SEASIDERS HIT THE FRONT
PENARTH 29-3 TAFFS WELL (HT 12-3)
It might be only for a week as this was the only fixture that went ahead last Saturday, but Penarth are sitting proudly at the top of Division 2 East Central after seeing off mid-table Taffs Well in difficult conditions. A minute’s silence for Roy Chandler was observed and further heavy showers on the morning rendered the pitch soft, but playable.
This was not ideal for the Seasiders’ high-tempo game and they struggled for consistency in the opening half-hour. They nevertheless led 12-3 by this time. The opening score came in the 4th minute, as a stirring 30-metre driven maul took play into the Well’s 22. Perfectly controlled phases worked the ball to Harry Williams, who cruised in with Matt Frost in support.
Despite looking comfortable at this point, Penarth weren’t adapting very well to the stop-start nature of the game which was to persist throughout the 80 minutes. Passes and kicks went astray and the breakdown was a particular problem area. After 20 minutes, the visitors managed to get themselves on to the scoresheet for the only time, as they drove a line-out into the 22 and converted the penalty.
Suitably encouraged by this set-back, the Seasiders adopted the more direct approach that was to serve them well for the rest of the game. Breaks from Spencer Robinson and Frost took play up to the away 22 and Man-of-the Match Tom Griffiths fought his way free to score in the corner.
Leading 12-3 at the start of the second half, Penarth stuck to plan B and had the game in the bag before 15 minutes had elapsed. Another Robinson line-break after only 3 minutes led to Harry Williams’ second try as he broke a tackle to touch down in the corner. The dose was repeated almost from the restart. This time it was Griffiths’ line-break on the visitors’ 10-metre line, with Miles Jones taking it to the line, but needing the supporting Dan Cahalane to complete the score.
With the bonus point secured, the Seasiders rang the changes in the pack and a penalty try, awarded after a catch-and-drive from a 22-metre line out completed the scoring.
With 25 minutes remaining, the match limped towards a conclusion with little else to report with the sole exception of a Harry Wood try being disallowed for a double movement.
There is no first-team fixture next Saturday as Llantrisant’s cup-tie against Swansea Uplands takes precedence, so we can look forward to welcoming 6th-placed Treharris to the Athletic Field on Saturday 18th November.
Meanwhile Penarth continue to progress in the Division 2 Cup and will be relishing the prospect of facing 10th-placed Llantwit Fardre twice, first away in the league at Church Village, then at home in the cup the following Saturday.
It’s fair to say that the rugby in Division 2 hasn’t turned out to be of a very high standard, which has come as something of a surprise to Penarth (and of course, Llanharan). However you can only play what’s in front of you and the Seasiders are demonstrating that even in such a dull game as this, they’re adaptable enough to succeed.
PENARTH: George Roberts (Rhys Morgan), Ben Wellington, Harry Williams, Rhys Beynon, Matt Frost, Ben Jones, Spencer Robinson (Tom Hillman), Geraint Williams, Mason Good, Ryan Jones (Sam Sully), Dan Cahalane, Matt Allen (Harry Wood), Mike Lang, Miles Jones ©, Tom Griffiths (Tom Marsh).
Scorers: Harry Williams (2 tries), Dan Cahalane (try), Tom Griffiths (try), Ben Jones (conversion), Penalty try.
