Fixture

In the first match of 2019 Old Penarthians hosted second placed Treherbert last Saturday and recorded an emphatic 35 points to 5 victory despite the visitors having lost only one previous game in Division 3 East Central (B)

It was an all-round team performance both in attack and defence and was just reward for all the physical efforts expended by the players in the last four fixtures.  The game started with four first XV regulars missing including the previously ever-present Chris Poole and Scott Mackie.

Both were ably replaced by Liam Bevan making a seasonal debut at centre after a twenty month absence and Stuart Clarke making a rare but welcome start in the second row.

The game started with Old Penarthians attacking and on 5 minutes after two scrums in which the front row of Sam Hall, Dan Watts and Gary Bishop were dominant a penalty was awarded and Nathan Facey kicked the three points.

From the kick-off Matt Sutton caught the ball cleanly and passed immediately to Bevan. He broke the first tackle and then strode into midfield on a mazy run past three defenders.  After 60m his prolonged absence from rugby paid a toll and after entering the opposition 22 he was forced to throw an inaccurate pass to Josh Allcock and the move ended in a Treherbert line-out.

Penarthians maintained pressure and after two rolling mauls off line-outs the Treherbert midfield defence was caught off-side and Facey kicked the resulting penalty

On 15 minutes the first of three yellow cards awarded to Old Penarthians during the match was shown to Clarke for an infringement at a maul.  This handed the advantage to Treherbert and they camped in the home team’s twenty-two.  The defensive effort led by Joel deClaire and Watts was however impressive with Hall, Tom Sidford and Sutton all contributing to the goal-line stand that held Treherbert at bay.

From a defensive scrum penalty, the pressure was released and Penarthians advanced upfield.  A break by captain Rhys Lakin gained much needed territory and from a series of mauls inside the visitor’s 22 Dan Watts emerged with the ball over the tryline for a score. 

Treherbert were however soon back on the attack and after forty-three minutes Sidford was found guilty of collapsing a maul and sent for a ten-minute break on the touchline.  The remaining fourteen players again defended their line and repelled all the Treherbert efforts.

A half that lasted 55 minutes eventually came to an end with Old Pens leading 11 – 0

At half time Gareth Boulton replaced Bishop at tighthead prop but Bishop was to return for another 10-minute cameo midway through the half when Boulton was the third Penarthian player to see yellow

Treherbert started the half on the attack again but Watts and deClaire won decisive penalties at the break down area and the ball was cleared upfield.  The pressure was further released when Facey kicked another penalty after a scrum infringement for a 14 point lead.

Treherbert were however not to be denied and on 20 minutes after a series of close range forward surges a cross field kick from the Treherbert scrum half found his winger unmarked and a try was scored but unconverted.

Tom Hillman and Allcock were then replaced by Gareth Clancy and Danny Godfrey respectively

Treherbert continued to mount pressure but from one of their attacking lineouts when the ball was passed wide Nathan Smith intercepted and broke clear.  His hamstring strain denied him the opportunity of an 80m run to score but he kicked ahead and with support from Fearghas Gough and Jon Patterson challenged the defender under his posts. Defensive support arrived and the ball was cleared.

Old Pens stayed in Treherbert territory however and from a driving maul off a lineout Godfrey scored a try in ‘Penarth corner’ in front of the clubhouse.  Facey converted for a  21- 5 lead

It was now all Old Penarthians and after a series of mauls Lakin took the ball into the Treherbert defence. Instead of taking contact he chipped ahead from 20m and won the sprint against the opposition second row to score under the posts.  Facey again converted.

Into the last couple of minutes Penarthians went looking for their fourth try which would gain them a first winning bonus point of the season and it duly arrived with the last play of the game when a controlled series of rucks by the forwards led to Clarke breaking free and stretching out to score.  Facey completed the match with a successful kick and a 35 – 5 victory

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This Saturday Old Penarthians travel to Llandaff North in the hope of repeating their early season victory. The kick off at Hayley Park is at 2.30pm.  At the same time the Old Penarthians Veterans XV will be hosting St Peters.