Ruislip show the way (From Penarth Times)

Ruislip show the way

Old Penarthians added to a tradition that extends back to 1950 when the Club's senior side travelled to London at the weekend, undertaking a Saturday morning's fixture prior to attending the afternoon's events at Twickenham.

Perhaps it was predictable that the on-the-field proceedings were decidedly disappointing but there was little doubt that the weekend away was thoroughly enjoyed by the party of 50 players and supporters participating in the trip.

Friday's early morning departure prefaced a day of social activity that extended into the early hours of Saturday morning and was not, in hindsight, the best preparation for the 11am kick-off that was to follow.

Fortunately, the driver of the club's coach was one person at his best and he did a marvellous job in seeking out a route that took the party to a new venue at Ruislip, scheduled opponents Uxbridge having withdrawn from the fixture only the previous day.

The morning was bright and sunny and a perfect pitch seemed to set the scene for an epic Anglo Welsh contest. Unfortunately, the surrounding area was far from perfect and Chairman Mel Jones was quick to appreciate as to why the hosts had been reluctant to supply a touch judge for the far side of the field, almost disappearing in the ankle deep mud that greeted his arrival. Indeed, it became quickly obvious that the pitch itself was probably the one area that was devoid of paddy field status but the dedicated supporters ignored the conditions as they set out to inspire their favourites.

It was, alas, to little avail. Playing down the slope, Ruislip gave early indication that their players had not spent a night on the tiles. The Old Boys appeared more intent on catching the lens of Ivor Hicks's touchline camera, posing prettily as the home centre cruised through an immobile defence for the first try after just two minutes. Further scores were accomplished with similar ease and the addition of the associated conversions meant that Ruislip were 19 points clear after just 12 minutes play.

Anthony Hughes's hopes of creating a personal record in completing three matches in succession were dashed when he was forced to leave the field with a mystery injury, enabling Paul Donovan to take the field to tumultuous applause. The change had the desired effect for the hosts fell into a state of some collapse that enabled the Old Boys to apply reluctant pressure without ever posing positive threat to the line. Nevertheless, the eight minutes that elapsed before the English side, boosted by a notable Commonwealth contingent, added the unconverted try that took their tally to 24 points at the break.

The second half presented a different story. Now playing with the slope, the Old Boys showed their true colours, running with determination, throwing the ball around with gay abandon, and dropping it at every opportunity. The hosts were clearly unused to the sight of Tony Kemp attempting to sell dummies at outside centre, Chris Dacey lifting his knees in aggressive charges, and Ben House essaying reverse passes that caught even his colleagues by surprise.

Mark Bow, too, was always in the action, appearing everywhere, constantly chivvying, and achieving surprisingly little. Simon Hennessey adopted a highly commendable policy of running everything that took it's eventual toll when his legs collapsed completely, enabling Mel Jones to emerge from the depths of the touchline mud and take over at scrum half.

Ross Turpitt, Chris Dacey, Graham Griffiths, and Mark Lloyd all made strenuous but unsuccessful efforts to reach the line and the period of pressure was unrewarded. Stuart Gunnarsson, meanwhile, was engaged in his own version of Rourke's Drift as he waged a war of words with his South African counterpart in the opposing pack. It was almost incidental that, at this time, Ruislip broke away from a lineout in the Penarthian half for their winger to touch down at the opposite end.

With time fast ebbing, the supporters concluded that the cause was now lost and a mass exodus took place in an attempt to negotiate the rice field before the players got to the bar. Those involved failed to see the blindside thrust that resulted in Mel Jones being flattened by a host of eager defenders and were scarce interested in the fact that Paul Donovan had suffered a rib injury that was to scupper his intent to seek free publicity by bursting on to the Twickenham pitch in his Red Dragon outfit. They also missed the final score that meant that Ruislip had won by 38 points to nil.

Saturday sees the Old Boys return to the much more serious reality that is domestic league rugby and they are under no illusions that the visit to top-of-the-table Newport Saracens will be of a friendly nature. The hosts have lost just twice this term and the ease with which they succeeded at Cwrt-y-vil suggests that Mark Lloyd's men could be in for as torrid a time as the Welsh side faced at Twickenham. Whilst this match is scheduled to kick off at 2.30, fixtures for the other sides have yet to be finalised.