SEASIDERS IN THREE OR FOUR–WAY FIGHT FOR PROMOTION
After 22 games in season 2009-10, the Seasiders can claim to have the best playing record in Division 3(SE) according to some measures, but certainly not the one that separates teams tied on the same number of points. After the defining match of the season at Penrhys Park two weeks ago, Penarth's 11-6 win left Tylorstown with the daunting task of winning their last two games, both away from home and with bonus points.
Having won at Heol-y-Cyw a week earlier, the Rhondda Fach club finally carted off the trophy as a result of winning just one more game than the Seasiders with a 33-21 win at Aberdare and no-one can deny that they deserved it. Certainly not Penarth, who beat them twice and can rightly claim to be just as worthy of promotion as the new champions.
Fortunately, three clubs will be promoted to Division 2(E) this season and while Tylorstown and Fleur-de-Lys have claimed the two automatic places, the runners-up in 3 (SE) and 3 (E) now have the opportunity to play off for the third slot. This will pitch the Seasiders against Abergavenny at a neutral venue as yet to be advised on Saturday 22nd May.
So the whole season comes full-circle, as the pre-season friendly at Abergavenny back in August last year gave us some interesting glimpses of what was to come despite a 22-12 score-line in the home team's favour. While Penarth have clearly improved since then, it's reasonable to assume that Abergavenny have also got their act together, otherwise they wouldn't also have ended up as runners-up.
It's hard to say exactly where it went wrong for the Seasiders in a season where they lost only three games, but the fact that only one of those was against top four opposition probably explains the apparently random nature of the way the championship eluded them. An early defeat to subsequently relegated Treherbert and more recent slip at home to mid-table Llanishen ultimately proved too damaging.
On a lighter note, Penarth were engaged in their end-of-season tour in northern France last weekend and enjoyed a very open friendly in Arras against local team Duisans. The final result was Duisans 27 Penarth 61, featuring tries by Steve Roberts (3), James Crothers (2) Chris Poole (2), Geraint Blake (welcome back, Trev!) and Rhys Lakin. Seven conversions from James Docherty and a drop-conversion from Rhys Blake.
So there you have it, one last heave to secure second division rugby for a team that's more than ready for Division Two. This is a quality squad and they deserve better. They have a highly-rated pack and a back three that can score from anywhere, given the ball. It's just a matter of bringing the two together in a meaningful way one more time.