Fixture

Match Result:  Llantwit Major 47 Old Penarthians 6

This fixture with Llantwit Major was initially scheduled to be played at home but due to the erection of a marquee at their home at Cwrt-y-vil in which the inaugural dinner of the Old Penarthians centenary season was to be held, the game was transferred to Llantwit Major.

The Old Penarthians Division 4 East Central season therefore kicked off in bright sunshine at Llantwit Major and whilst the 47 points to 6 defeat was not the result with which to welcome the club’s centenary season there were still positives to be taken from the performance of a very young team that contained seven forwards under the age of twenty-one.

It meant that against an experienced Llantwit team that only just missed out on promotion last year it was always going to be an uphill struggle but one from which all the players can take credit for sticking at their tasks in the face of a bigger and stronger team.

It was also a big move step forward for the team from the end of the 2022/23 season where they were forced into commencing games with uncontested scrums that there were a full complement of front row forwards and reserves available this term.

This was in some way thanks to the support of Penarth RFC who were able to grant permits to allow Sam Sully and Ethan Barry to play in the Old Pens ranks but also the inclusion of debutant Alfie Graddon, who was to put in a man-or-the-match performance before coming off the field ten minutes before the final whistle having given everything to the cause in attack and defence

The match was somewhat typical of last season however when from a Llantwit kick-off the receiving forwards failed to collect the ball, knocking it on to the oncoming home team forwards who carried the ball into contact.  From the ensuing ruck the first of 27 penalties awarded in the match for high tackles was presented to Llantwit and outside half Eathan White kicked the three points.

The issue of ‘high tackles’ is going to be something that dominates these early matches with players and officials trying to cope with the law change that lowers the point of contact in the tackle.  The measures are obviously welcome to try and limit the amount of head contact injuries but it will take some time for players to adapt and it is hoped that referees will be sympathetic when applying the new law as well as being consistent from one match to another.

Ethan White added three more points for another high (but not dangerous) tackle two minutes later and this was followed by a converted try which started with a dominate scrum in front of the posts. It meant that Llantwit led by 13-0 inside eight minutes and it looked like it was going to be a very  long afternoon for Old Penarthians

However, the forwards led by the experienced Josh Allcock responded and Charlie Wheatley and Jack Chandler (both debutants) carried the ball into contact and delivered the ball back for Gareth Clancy to release the threequarters.  Jon Crimp, captain of the 1^st XV for a third time, marshalled the attacks and there were penetrating runs from Craig Haines, new father of twins, and Nathan Facey. From one of those attacks Facey was able to kick a penalty to reduce the lead. 

Llantwit responded with a try before Facey kicked a second penalty, following a good tackle on the defending fullback by Connor Christie, on 30 minutes for a 20-6 scoreline.  Penarthians could not however hold out until the interval and a final converted try gave a half time score of 27-6.

At the break Tyler Carter made way for another debutant, and last season’s Youth XV captain, Elliot Dyment-Salmon to join the now ‘experienced’ James Reynolds in the back row.

The second half was a mirror of the first session with Llantwit scoring early and then Old Penarthians putting up a resilient defence whilst having opportunities themselves including a five-minute sustained forward effort on the opposition goal line but they couldn’t quite breach the defence.  Llantwit Major then scored two late tries to make the final score 47-6 but not before further debuts for Ieuan Harris and William Evans

The 1^st XV’s next match is on Saturday 9^th September way to Ynysowen who also lost their opening game