Seasiders' success in steamy cup clash (From Penarth Times)

Seasiders' success in steamy cup clash

Penarth 17 Dolgellau 13 (Principality Cup Round 2)

PENARTH FACED their visitors from Division 5 (North) on the eve of the international in front of a crowd whose ranks were swollen by considerable numbers of northern visitors.

Maybe they were all from Dolgellau, but there's no doubt that both sides benefited from performing in an unaccustomed big-match atmosphere.

The Athletic Field looked very impressive under the floodlights and Dolgellau presented their credentials immediately by winning the first scrum against the head and attempting a drop goal. The Seasiders came back straight away with a sweeping attack up the left flank by Leon Patnett and the match continued in this pattern of cut and thrust until the final whistle.

Dolgellau had clearly not come all that way just to make up the numbers and maintained an intense level of pressure throughout. Penarth were taking things seriously as well and mounted a succession of thrilling drives over a number of minutes, but without reward.

In fact, there was to be no score at all in the first half hour, during which time there was no let up in the action. The Seasiders made most of the running, but the finishing touch was never quite there. The stalemate was finally broken during a rare Dolgellau excursion into the Penarth half, Danny McCormick converting from 30 metres.

Now the Seasiders seemed to be putting themselves under pressure, but Dolgellau lacked the guile to capitalise. Luckily Penarth had some reserves of gumption to call on and a steady build-up from their own 22 led to Andrew Edwards breaking clear up the middle with three forwards in support. After a good deal of fooling about in the visitors' half, the ball was worked wide to Leon Patnett who set up Andy Lobeck for a well-executed run-in.

However, Dolgellau were far from disheartened and finished the half on the ascendancy with some vigorous thrusts. As the midfield cover was sucked in, John Lloyd suddenly found himself in acres of space with winger Owen Thomas at his shoulder. So sparse was the cover that the outside centre thought the try was a formality, but Brendan Bush made sure of his man and saved a certain 7 points.

The Seasiders started the second half by driving deep into Dolgellau territory before conceding an unlucky knock-on. The ball screwed loose from the scrum and after a few well-aimed fly-hacks, Dolgellau were laying siege to the Penarth line with an attacking line-out. The Seasiders stole the throw, but knocked on again.

From the ensuing scrum, the visitors' number 8 T Edwards picked up from the base and drove through two weak tackles to score under the posts.

Now Penarth desperately needed to buck their ideas up as the game began to show signs of getting away from them. An enthusiastic crowd were creating a tense atmosphere and confusion and frustration mounted in the Seasiders' ranks, culminating in the sin-binning of Andrew Edwards at a ruck. Discipline was beginning to disintegrate as fights began to break out and when Danny McCormick dropped a goal on the hour for a 13-5 lead, it was looking pretty grim for Penarth.

At times like these, the essential character of a side shows through and where so often in the past Penarth teams have gone on to lose emphatically, Mike Clare's men came back in spectacular fashion.

A stray pass from Dolgellau as they attacked on the home 22 metre line was snaffled by Andy Lobeck and the winger set off on one of his trademark mazy runs, winning put-in to the scrum on the Dolgellau line.

Quick ball from the scrum and David Carter was making the short run-in with four defenders hanging off him. Amazingly at this point, chaos reigned in the Seasiders' ranks as they attempted to keep the visitors out in an atmosphere of mounting tension.

However, as Dolgellau won a penalty 40 metres out, Danny McCormick put it wide and Penarth visibly calmed down and regrouped. Driving upfield from the restart, they won a scrum on the visitors' 22 and as the third successive drive went in at the corner, Mike Clare broke through to score the winning try. The last five minutes belonged to the Seasiders, but there was no further score.

In the final analysis, with a try count 3 to 1 in Penarth's favour, we have to conclude that the better side won, but for most of the match, the game was in the balance. It says a great deal for the Seasiders that they could claw their way back into the game and win when the pressure was really on.

The Principality Cup continues immediately with another home tie this Saturday, with Division 3 (West) side Aberavon Quins visiting the Athletic Field. They finally won through to round 3 by defeating Division 6 (West) Abercraf, 22-19 after extra-time last Saturday.

Penarth: Bush, Lobeck, Patnett, Carter, R Cummings (Lewis), Brookman, Edwards, Muggeridge, Wysocki, Seymour, Howden, Gunnarson, Broom, Clare, Williams.

Penarth v Aberavon Quins (Principality Cup Third Round), Saturday, October 20 at the Athletic Field, Lavernock Road, ko 2.30pm.