Penarth's super start continues with away win (From Penarth Times)

Penarth's super start continues with away win

Llandaff 5 Penarth 29

THE RUMOURS on the touchline after 40 minutes were that Llandaff were a "second-half side". Sure enough, they brought their heavyweights on into the pack, but since they were already trailing 22-0 following a relentless first-half onslaught from the increasingly irresistible Seasiders, it was all rather academic. They lost the second half, too.

Just how good is this Penarth side? We'll probably have to wait until early October to be sure, when they come up against current leaders Fairwater, but sitting pretty in third place with a 100 percent record this season and a seventh successive win in all competitions, they're going to take some stopping.

This was a hugely entertaining game and more wisdom from the touchline suggested that the quality of the rugby was up there with the best the Celtic League could offer. Such was the pace and intensity both sides brought to the contest, it's hard to argue with this assertion.

A Danny Brookman penalty was scant reward for 20 minutes of pressure, but the damage had already been done up front as the Seasiders got their fearsome maul working. Successive assaults by props Brian Higgins and Richard Merrett softened things up nicely as Dafydd Hobbs broke clean through on the left flank and put a rejuvenated Dai Carter through for the try.

Next, a deep clearance from the home full-back under intense pressure from Lloyd Davey fell to Andrew Edwards and the scrum-half passed inside to captain Mike Clare on halfway. The number eight lacked the space to get up to full speed, but blindside flanker Hemi Taylor was lying deep, taking the inside pass at speed to crash straight through the Llandaff cover and draw the full-back for Dafydd Hobbs to accelerate away and score.

The half closed with yet another driving maul from the visitors, the referee making his point about the constant home infringements by awarding a penalty try.

The expected response from the hosts wasn't long in coming and a momentary lapse in the visitors' concentration allowed the home left wing to hang on to his knock forward and score. The game was all over after 46 minutes as Mike Clare came off the back of an attacking scrum to score his side's fourth try.

Llandaff spent the next 35 minutes trying to claw their way back into the contest, but a Penarth defence with Alun Bonello making a welcome return after injury wasn't to concede a single point in a masterful display. Next Saturday, it's back to the cup again as the Seasiders welcome Cowbridge to the Athletic Field, having already registered a league win away at the Broad Shoard.

PENARTH: Lerway, Davey, Hobbs, Carter, Moorcraft, Brookman, Edwards (Docherty), Merrett, Bennett, Higgins, Allen, Fitzgerald, Taylor, Clare (Barrier blood rep), Bonello Konica-Minolta Welsh Cup First Round September 25, Penarth v Cowbridge, kick-off 2.30pm.