Seasiders left high and dry (From Penarth Times)

Seasiders left high and dry

Pentyrch 40, Penarth 12

In a stirring second-half comeback, Penarth got the better of their hosts, scoring two tries with only only three penalties in response.

Unfortunately, the first half hadn't been quite so inspiring, as Pentyrch had scored four tries without reply to turn around 31-0 in front.

The real problem on the day was that the hosts always looked rather better than their one win in four start to the league season had suggested. Their backs took every opportunity to run back kicks, usually at alarmingly effective angles and at pace. In a way, it's probably to the Seasiders' credit that the damage was limited to those four first-half tries.

On a breezily bright and cooling day up at Parc y Dwrlyn, Pentyrch were quick to capitalise on Penarth's tendency to kick away perfectly good possession and fail to find touch.

Left wing Fielese Coetsee simply ran the clearance back up the tramlines for a 7-0 lead after 15 minutes. The Seasiders came back with enthusiasm, but failed to breach the home defence.

The hosts countered strongly and, having gained a penalty 25 metres out, Hywel Williams converted to extend the lead to 10-0. Pentyrch were taking full advantage of the breeze at their backs and outside half Berian Davies was always inclined to send booming kicks down range and, usually, finding touch.

The Penarth lineout was working much better this week, but the pack weren't faring so well in the tight. An attacking scrum on a Seasiders' put-in was won by the visitors, but Ben Morris' clearance under pressure was charged down and captain Scott Greenman touched down for his side's second after 22 minutes.

The home side maintained their momentum and quick ball from a scrum on the visitors' 10 metre line set up outside centre Hywel Williams for a try at the second attempt.

At 24-0 down after half an hour, Penarth were staring down the barrel of a fourth successive defeat, but finally pulled themselves together enough to cause the hosts some trouble.

A little of their difficulty in the rucks was eased for a while as Scott Greenman was caught off his feet for the umpteenth time and was given 10 minutes to ponder his technique.

As they came under some pressure at last, Pentyrch began to introduce some errors into their play, but just as things began to look interesting, Brendan Bush hoisted an ambitious garryowen. Right wing Phil Smith caught cleanly and cut across the field at an angle to put full back Nick Bain Venn in under the posts on the stroke of half time.

The 'Tyrchs began the second half in frantic fashion and the Seasiders had few answers apart from the phenomenal work-rate and tackling of Alun Bonello, making a glorious return to the colours.

Nevertheless, the hosts extended their lead with two penalties before Brent Muggeridge came on as replacement loose head. Now Penarth finally began to exert some real pressure and Pentyrch were obliged to kick out of defence.

With new-found confidence, the Seasiders began to move the ball around and David Lerway was the main beneficiary as he was afforded sufficient room on the left flank to ease in at the corner.

Ten minutes of fitful pressure later, they regained possession from a collapsed maul and worked the ball back to Craig Miller. The veteran outside half capped a mature performance by shouldering his way through a determined defence to score, adding the conversion himself.

Despite having finally settled into something like a rhythm, any further pressure Penarth brought to bear came to nothing. Pentyrch completed the scoring with a final dodgy penalty before the referee brought the curtain down after fully 78 minutes.

The Seasiders now have a fortnight to mull over their poor start to a season that promised so much before new leaders Newport Saracens visit the Athletic Field on October 27. Having conceded 20 tries in five league outings, defensive organisation just has to be on the agenda.

Penarth: Bush, Woodland, Brookman, Griffith, Lerway, Miller, Morris, Swaine (Muggeridge), Smart (Carew), Merrett, Crothers, Gunnerson, Hurley (Pearson), Clare, Bonello.