Fixture

After a weekend lost due to a waterlogged pitch Old Penarthians returned to Division 3SE Central (B) action at home to Tonyrefail.  The final score was a draw 22-22.  Old Pens did however score four tries and in so doing gained a bonus point giving them three league points to rise to fifth in the division.

The game started in perfect playing conditions with the recent wet weather having little impact on the pitch.  Old Penarthians initially had the upper hand with possession and territory but were unable to capitalise because of the number of mistakes that were made throughout the game.

It was inevitable therefore that Tonyrefail would be the first to score and from a series of lineouts and forward drives near the Old Pens tryline Adam Clapp scored and Jordan Jones converted. After 8 minutes Tonyrefail lead 7-0.

The home response was immediate when from the restart the ball was caught by the Tonyrefail fullback who kicked but did not find touch.  Joel deClaire collected and ran forward.   A ruck was formed with supporting forwards Sam Hall, Tom Sidford and James Beaton and the ball quickly released to Tomos Hillman.  He passed to Jon Crimp who put Chris Poole into a space and he ran clear from 30m to score.  The conversion was unsuccessful.

Penarthians continued to dominate possession but could not bring accuracy to their game and despite a yellow card awarded to a Tonyrefail prop for ‘back chat’, it was the visitors who extended their lead with a 40m penalty from Jordon James after 38mins

Once again Old Pens reply was immediate.  This time the long kick off from Facey was knocked on by the fullback. From the scrum deClaire picked up and quickly fed Hillman down the blindside.  Hillman sold a dummy to break the defence and as he was tackled offloaded to Poole who scored wide out.  With the kick unsuccessful the half time whistle blew with the scores level at 10-10

The half time break saw the introduction of Mark Sadler for Alex Lewis with the coaches Simon Hurley and Anthony Davies asking for more accurate decision making in the second half.

That message was not heeded however and after the Tonyrefail kick off was touched down by Facey, he restarted the game from the 22m line.  Players were in front of the kick and the referee awarded a penalty directly in front of the posts.  The kick was missed and it was a major let-off for the Old Pens.

The  relief did not last long however as from the restart Tonyrefail drove forward.  Scott Mackie did well to steal the ball but as be tried to run out of defence his attempt at an off-load was intercepted and Tonyrefail scored under the posts with the conversion successful.

Ten minutes later further errors in the defence alignment allowed winger Sam Christopher an overlap and despite a last-ditch tackle attempt by Crimp which may have been in touch the try was awarded and Tonyrefail led 22-10.

Again, this triggered a positive response and from an offside decision from the kick-off Old Pens kicked to the corner for a lineout. The ball was secured by Josh Allcock and the forwards combined to drive Peter Bennett over the tryline to make the score 15-22

With time running out and after another missed Tonyrefail penalty Rhys Lakin made a break from his own half.  He found Crimp in support who continued the forward progress before sending a pass to Poole who ran clear from 40m to touch down near the posts. Facey converted and with a few disappointed smiles Old Pens had drawn a game 22-22 which for long periods had seemed out of reach.

This Saturday Old Penarthians 1^st XV play away at Wattstown whilst the 2^nd XV are at home to Canton. Both games are scheduled to kick off at 2.30pm.