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23 September 2014 / Club News

Old Penarthians v Llantwit Major Match Report

Saturday 20th September 2014

 

It was always going to be difficult for Old Penarthians last Saturday in their SWALEC Division 3 East Central (A) fixture away to Llantwit Major, because Llantwit had scored 50 points against Canton the previous week, who themselves had scored 40 against Old Pens on the opening day of the season.  Added to that, an unprecedented absence of front row forwards meant that the game had to start with passive scrummages and the visitors were therefore committed to using their starting line up without substitutions.

It was however not the disaster that may have been expected and the team committed themselves to the game in an exemplary manner.  They never gave up and until they lost David Mason with a deep head cut with 15 minutes of the game remaining they were only trailing by 17 points to 8.  Unfortunately tiredness and the absence of a flanker meant that Llantwit ran in two late converted tries to make the final score 31 – 8.

This did not reflect the efforts of all fifteen players who from the start pressurised their bigger opponents and competed at every breakdown.  The forward effort was led by Dai Roberts, but he was ably supported by fellow backrowers Gareth Clancey and Joel deClaire.  Paul Langley and Jack Margetson, Mason, Mitch Penberthy and Tom Parkinson (moving from wing to hooker) were always eager to carry the game to the opposition.

After five minutes a penalty from Llantwit gave them the lead but for the next 15 minutes Penarthians made good use of the slope advantage on the pitch and runs from captain, Lloyd Davey and Mark Sadler nearly broke through the Llantwit defence.

Unfortunately from a good high hanging kick into the opposition 22 from Jon Crimp the Llantwit winger caught well under pressure.  He made space and replied with an equally good kick which saw his fellow defender and full back chase the ball and on the first bounce collect the ball and run through to score under the posts for a 10 – 0 lead.

After 35 minutes more forward surges from deClaire and Clancey saw the referee award a penalty and from 40m Crimp landed the kick via a kindly bounce off the crossbar

As has become the norm however right on half time Llantwit Major won a lineout and opted for a forward rumble that Old Pens were unable to defend and the home team lock scored a try that was converted for a 17 – 3 interval lead.

Working up the slope in the second half scrum half, Simon Davies, was in positive mood and two blind side breaks assisted by Roberts and Craig Haines nearly brought rewards.  Eventually after 15 minutes a similar blind side move brought the rest of the forwards into play who won successive rucks to allow Clancey to pass to Alex Lewis who stretched out after he was tackled to score a deserved try to narrow the gap to 17 – 8.

At this stage the home team were under pressure and conceding penalties but they survived the Penarthians efforts which included a strong run out of defence by winger James Williams. Then came the injury to Mason and despite heroic defensive tackling from the whole team but in particular from Crimp, Sadler, Penberthy and deClaire, Llantwit Major scored two more tries to earn themselves a bonus point victory.

The first XV do not have a fixture on Saturday due to the draw for the SWALEC Bowl presenting the club a bye into the next round.  The seconds are however playing away to Llanrumney in a match scheduled to kick off at 2.30pm.

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