Fixture

Match Result:  Old Penarthians 68 Pembroke 0

Last Sunday the Old Penarthians Womens 1^st XV played Pembroke in the semi-final of the WRU Bowl  for the right to play the final at the Principality Stadium.  The match could unfortunately not be played at the club’s home venue due to a waterlogged pitch but thanks to Sully Sports the match was rearranged at their pitch which was perfectly playable.

The biting wind and latterly the rain blowing in off the Bristol Channel did cause the supporters of both teams some concerns but fortunately did not affect the players and Old Penarthians were totally dominant in recording a 68 points to nil victory against a very plucky but overmatched Pembroke side.

Old Pens started with the wind to their backs but despite this advantage chose to run the ball at all times rather than play a territory game through kicking.  That decision was totally justified with eight tries coming from all phases of play throughout the first half, either from close quarter forays or from deep, with well organised passing and intelligent running into space before finding supporting runners to carry the ball into the opposition half.

At half time with the score at 48-0 most supporters thought that the game was out of sight for the visitors but the wind could have been a factor in a comeback.  Old Penarthians thought differently however and reaffirmed their authority within 10 minutes of the restart by scoring their ninth try.

It was a tighter battle in the second half and Old Penarthians did ensure that all their substitutes received some gametime but in the end there was only one winner. Overall, the team scored 12 tries through Luca Laky (2), Kim Jones, Jodie Read, Jodie Parker, Aimee Smith, Jess Wallington (2), Rachael Cosier, Ffion Bowen and Jodie Smith (2).  Luka Laky converted four of the tries.

The victory now sees Old Penarthians Womens 1^st XV progress to the final of the WRU Bowl competition to be held at the Principality Stadium on Saturday 27^th April kicking off at 3.00pm, immediately after the Wales Womens team have played their Six Nations match against Italy. It should be a great day out for the team and supporters and a justified reward for the improvement in the team over their three-year existence under the coaching efforts of Kim Jones and Andy Clifton and more recently Mark Schropfer.