Surely things can only get better for Firsts? (From Penarth Times)

Surely things can only get better for Firsts?

WITH the Six Nations tournament taking prime spot in the rugby calendar, the players of the Old Penarthians club now have a brief opportunity to sit back and review a season that has failed to fulfil any of the hopes they held back in September.

While the relegation from Division 4 South East at the end of last term was seen as a major blow to pride at the club, there were those who suggested the competition at a lower level might provide just the incentive needed to sharpen the jaded appetites of individuals who had become far more used to defeat than to winning in recent times.

Certainly, newly elected captains Simon Hennessey and Ieuan Moorcraft seemed full of summer enthusiasm and were apparently confident the tide would turn for the First and Second Fifteens.

At third team level, Rob Crimp set his sights slightly lower, concerning himself simply with the task of ensuring that his mixture of youth and experience would take the field at least once a month in matches where enjoyment was probably more important than end results.

Despite an early departure from the Konica Minolta Cup, when Abertillery BG were 31-7 winners at Cwrt-y-vil, the Firsts were encouraged by the fine but narrow 7-5 win at Cefn Coed, while the subsequent home defeat to Cilfynydd was by an equally close margin.

Four tries away to Bridgend Sports were not enough to achieve victory in an adverse 22-29 scoreline, while Brecon's friendly visit to Cwrt-y-vil was ominous in the extent of the 45-0 hammering.

Five successive league defeats were to follow, as morale fell to the lowest ebb for many a year, with the players proving to be unequal to the challenges of a far-from-fierce league.

Injuries abounded, with skipper Hennessey sidelined as the result of a serious operation while the normally reliable Chris Dacey fell foul of a back injury that has put him out of action until now.

Week after week, changes were evidenced as injuries and unavailability destroyed all efforts of the selectors to hit upon a settled combination - to such an extent that no fewer than 55 players had been utilised in the space of the 16 games played to the end of January.

Plus points were few, but the contribution of newcomer Mark Smart has been outstanding while ever-present Tony Kemp has shown himself to be the most consistent lineout performer.

Adrian Ball and Andrew Vale have also made their presence felt, while Simon Davies continues to shine brightly, despite the handicap of a persistent injury.

The experience of Nigel Edmunds and Mark Bow has not always been available but it is good to see former skipper Gareth Shaw back in action and Huw Williams latterly making a lively impact on the wing.

Nigel Boucher and Tim Broome have been others to make their mark behind, while young Steve Roberts shows considerable promise in the centre.

Up front, Mark Curtis has again worked hard together with Lee Brennan and Phil Middleton, while Andy Spender regularly stepped up to fill in the gaps when needed.

The win at home to Canton in early December was a spark quickly extinguished by the debacle that was to follow seven days later, when the club suffered the ignominy of being unable to raise a side for the scheduled visit to Penallta.

That has now been penalised by the WRU by the deduction of three points.

It is hoped that the situation will now improve.

Comfortable January victories over Bridgend Sports and Deri, allied to the narrow defeat at Ferndale, have boosted confidence and, even allowing for the points deduction, Penarthians have hauled themselves out of the nether regions and are currently in ninth position.

With Simon Hennessey and Chris Dacey both poised to return to add competition for the senior places, the weeks ahead promise to be interesting - especially if every effort is made to make full use of the training sessions currently being organised on Monday and Thursday evening by the experienced Peter Goodfellow and Don Price respectively.

A fit and well-prepared Old Penarthians squad could make even greater progress up the table before the season ends.