Last-gasp penalty steals win for Penarth (From Penarth Times)

Last-gasp penalty steals win for Penarth

AT 4PM last Saturday, Danny Brookman struck the sweetest of penalties plumb through the uprights. Immediately referee Steve Edwards blew to signal not just the three points but also the end of a contest which Penarth had just won from rivals Cowbridge by the margin of two points.

Thus was resolved a match of sunshine, torrential rain, light wind and howling gale in which changes in fortune on the pitch matched those of the weather. The lead changed hands five times in all; four of those changes in the second half alone.

Yet it was a match that Penarth seemed to have sewn up midway through the first half. After conceding an early penalty they gradually exerted control up front and provided a platform for some exciting running and passing.

David Lerway exploited space on the wide right to cut back across the full pitch width where the ball then reversed direction passing through many Penarth hands including those of both props Penberthy and Merrett until, with the Cowbridge cover stretched to breaking point Danny Barrier strolled in for a simple touch down.

In less than ten further minutes of Penarth dominating possession a classic peel from a five metre scrum by Mike Claire added the points that became a Penarth lead of 3-14 with half-time beckoning.

Celebrations were premature however because Penarth relaxed, lost concentration and just one missed tackle and a penalty moved the Cowbridge score onto 11-14 by the half-time whistle. This after a period in which all the rugby and the pressure had come from Penarth.

Worse was to come. Firstly from the weather and then from the boot of Cowbridge outside half Thatcher who augmented his booming touch finders with two more penalties which first drew Cowbridge level and then gave them a three point advantage over Penarth.

At this point Penarth demonstrated the character and steel of this seasons' squad by knuckling down to some upfront graft. This was best demonstrated by a set piece scrum which the Penarth eight moved downfield a full 20 metres at a brisk trot before Mr Stephens took pity on Cowbridge and blew them up for an infringement! This platform allowed Brookman to cross the line but he was held up. This turned out not to matter because we were treated to a mirror image of Mike Claire's first half try by him crashing over once more from five metres. Score 17-19 in Penarth's favour.

The Penarth lead held for ten minutes while the crowd discussed the possible impact that the presence of a WRU referee's assessor might be having on the climbing penalty count. One of these penalties allowed the Thatcher boot to give Cowbridge the lead 20-19. Until the last seconds when it was Danny Brookman's turn.

Mike Claire's men will have gained some valuable pointers for the WRU Cup encounter between the same two sides at Penarth in two weeks time.

Penarth team: D Lerway; J Crothers; D Hobbs; D Carter; L Davey; D Brookman; A Edwards; M Claire; D Barrier; J Allen; K Fitzgerald; S Crothers; M Penberthy; G Evans; R Merrett. Subs used: C Lewis; G Bennet.

Final score

Cowbridge 20, Penarth 22