Fixture

Match Result:  Penarth 41 Old Penarthians 17

Monday 26^th December 2022

The last game of 2022 for Old Penarthians saw them take a short journey across Lavernock Road to take on local neighbours Penarth RFC in the traditional Boxing Day fixture.  The match had unfortunately not been held in the last few years due to the Corona virus pandemic and it was therefore pleasing that the fixture could be reconvened to encourage the rugby supporters of the town the opportunity to celebrate the season of good will with old friends whilst watching a competitive game of rugby.

Before the game however a minute’s silence was impeccably observed for Brian Joseph who sadly passed away just before Christmas.  Brian was a former player, coach, Chairman and President of Old Penarthians, who also played for Penarth in the 1960s.

The game may not have been as ferocious as in those heady days when Brain was a goal kicking full back or centre and Old Penarthians played against Penarth Athletic, but it was still a spirited contest between two teams having  contrasting fortunes this season. Penarth currently sitting atop Division 3 East Central of the WRU leagues playing some entertaining and free-scoring rugby and Penarthians struggling for consistency in the next division.

The final score of 41-17 in favour of the home team may have emphasised the gulf in the sides positions but it was only in the last fifteen minutes when the superior numbers on the Penarth bench eventually wore down a tired and depleted Penarthian team.

The game had started with passive scrums with the agreement of both captains and match referee Dave Swain, who was able to maintain impartiality throughout the contest because he conveniently lives halfway between the two clubs.

That impartiality may have been challenged by Old Pens players when the first score to be awarded was a try to a Penarth forward who may or may not have touched the ball down, either inside or outside the field of play, however the score stood and Penarth led 5-0.

Old Pens countered however and after Rhys Thomas and Rowan Allcock had made advances through the Penarth defence, Alex Lewis was released down the wing to score in the corner.  The conversion by Jon Crimp was unsuccessful.

On 17 mins, what looked like a lively attack out of defence by Old Pens after drives by Scott Mackie and Joel deClaire, was halted when an inside pass by the otherwise faultless Tomos Hillman was intercepted and the lucky Penarth recipient ran in to score a try from 35m.  The conversion was good and Penarth led 12-5

Hillman soon made amends however when a tap penalty quickly taken against a retreating defence saw him make ground before passing to Tony Kemp and then to Dan Hobson who scored under the posts.  There may have been a suggestion of two movements but lenient refereeing allowed the try, which was converted by Crimp for a 17-12 scoreline.

Old Penarthians continued to exert pressure and despite giving away a penalty in the middle of the opposition 22, the resulting kick did not reach touch.  The kick was caught by Crimp who transferred the ball to Richie Moir. He avoided tackles as he ran along the touchline and then passed inside to his supporting forwards, Tyler Carter, Steve Hull and Jake Thomas.  They in turn gave Tom Sidford the opportunity to fall over the line for a well deserved try to level the scores.

Unfortunately, on the stroke of half time Penarth themselves created good chances through their threequarters and forwards combining well and crossed for a fourth try and an interval lead of 22-17.

Despite making numerous changes due to injury and tiredness that saw James Williams and Michael Rogers replacing Joe Buckley and Rowan Allcock, Penarthians stuck at their task and continued to run the ball whenever they could.

There was even time for Tom Sidford to display his kicking skills and having found touch from a penalty, then proceeded to throw into the ensuing lineout. This was however not so successful with Penarth claiming the ball.

From the twenty-fifth minute of the second half however Penarth really came into the ascendancy and scored three more tries. Two of those were converted, one cheekily by James Docherty with his left foot, to make the final score 41-17.

The result did eventually show Penarth to be the better team (in fact they had rested a number of their 1^st XV squad) but the spirit displayed by both teams ensured that the fixture held good on the traditions established all those years ago by Brian Joseph and his contemporaries and everyone left the field to enjoy a couple of well-earned drinks in the two clubhouses.