Fixture

Match Result: Old Penarthians 33 Tref-y-Clawdd 20

Last Saturday was the second home game of the WRU Division 5 East Central league season and following the victory over Llandrindod Wells the week before by 33-20, Old Penarthians welcomed Tref-y-Clawdd to Cwrt-y-vil for the first time and were again the winners by 33 points to 20.

This was a more rounded performance than the previous week although there is still room for improvement with decision making at crucial times and the elimination of unforced errors. It was however pleasing to see the side made up of a blend of young and old players. The youngsters all coming from the club’s Youth team ranks included Josh Preece, Liam Coombes, James Reynolds, Ieuan Harris and Cae Williams. Whilst the more senior players included 40-year-old substitutes Mark Sadler (playing his 197^th game for the 1^st XV) and Scott Hill together with even older veteran Gareth Clancy.

But it was young Preece that got the scoreboard ticking with two penalties on three and six minutes that settled the home team nerves after some controlled attacking rugby that forced Tre-y-Clawdd into errors that were punished by the referee.

On nine minutes however coach Jake Thomas received a yellow card for a retaliatory action to an original offence not seen by the referee.  In his absence there was stout and resolute defence particularly by Chris Greenfield, Rhys Thomas, Connor Christie and Tom Sidford but territorial pressure led to an unconverted try and a 6-5 scoreline in favour of Old Pens

Despite the return of coach Thomas, Tref-y-Clawdd returned to the attack when unforced errors and a failure of Old Pens to clear their lines from a well-controlled ruck led to a dropped pass in midfield and an opportunist pick up and dive over for a try that was again unconverted.

Old Penarthains were however still playing with an attacking intent and from a line out on the left-hand side of the pitch won cleanly by Coombes the ball was driven into midfield by Christie. A surprising quick release by scrum half Clancy from the ruck released Rory Hone who passed to Preece who gave a scoring pass to Harris.  Preece converted and Old Pens were back in the lead by 13-10.

From the restart Old Pens pressurised the visitors and forced them to make errors.  Possession was regained and drives from Matt Stingl and Sidford saw the ball released to the threequarters and this time Harris was on hand to give an inside pass to Christie who raced over for a try converted by Preece and a half time score of 20-10

Tref-y-Clawdd did not look like a team who had lost their previous outings this season and at the start of the half returned to the attack. The pressure exerted led to Penarthians conceding five penalties in quick succession and one of those was converted by the visitor’s outside half.

Penarthians were however undaunted and when things did click they made ground through combined moves from backs and forwards, which on one occasion led to a try when good interpassing from Jake Thomas, Harris, Reynolds and then an inside pass back to Harris gave him his second try of the afternoon.

This score was followed by a penalty in front of the posts to give the home side a 28-13 lead and a two-score cushion

Rhys Thomas then had a good run through midfield after a break from Sadler supported by Jake Thomas.  And it was a forward who would claim the bonus point try when a maul within the opposition twenty-two was driven over the line with Stingl claiming the touchdown.  The conversion from wide out was missed but with ten minutes remaining Old Pens led 33-13

With the game seemingly won Old Pens concentration levels dropped and Tref-y-Clawdd scored a converted consolation try in a 33-20 victory to Old Penarthians

Next Saturday Old Penarthians travel back to Cefn Coed in the WRU Plate knock out competition in an attempt to overturn their first day one-point league defeat.  For those willing to travel the kick-off is at 2.30pm