Seasiders prove tough opponents (From Penarth Times)

Seasiders prove tough opponents

DESPITE being predictably knocked out of the cup in this second round tie at Parc Dyffryn Pennar, the Seasiders can more than hold their heads up after giving the Div 3 (SE) leaders their hardest match of the season so far.

In fact, the Old Firm only managed to finally shake off a dogged Penarth pursuit with two tries in the last two minutes, which gave the score a decidedly unbalanced look. With the score on 27-17 after 78 minutes, it really could have gone either way.

No doubt about it, the Cynon Valley side really look the part these days, with a slick, pacy and skilful back division probably the difference between the two sides in the final analysis.

In contrast, the Seasiders were experiencing a good deal of difficulty shipping the ball along the three-quarter line and this gave Mountain Ash a flying start after nine minutes as Neil Edwards benefited from a decked pass in the Penarth 22 to open the scoring.

Remarkably, Penarth struck back immediately with a move straight off the training field; James Crothers smoothly latching on to a precision chip from Danny Brookman to score in the corner.

The next 15 minutes probably decided the match as the Seasiders pinned Ash in their own 22, but couldn't breach their well-organised defences. Then, as so often happens under such circumstances, the home side lifted the siege with two quick tries (and it was all about pace) from Dale Keepin and Mark Anderson, to lead 19-5 at half time.

The second half began badly for Penarth as Jason Allen was forced off with a dislocated finger, but there was any amount of hwyl in evidence as they restricted their opponents to a solitary penalty in the third quarter. Even better times were around the corner as the Seasiders surged back into the game with 15 minutes left. First Paul Gooding stole a Mountain Ash line-out and the ball was worked to the right wing for replacement wing James Coslett to show a fine turn of pace to score. Then, minutes later, Mike Clare forced his way over after a succession of forward drives.

With the match finely balanced at 22-17 and Penarth very much in the ascendancy, the hosts abruptly woke up to the fact that a defeat was on the cards and threw everything into a frantic assault on the visitors' line. The Seasiders simply couldn't conjure up enough cover despite the best efforts of Alun Bonello, who tackled himself to a standstill in a virtuoso defensive performance and Mark Anderson went over for his second try of the afternoon.

No club fixtures this coming Saturday, November 6, as the autumn internationals get under way, but the Seasiders return to league action the following week with a visit to 5th placed Llandaff North.

Penarth: Bush (Moorcraft), Davey (Coslett), G.Blake, Carter, J Crothers, Brookman, Docherty (Fitzgerald), Seymour, Evans, Merrett, Allen (Ball), Gooding, D.Blake (Williams), Clare, Bonello