Fixture

Last Saturday Old Penarthians 1^st XV hosted Treherbert RFC in a WRU Division 3 East Central (B) fixture and on a damp and gloomy day returned to winning ways with a 15-5 victory.  The result lifted much of the disappointment of the previous week but there were still changes to the team line-up even 30 minutes before kick-off which meant that the atmosphere at the start of the match was muted.

The pleasing aspect of this week’s selection however was the presence of two current Youth XV players making their debuts in the starting XV, Rhys Stout and Tyler Carter, with a third Neo Sammut as a substitute. They joined two other 18-year-olds Steffan Crimp and Evan Morgan in an inexperienced but very exciting team and all of them contributed to an encouraging performance.

The recall of coach Jake Thomas and James Beaton to the team together with the seasonal debut of Jerome Bryan brought experience and the blend worked well throughout

Initially a lack of cohesion in the side was evident and Treherbert dominated the first ten minutes of the match.  But good defence by Thomas, Joel deClaire and the other forwards thwarted any attacks. Old Pens then started to gain confidence and a breakout of defence by Steffan Crimp and Morgan led to forwards Josh Mellor and Matt Stingl carrying into the opposition twenty-two but unfortunately the ball was lost in contact

The pressure was however maintained and after a slick threequarter move Steffan Crimp crossed the tryline but to the disappointment of the players the referee indicated that a crossing movement had prevented Treherbert making a tackle and the try was disallowed

Further good play saw Jon Crimp and Morgan released winger Alex Lewis, who beat the first man but was engulfed by the cover defence. Treherbert cleared their lines but only kicked to fullback Gareth Clancy. He returned the ball with a kick from his own half into the opposition twenty-two to earn his side a line out throw under the new 50-22 law.

With two minutes of the half remaining Old Penarthians launched an attack from within their own twenty-two which resulted in Rhys Stout racing down the left touchline.  When tackled he found forward support from Thomas and Carter and the ball was recycled.  Tomos Hillman passed to Steffan Crimp who delayed a pass to cousin Jon. He found Beaton in support who threw a high pass to Lewis who, to the surprise of many, caught it and scored in the right-hand corner.  The conversion was unsuccessful but at half time Old Pens led 5-0.

Treherbert started the second period on the attack in a repeat of the first half but again they were met with resolute defence with deClaire, Bryan, Mellor and Thomas to the fore. Then just as it looked like a Treherbert try was inevitable a loose ball was hacked through and Stingl carried the move forward. Quick passing from Hillman, Steffan Crimp and Morgan then released the captain who ran 50m to score under the posts.  Steffan Crimp converted for a 12-0 lead with 12 minutes of the match remaining.

A very forward-oriented Treherbert team were however not giving up and continued to exert pressure on the home team which resulted in a series of penalties and the issuing of a yellow card to Thomas for repeat infringements with five minutes to play.

Eventually, with two minutes left Treherbert scored though second row Jim Davies but the conversion was unsuccessful.

The restart resulted in a knock-on by Treherbert and a scrum awarded to Penarthians.  From the set piece, which had been controlled well be deClaire for the whole game, the Treherbert scrum half infringed and with the last kick of the match Steffan Crimp converted the penalty for a 15-5 victory.

On Saturday the 1^st XV has another home fixture against Caerau Ely. The kick-off is scheduled for 2.30pm.