Fixture

Match Result:  Old Penarthians 0 Llantwit Major 48

Last Saturday, Old Penarthians 1st XV were due to play their home WRU Division 4 East Central league fixture against Llantwit Major at Cwrt-y-vil but after further torrential rainfall during the week and the poor drainage of the pitches after lack of maintenance over recent seasons by the Vale Council the match was rearranged for Sully Sports Ground.

The venue provided a surface that was water free with a good covering of grass and despite a biting wind blowing in from the Bristol Channel was very playable. Llantwit Major arrived knowing that two league points from the match would make them the division champions and they came with a large supporter contingent who were fully rewarded with a victory by 48 points to nil.

The fixtures between these two teams in previous years have been very competitive but it was an out-of-sorts Old Penarthians on the day that did not provide sufficient opposition and Llantwit were worthy winners of the match and the division in their, so far, unbeaten season.

Penarthians started the match with the wind in their favour and from the first kick off by Richie Moir the bouncing ball was not fielded by the Llantwit forwards and Alex Lewis nearly caught the ball to race clear but knocked on.  It was however Llantwit that dominated the early exchanges with a dominant scrum despite Penarthians having probably their heaviest pack of the season with the return of Josh Mellor and a permit player from Old Illtydians Mo Van Der Graff as well as Tom Sidford and Jon deClaire.

And from a scrum on seven minutes Llantwit opened the scoring under the posts through Olly Wong, converted by Ryan Evans.  Ten minutes later a poor kick into midfield was collected in open space by the Llantwit full back who brought his fellow threequarters into play for Wong to score his second try wide out.  Th kick was unsuccessful but Llantwit led 12-0.

It wasn’t all one-way traffic however and a run out of defence by Rhys Lakin was supported by Connor Christie who made territory but the final pass went astray. Andy Gill also had a run along the touchline but was injured in the tackle and was forced off the field to be substituted by Tom McCarthy.

The final score in the half went to Llantwit when they opted for a penalty in front of the posts after some dogged defence by Penarthians. Evans was successful and Llantwit led 15-0

The second half was a somewhat torrid affair for Old Pens playing into the wind and despite the best efforts of veterans Mark Smart, Nick Vagges and Scott Hill supported by youngsters Tyler Carter and Ieuan Harris and the ageless Joel deClaire, Llantwit Major were the dominant team running in five tries through Ryan Evans, Lawence Howley, Lewis Ingram and Dylan Evans (2) with Ryan Evans converting three of them. It was therefore a very muted Old Penarthians team that left the pitch at full time as Llantwit Major players and supporters celebrated their win and league success. 

It is now down to the last two games in the Old Penarthians season to see if they can survive in the division.  It is however in their own hands when a victory and a bonus point in either of the games should be enough.  The next fixture is home to Caerau Ely on Saturday 13^th April with a 2.30pm kick off.