Fixture

Old Penarthians v Whitchurch Match Report

Saturday 12^th December 2015

Last Saturday Old Penarthians 1^st XV played a rearranged WRU National League 3 East Central (C) fixture against Whitchurch at Cwrt-y-vil and ran out winners by 73 points to nil.  Whitchurch tried their best throughout but were no match for a very committed Old Pens team who have not conceded a point in their last three matches and at the same time have scored 142 points.

The game was a personal triumph for outside half Jonathan Crimp who contributed 33 points from three tries and nine conversions.  He missed only two conversions of the 11 tries scored but even if he had been successful with those he would still have been short of the highest individual Old Pens scoring record of 39 points achieved by Peter Goodfellow in the defeat of Carmarthen College by 121 points to 3 in 1992.

But the match was by no means a one-man show with the team contributing to some fine rugby throughout the match with forwards and three-quarters combining in all aspects of play.  Coaches Simon Hurley and Anthony Davies may not have had the numbers at training during the week but the drills and organisation that has been embedded into the game plan over the last few months definitely came to fruition.

There were some criticisms about poor ball retention and individual decision making when support may have been at hand, but these were minor reflections on a day when the club can justifiably say they are the best team in the league, albeit only at the half way stage of the season.  With 10 of the 18 matches played and with 9 victories the Old Penarthians lead Cardiff Saracens by 7 points. It is now necessary for the team to enjoy their two weeks away from league rugby and to come back in the New Year focused on maintaining that position.

The team last Saturday was again dominant in the scum with Dave Hosking, Sam Hall and Gary Bishop forming a strong front row, Hosking in particular surprised the coaches with his ability to throw into the lineout.  The engine room of Alun Haines and Tom Sidford form a good blend of youth and experience and regular backrowers Chris Cobbold and Joel deClaire were joined by converted winger Chad Wilson.  Wilson outshining them both with two tries scored from distance.  The other two may say they were doing the graft for their new mate but it was a very bright start to his new position.

In his place on the wing Simon Davies was able to score one try although he was left cursing his captain, fullback and employer, Lloyd Davey, on another occasion for not passing him the ball for a certain second try.

Davey had in fact scored an earlier try and the other winger Charles Gore scored two.  Mark Sadler at centre, made sure he made his presence felt in the absence of (rested) Rhys Lakin by scoring a try and Tim Naylor ensured that he stayed healthy for the Christmas break by volunteering to be substituted at half time after some typical penetrating line breaks.

His place at half time was taken by Craig Haines who contributed some good handing movements but could not get across the tryline and so still remains behind his father in the first XV try count this season.

Gareth Clancy at scrum half was the other three-quarter not to score despite appealing to Crimp to pass to him as he handed off the last defender on his way to scoring his third try.

The other try scorer was Tom Sidford, who together with Hosking had taken the attack to the opposition around the fringes of rucks and mauls.  But the two best breaks of the day probably came from second half substitute Luke Crockett, one from deep in his own half and the other which led to a try from half way.

Other substitutes utilised on the day were Lee Brennan and Fearghas Gough who contributed stability and agility in that order.

More so than usual it was however a team performance where everyone contributed to the success of the others and it will be with much anticipation that their next outing with be against Penarth in the Boxing Day match on Saturday 26^th December.

The kick off time is to be confirmed but the teams will compete for the inaugural ‘Richard Thomas Memorial Trophy’, presented by friends of their recently departed colleague who tragically died in October this year.  Richard represented both clubs as a player and captain and Old Penarthians and Penarth are proud to compete for the trophy as a fitting memorial to him.