Seasiders in different league from out-gunned Aberavon (From Penarth Times)

Seasiders in different league from out-gunned Aberavon

Penarth 31 - Aberavon Quins 10

HERE WAS the Seasiders' biggest test so far this season.

Visitors Aberavon Quins, lying fourth in Division 3 (West) would surely give us a measure of how far Penarth had progressed under the tutelage of coach Don Llewellyn.

A sunny autumn day disguised the fact that the pitch had the odd soggy patch, but it was the Seasiders who set out to play the expansive game as both Andrew Edwards and Chris Cummings launched early attacks.

Quins seemed disinclined to trust their backs and concentrated instead on trying to put pressure on in the tight. As on previous occasions this season, the Penarth defence dealt effectively with any assaults the visitors mounted and then, following a well-executed maul to within 5 metres of the line, a further penalty was neatly converted by Chris Cummings, returning at full-back after injury.

A good deal of sparring ensued, but the Seasiders finally took the game by the scruff of the neck after 23 minutes. Taking good ball from a ruck under the Quins' posts, David Carter drove straight through the cover to the posts.

The Quins seemed momentarily stunned by this development and the Penarth back row wasn't about to let them off the hook, putting them under all sorts of pressure. As a result of this, David Carter broke through the cover again, supported by Danny Brookman. Mike Clare followed up, just failing to make the line and Alun Bonello was on hand as always to pick up and score.

By now, Penarth were all over Aberavon and making a mockery of the two divisions' difference in status. While enjoying no real dominance in the set pieces, Andrew Edwards was working wonders at the base of the scrum. After two thrusts from the scrum half close to the visitors' line, it was Craig Miller who picked up to jink inside and score.

With the score 24-0 after 38 minutes, no-one can have known that there were still ten minutes to play, but during this time the visitors managed more consistent possession than they'd had in the match so far. However, they couldn't make anything of it and half-time arrived with the Seasiders still sitting pretty.

Ben Morris replaced Andrew Edwards at half-time, but the Quins continued to enjoy all the possession. Ultimately, Penarth cannot be blamed for what happened in the following 20 minutes.

Carmarthen referee Colin Davies, having played his part in providing a first half full of flowing rugby, had clearly decided to clamp down and the Seasiders were simply not allowed to play.

These strictures appeared to inhibit the visitors rather less than Penarth and after a second worked move from a penalty near the Seasiders' line, Quins number 8 Gareth Rice drove over to reduce the arrears.

Slightly encouraged, the visitors settled into the nine-man game, which seemed to suit them best. During this time, the Seasiders were reduced to 13 men as first Stuart Gunnarson and later Greg Swaine were consigned to the bench in circumstances that were far from clear at the time. This didn't seem to affect the defensive performance too much, although sheer weight of numbers eventually told on the hour as loosehead prop C Winters drove over in the corner.

This was as far as the Quins got. The match slowly began to turn back to the Seasiders as Danny Brookman put in a pile-driver of a tackle and Quins conceded a penalty. Chris Cummings failed narrowly with the place kick, but the game was definitely reverting to the more open style favoured by Penarth.

Having said that, it was the forwards who were to put the icing on the cake. A brief fightback by the visitors was halted decisively as Dai Williams, giving the afficionados a classically menacing performance, put in a thumping tackle in his own half and Craig Miller fired the resulting penalty safely into touch on the visitors' ten metre line.

Darol Howden made his usual clean catch and the forwards settled themselves for a lengthy maul. Amazingly, as they put in the first drive, the Quins pack simply disintegrated and Darrol Howden emerged from the rubble to romp away 30 metres to score under the posts.

The second half, like the first, extended to nearly 50 minutes, but Quins proved incapable of any consolation. This was an exhilarating demolition of a successful team from a higher division and Penarth's record of six wins and two narrow defeats in eight matches speaks volumes for the great strides the players and coaching staff have made in such a short time.

There will be a five week wait for a resumption in Cup action, as league fixtures return. The Seasiders now have two away fixtures to negotiate before bottom club Rhiwbina visit the Athletic Field on November 10.

Before embarking on a rather trickier-looking visit to Pill Harriers, the Seasiders travel this Saturday to Monmouthshire club Caldicot. Mindful of an unlucky 10-15 defeat there last season in torrential rain, a quick glance at Caldicot's form this season suggests that life might not be so difficult this time around.