SEASIDERS EASE PAST ROCKS IN ‘CUP’
Penarth 13 St.Peters 7
Penarth slipped past the St.Peters last Saturday and into the third round of the Swalec Plate, as the cup competition for Divs 2, 3 and 1 North is called this season. In the event, it was hardly the greatest game in the world but a classic local derby which never really reached any spectacular heights.
The first half was pointless in oh, so many ways, with both teams testing each other out at the scrums and lines-out with no result whatsoever. What few opportunities the Seasiders had were in the mauls, but even this was negated by St Peters who constantly and illegally pulled them down on the blind side of the referee without being penalised.
However, after 20 minutes the St Peters number 8 was finally yellow-carded. Penarth had a clear advantage of possession and territory, but they were unable to break down the strong defence of the visitors, neither at forward nor behind the scrum.
Likewise, when St Peters attacked, their ball carriers were well shepherded by the home defence and it all came to nothing.
Even then, one or two chances of gaining points were missed. After five minutes James Docherty uncharacteristically missed a penalty from 30 metres directly in front of the posts and again towards the end of the first half from wide out to the right. This was the closest either side came to scoring, so first half ended with no points on the board.
The second half began just like the first, with two well-matched sides, occupying first and second places in Div III SE, not giving anything away. Thankfully Penarth finally managed to exert enough pressure to win a penalty and this time Docherty slotted it over to give the home side the lead.
This advantage was not held for too long, as the Rocks finally put a move together. Number 8 O Evans broke away down the left wing from well inside his own half with support either side of him. Offering a huge dummy that wrong-footed the defence he then side-stepped infield and outpaced the defence to score under the posts. The try was converted by their outside-half H Jones and the visitors eased into the lead by 3 points to 7.
The Seasiders’ pack now decided to take matters in hand and took the game to the visitors with a wave of concerted attacks. This put the visitors firmly on the back foot and the Penarth forwards were finally rewarded as St.Peters bent under the pressure.
While they certainly prevented their line from being breached, they did so illegally and the referee eventually awarded a penalty try which was converted by James Docherty. This put Penarth back into the lead once again and a further penalty by James Docherty made the score 13 points to 7 at the final whistle.
This was the Seasiders’ eighth successive win in all competitions, a run that started after their away defeat at St.Peters, which is an omen of sorts. Penarth return to league action this coming Saturday away at 5th-placed Heol-y-Cyw’s Greenfields ground, while leaders St.Peters travel to Llandaff North.
PENARTH Steve Roberts [Lloyd Davey], Chris Poole, Rhys Lakin, Liam Bevan [Gareth Sullivan] James Crothers, James Docherty, Gareth Clancy, David Morgan [Carwyn Griffiths], Bryn Adams, Richard Merrett, Darryl Howden, James Roach, Marc Devine, Geraint Blake, Owain George.