High scoring victory for the Seasiders (From Penarth Times)

High scoring victory for the Seasiders

THE DIVISION FIVE East league game between Penarth and Rhiwbina was played at the Athletic Field last Saturday with an earlier than planned kick off time of 11.45am.

A delay caused by the Rhiwbina team arriving at Penarth later than expected, the kick off took place at 12.15pm. Ground conditions were firm, weather dry but cloudy.

The early exchanges indicated that a spirited display from the visitors may cause Penarth some problems despite their lowly position in the league. Occasional handling errors and missed touch finders allowing pressure from Penarth to be repulsed by the visitors.

Rhiwbina were able to gain a foothold in the Penarth half and gained an early penalty which was converted by lock S Boddy to give Rhiwbina the lead after five minutes. However, the first score for the home side was not long in coming, from a sweeping move in which the forwards all played a part, the ball was moved wide and a planned move saw full-back Chris Cummings running in at an acute angle to touch down under the posts. He then converted his own try.

Penarth went further ahead a few minutes later when Mike Clare scored his touch down following a forward drive, again converted by Cummings.

At this point Penarth were dominating at forward and were again applying pressure to the visitors line, once again from a line-out Darrol Howden passed to Mike Clare who, running around the blindside just failed to touch down.

Rhiwbina gained some relief from the lineout but soon found themselves under pressure again within their 22 metre line when a long pass from the home side's outside half was over-run by the backs and the Rhiwbina full-back G Hall gratefully accepted the ball, running the length of the field to score a try, converted by S Boddy for 14 points to 10 to Penarth.

The home forwards once again took the ball well into the visitors half and to make amends for an earlier error, Craig Miller touched down and Cummings converted to widen the gap.

Rhiwbina then drove deep into the Penarth half and applied considerable pressure.

Following this spirited work by the visitors a ruck developed just inside the Rhiwbina half, and the referee awarded a penalty to Penarth, a red card to S Boddy, the visitors lock for a misdemeanour and a yellow card to Darrol Howden.

Penarth applied pressure again and Marc Harries scored his first try of the season, converted by Cummings to end the first half at 28 points to 10.

At the start of the second half Rhiwbina's seven forwards drove into the home sides half and again up popped G Hall to score his second try of the afternoon.

This was followed a few minutes later with a further three points when Penarth were penalised for holding on and G Hall converted to reduce the deficit to 28 points to 18.

Were Rhiwbina going to upset the odds and come back into the game? It certainly looked like it for a short period as they continued to put up a spirited display. The back division looking particularly dangerous with the ball in hand and running at Penarth's defence.

Excellent tackling from the home side secured the ball once again. With the return of Darrol Howden it was not long before the scoreboard was ticking over in favour of Penarth once again, Mark Wysocki scoring his first try of the afternoon which went unconverted.

This was quickly followed by a well taken try by Chris Cummings, who was more than ably supported by Alun Bonello, who won the chase for a touch down which was converted by himself. The Penarth side were running through a purple patch at this time and applying a lot of pressure, gained a penalty try when a Rhiwbina player deliberately knocked on when Stuart Gunnarson attempted to pass the ball to Danny Brookman on the left wing five metres from the line. The referee judging that a try would have been scored, this was converted by Cummings.

Despite this setback, Rhiwbina did not give up the fight and tried to play attractive rugby. However, it was not long before captain Mike Clare gained possession in the Penarth half and drove forward passing to supporting players until it reached Stuart Gunnarson who touched down close to the corner, this was unconverted.

Further tries came from Andrew Edwards, Craig Miller and Gunnarson, all converted by Cummings for a final 71 points to 18, the highest score for Penarth at home since the leagues were introduced.

This Saturday Penarth are away to Pentyrch RFC.