SEASIDERS’ PLATE DREAMS ENDED AT THE REC.
Rhydyfelin 13 Penarth 9
Any doubts as to whether the Seasiders can happily contemplate life in a higher division were swept away last Saturday as they narrowly slipped out of the Swalec Plate in a fascinating contest up at the Hawthorn Rec. The better side lost, but the cleverer side won, leaving Penarth with some clear lessons to learn about the nature of a higher grade of rugby.
It was obvious from the outset that Div 2E Rhydyfelin had no advantage in the tight, as two well-matched packs cancelled each other out. An early penalty to the hosts was missed and the Seasiders replied with the first of many stirring driven mauls, making 50m up the right flank. A series of penalties ensued as Penarth pressed and Rhydyfelin lock Mark Jones received a yellow card for his part in the successful last-ditch defence.
The first ten minutes were to set the pattern followed throughout the match. With the set pieces even, the Seasiders claimed the upper hand in the mauls, while Rhydyfelin were the masters of slow ball in the ruck. The tie was destined to be decided elsewhere and ultimately it was the hosts’ opportunistic finishing and all-out defence that won them a game they really ought to have lost.
Full-back David Gratton, whose boot was to prove his side’s Achilles Heel all afternoon finally slotted over a penalty after 26mins to put the hosts into the lead, arguably against the run of play. Then, with the last phase of the half, they mauled a rare 5m line-out to the line for number 8 Mark Palmer to score.
The hosts went into all-out assault mode at the start of the second half and had secured a second try within two minutes as a breakdown in the Seasiders’ defensive discipline allowed wing Gavin Close through in the corner for an unconverted try.
At 13-0 down with 38 minutes remaining, Penarth effectively took control of the game. A successful Docherty penalty on 49mins brought the score back to 13-3 and by the time a second conversion sailed over ten minutes later, returning prop Sean O’Sullivan had added a little something to the front row and the home eight were back-pedalling on a regular basis.
Surely now it was only a matter of time as the Seasiders took successive scrums against the head. A second yellow for Jones on 69mins resulted in a red, so as Docherty converted the penalty, everything pointed to an away win at 13-9 with the visitors camped out in the 14-man home side’s half.
But they rushed it. Despite enjoying a glut of possession through the pack’s dominance, the Seasiders combined wrong options in the centre with handling errors at key moments which, together with Rhydyfelin’s ferocious defence, saw the home side through despite not having looked remotely like scoring for 38 minutes.
Regrets perhaps, but no shame in coming second in such a great game of rugby.
Meanwhile things were panning out nicely in the remaining Division 3 (SE) programme. While Tylorstown were losing 27-32 at Pentyrch and Aberdare were going down 5-8 at Brecon, closest rivals St.Peters came unstuck at Fairwater in a 7-7 draw. Without lifting a finger, the Seasiders find themselves still on top and facing an almighty showdown in a rearranged fixture with St.Peters at the Athletic Field next Saturday.
PENARTH Steve Roberts, Chris Poole, Rhys Lakin, Liam Bevan, James Crothers (Chris Roberts), James Docherty, Owain George [Gareth Clancy], Richard Merrett, Peter Bennett, Carwyn Griffiths (Sean O’Sullivan) James Roach, Darryl Howden, Marc Devine (James Ball), Aaron Ellis, Geraint Blake