SIX-TRY SEASIDERS HEADING FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWDOWN
Penarth 39 Heol-y-Cyw 7
The Seasiders recorded a third bonus-point win in a row as they saw off 5th-placed Heol-y-Cyw and the Div 3(SE) championship race probably now hangs on their final match away at second placed Tylorstown. The Rhondda Fach club completed their seventh successive victory on the weekend with an impressive 63-17 dismissal of fourth-placed Aberdare’s promotion credentials.
However, a bonus-point win was the minimum requirement from this home game against Heol-y-Cyw, especially following on from the controversial 23-23 draw in the away fixture last month. Penarth kicked off playing towards the Town End and the early part of the game was unsettled with both teams trying to gain an advantage. Early scrums and lines-out proved inconclusive with both sides defending well, but losing possession through poor kicking. The hard pitch caused problems with the bounce of the ball and it wasn’t until the quarter hour that The Seasiders finally gained a lineout well into the visitors half. Gary Power threw in accurately to Darryl Howden who set up the maul from which the pack drove over the line with Mike Clare gaining the touchdown.
The conversion was missed and from the restart a period of pressure from Heol-y-Cyw deep in the Penarth half saw the ball worked along the touchline and visitors fullback T Richards ran in for a well-taken try which was converted by their outside half M Huckridge.
The home pack were working hard putting pressure on their opponents, gaining possession and releasing the three-quarters. Rhys Lakin tore a great hole between the visiting centres to score an excellent try which was converted by James Docherty.
Having regained the lead at 12-7 it looked very much with half time approaching as if Penarth would be happy to be five points ahead, but the backs had other ideas. Another breakdown led to a three-quarter movement along the left touch line through Lakin, Chris Roberts and then Steve Roberts handling, then a decisive intervention by Chris Poole, gaining the ball and waltzing past the Heol-y-Cyw defence to score under the posts, James Docherty converting for a half time score of 19-7.
The second half brought a considerable amount of pressure from the visitors and for long periods The Seasiders were hemmed in their own half. Sound defence kept the line intact, but it was during this period that Mike Clare was yellow-carded for an offence in a maul. Fortunately, the visitors chose to scrummage instead of kicking for goal and Penarth were able to regain the ball and move up to half-way
.
Gradually moving on from there into the Heol-y-Cyw half, they gained a five-metre lineout from where Darryl Howden scored the try that gave Penarth their bonus point. Following the return of Mike Clare, the Seasiders were able to re-assert their dominance in all phases of the game. Penarth went on to score two Mike Clare tries from pushovers in the closing stages of the game, one of which was converted by Chris Roberts to make the final score 39-7.
The arithmetic’s simple: if The Seasiders can take four more points out of Wednesday’s show-down at Penrhys Park than Tylorstown, they will be Div 3(SE) Champions. Anything less than that and it’s down to Tylorstown’s last two games and possibly a play-off.
PENARTH Chris Roberts, Chris Poole, Rhys Lakin, Liam Bevan, Steve Roberts, James Docherty [James Crothers], Owain George [Gareth Clancy], Richard Merrett, Gary Power [Peter Bennett], Sean O’Sullivan Darryl Howden, Elliott Smith, Mike Clare, Aaron Ellis-Munn [Marc Devine]