Narrow defeat (From Penarth Times)

Narrow defeat

Narrow defeat

With the Principality Cup competition taking precedence over the league programme, Old Penarthians Firsts took a welcome break on Saturday last with the majority of the players glad of the opportunity to recover from some of the knocks sustained in a hectic opening to the new season.

The Seconds, however, travelled to Hailey Park anxious to secure much needed league points from their clash with Llandaff North and were blessed with another window in the weather that provided perfect conditions for both players and spectators.

Unfortunately, the match itself did not live up to those conditions and the Old Boys were left kicking themselves as they failed to capitalise on a solid first half performance, finally succumbing to the last ditch try that gave the hosts a scarcely deserved victory by 14 points to 10.

Penarthians made all the running in an opening session that saw hooker Jack Parkinson produce a superb 50 yard solo run that almost culminated in a score on the right.

Whilst Malcolm Penberthy was within a finger nail of a touchdown as he ploughed through the lineout in pursuit of poorly controlled Llandaff possession.

It was, therefore, completely against the run of play that the hosts took the lead in the 19th minute.

The Old Boys mounted a confident attack going left and close to the 25. Chris Dacey's pass, however, was cleverly anticipated by the opposing full back who intercepted and showed a clean pair of heels to the cover in a 75-yard dash to the posts for a try that was comfortably converted.

Almost at once, a reply was posted. Penarthians won possession at a scrum deep inside their territory. Andy Hopkins picked up from number 8 to feed Gavin Davies.

The outside half handed on to Chris Dacey who made good ground before transferring to Nigel Boucher. The skipper ran elusively into the 25 before producing a delightful dummy that opened the gap that enabled him to plunge over close to the flag.

Gavin Davies added the extra points with a superbly struck penalty. With Davies adding a 25-yard penalty soon after, the Old Boys went into the break ahead by 10 points to 7.

Following the resumption, it soon became evident that there was trouble brewing as the players indulged in petty retribution that was not being clamped down upon by the Referee.

Both sides failed to control their tempers and, when the home prop blatantly stamped on a Penarthian defender, the official was left with no alternative other than to introduce the ultimate sanction of a red card.

With the opposition now reduced to 14 men, it should have been simple for the Old Boys to take complete control and to impose their earlier domination on proceedings.

Such was not to be the case, however, and with Llandaff North adopting spoiling tactics, play became confined to the visiting half.

Still the undercurrent of ill temper prevailed and, in the 22nd minute, it erupted to the Penarthians right as players piled in.

It took the Referee some time to restore order and a totally unacceptable incident ended with the dismissal of both hookers. From that moment on, the game descended into something of a farce and it was clear that the unfortunate official was no longer in control.

Decision after decision appeared to raise query or cause comment and it must be said that both sets of players displayed an appalling lack of discipline.

Certainly, it is little wonder that the Cardiff and District Union is facing a dire shortage of Referees if this game was, in any way, a reflection of the lack of respect shown towards those individuals prepared to give of their time and energies by taking charge of matches.

There was little in the way of constructive play as the players continued their close quarter exchanges.

Penarthians did, however, produce one fine move when Richard Coleman broke clear on the left. The visiting forwards supported well but, when the ball was won, Gavin Davies opted for a drop shot that drifted wide of the upright when the better choice might well have been to utilise the backs lined up outside him.

Just when it seemed that the deadlock would not be further broken, the visitors suffered a cruel twist of fate.

Ben House relieved pressure on the line with a superb touch clearance to the left. As his colleagues made the mistake of standing back in admiration, Llandaff North took a quick throw and mounted a purposeful attack on the opposite flank.

A lineout prefaced a scrum beneath the posts and scrum half Richard McCarthy spotted the gap to race through for a touchdown at the posts, the successful conversion putting the hosts 4 points clear.

The Referee's disillusionment with a bad day at the office was clearly reflected in the fact that he then blew the whistle with several minutes of play still on the clock.

In a match where the result really should have gone their way, the Old Boys were nevertheless well served up front by Malcolm Penberthy, Steve Newman, and Andy Hopkins whilst both Jack Parkinson and Adrian Penny did well in the loose.

Simon Hennessey was in aggressive mood at scrum half whilst Chris Dacey and Nigel Boucher were the pick of a back division that was rarely used to advantage.

At Cwrt-y-vil, the Thirds unexpectedly came a cropper when they found themselves outplayed by a lively and enthusiastic Old Howardians squad, the visitors triumphing by 27 points to 5.

Saturday sees the Old Boys travel to Blackweir with victory a must against the Division's bottom side.

The Seconds are at home to Llanishen whilst the Thirds are away to Old Illtydians, all matches scheduled to kick off at 2.30pm.