Lessons to be learned (From Penarth Times)

Lessons to be learned

Newport Saracens 10 - Penarth 3

BACK TO EARTH after last week's fairytale season opener, Penarth found a much-improved Newport Saracens too tough a nut to crack at the Civil Service ground last Saturday.

In dry conditions with a strong breeze down the pitch, the Seasiders had to adjust to the late withdrawal of Andrew Edwards as Saracens kicked off into the wind.

The hosts applied early pressure as their outside half exploited the breeze and worked the touchline with angled kicks to gain ground.

The Penarth defence remained well organised throughout this period and countered well from lines out with the sort of driving maul which yielded a penalty through which Chris Cummings put them 3-0 in front after 15 minutes.

The Seasiders' pack exerted their expected dominance for the first half hour, but the Saracens' defence was up to the job and held out.

Danny Brookman attempted a drop goal from 30 metres, while Chris Cummings was narrowly unsuccessful with a second penalty from 35 metres. More significantly, Penarth lost the ever-threatening Dai Williams to injury after 30 minutes and the match took a decisive turn the home side's way.

Saracens dropped out from their own 22 metre line and gained a foothold in Penarth territory. Gaining a line-out, they drove forward and Mark Bell found himself in acres of space, slipping through an almost non-existant Seasiders' defence to score under the posts. This evoked memories of the Old Penarthians' score a week earlier and some work on the defensive organisation is clearly indicated.

Now leading 7-3, the Saracens put Danny Brookman under pressure from the restart as they followed up. Lack of communication between the full-back and his wing could have led to a further Saracens try, but resolute defence by the pack at a scrummage close to the Penarth line resulted in a relieving penalty. The last word in the first half might also have belonged to Saracens, but they failed with a penalty kick.

At the break the Penarth travelling support felt justified in thinking the game was there for the taking and with continued good possession from the set pieces, it was only a matter of time before the Seasiders gained the upper hand. However, the wind had dropped significantly (full marks to the home skipper for taking first use of it), and the Saracens' pack set out to protect their lead with some resolve.

Despite early pressure from Penarth, it was the hosts who had the first scoring opportunity of the second half as the visitors were again penalised for coming in at the side of a maul.

Tyrone Power converted to extend his side's lead to 10-3. With Chris Cummings also retiring injured at this stage, a major reshuffle ensued in the Penarth back division. Craig Miller moved to outside half, while substitute scrum half Rhys Andrews took up position on the right wing.

With a major forward struggle ensuing, the Seasiders' threequarters were to see little possession for the rest of the game, but performed more than adequately in defence. There was a brief glimmer of hope as Saracens were penalised on the visitors' 10 metre line and Miller elected to go for the sort of long touch he always specialised in.

As so often before, the ball swung back into play, but the home full-back, instead of leaving well alone, managed to touch the ball in flight. Racing back to minor the ball, he conceded a five metre scrum to the Seasiders, which in turn yielded a penalty.

In a last-ditch effort to steal the game, the first penalty was run and almost resulted in the vital try. It did, however, lead to a further penalty award and this ended the same way, also involving a high degree of infringement from the home defence. The referee, however, was having none of it and blew for full-time.

There can be no real complaints from the visitors at a result that was hardly what might have been expected after last season's Seasiders' double. As it turned out, Saracens are a much-improved outfit, having made significant close-season signings which have given them the sort of firm base that Penarth also benefit from.

The Seasiders will be disappointed that they didn't maintain the momentum gained in the first half and the injuries to Dai Williams and Chris Cummings led to the side losing their way a little. However, there's still a lot of potential in the squad and the season is yet young.

This Saturday brings newly-promoted Brynithel down from the Western Valley, having won their opening league encounter 27-15 against Caldicot. Penarth are neck and neck with New Tredegar after only two games, but this should be taken with a pinch of salt, as half the teams have only played one game.

In a fortnight, the Seasiders make their cup debut with a second round tie against Bangor, from Division 5 North. The university city side from Gwynedd went down 27-10 at Ruthin lastSaturday, but we have no real idea of their strength relative to Penarth.