jerome Bryan and AJ Jones introduced into the line-up instead of Boulton and the injured Evans. The restart saw Mat Stingl carry well and Crimp nearly put winger Evan Morgan away but the pass was misdirected.

Llantwit started the stronger in the second half but resilient defence on the try line with deClaire, Thomas and Vagges to the fore meant the line stayed intact until a yellow card to prop Sam Hall after repeated scrummage infringements meant passive scrums were implemented.  From one of these Gareth Watts scored his second try.  The kick was unsuccessful

With the return of Hall and the introduction of Dan Jones contested scrums could resume and from one of these after 30 mins Thomas picked up and passed on the blindside to Crimp.  The ball was carried on by the forwards before Lakin received a pass on the 22m line and he broke through tackles to score under the posts.  Crimp converted.

With time running out Penarthians continued to attack and this time the forwards took control with Thomas and Stingl committing defenders before a good leg drive by Bryan saw him carry three players over the tryline to score.  Crimp kicked the conversion and the final whistle was blown on a 29-19 victory to Llantwit Major.

On a more cheerful note for the Club, the Youth XV playing on the adjacent pitch won a tense battle against Beddau by 7-3 to record their fifth win in a so far unbeaten league season and the Women’s Mariners XV were successful the next day with a 24-5 league victory over Blaina.