Win is dramatically denied for Old Boys (From Penarth Times)

Win is dramatically denied for Old Boys

Blaengarw 20 Old Penarthians 14

THE stop-start nature of the current season took a final twist last weekend when the Old Boys returned to league action after two further weeks on the touchline.

The first ever visit to Blaengarw marked the start of the final flourish that will bring an end to a disappointing campaign, Penarthians being committed to an eight-match programme in the five weeks that remain.

Conditions at Blaengarw's Ogwr Valley headquarters could not have been more welcoming, with a warm sunshine signifying that spring really had arrived. Penarthians, however, had not been prepared for the Everest-style climb that awaited them when their bus was unable to cope with the narrow track leading to the Recreation Ground's lofty location.

Whether or not that was a factor is not known - but it has to be said that it was not until the second half of the contest that the visitors showed their true paces.

By that time, the hosts had built up a 15-point lead as the result of tries from number 8 Richard Jenkins and scrum half Mark Richards with outside-half Simon Milton weighing in with a penalty goal and a towering touchline conversion.

Throughout this opening period, the Old Boys suffered from a lack of possession, a factor that enabled the hosts to turn the screw by constantly using the slope and penning their opponents deep inside their own half.

Fortunately, Penarthians defence was largely equal to the task with back row forwards Mark Smart, Lewis Drew, and Paul Kemp never far from the action, while centres Steve Roberts and Gareth Welford tackled with a determination that belied their stature.

With the break fast approaching, Penarthians suddenly turned the tables on their hosts with Mark Curtis contributing an astonishing touchline burst.

Soon after, a well controlled maul forced Blaengarw back into the right hand corner and scrum half Simon Davies contrived an excellent break that deserved a better fate than for the ball to be lost close to the line.

The second half began with a superb break from David Roberts. The lock went clean through the middle and might well have made it to the line on his own.

Instead he chose to feed winger Steve Cross, newly on as replacement for the injured Huw Williams, but the newcomer was unable to hold on to the pass and the chance was lost.

The success of the move did, however, increase confidence for the Old Boys and Bob Denning was the next to impress, his charge over halfway paving the way for Tony Kemp's sprint into the 25 before the cover finally prevailed. From the subsequent scrum Simon Davies sped over for the try that was converted by John Aubrey.

Penarthians were now having much the better of the play but a naive approach saw them spend too much time and effort endeavouring to run from their own half when it might have paid greater dividends to follow the Blaengarw example of playing it from down the slope.

Time was running out and it was in the 42nd minute that Tony Kemp made another break on the left.

Suddenly play was switched to the right with neat passing before David Roberts put Ryan Harper clear and over on the right for an excellent try that was superbly converted by substitute Gavin Davies.

Sadly, disaster was to strike even further into injury time.

Although there was just a solitary point between the sides, Penarthians still cherished hope of a dramatic victory. That hope proved to be costly as an attempted attack from close to their own line rebounded when Nigel Boucher saw his attempted pass not only go forward but also straight into the hands of opponents Mark Bridgeman, who gratefully strolled in for the touchdown that made the final score 20-14 in favour of the hosts.

Despite the disappointment of defeat, this was an encouraging display from the Old Boys with acting Skipper Mark Smart setting a fine example in terms of leadership and personal endeavour.

David Roberts and Lee Brennan were others to do well, while Simon Davies and John Aubrey forged a useful half back partnership behind the scrum.

Old Penarthians 2nds 26

Cathays HSOB 5

At Cwrt-y-Vil, the Seconds made light of their recent inactivity and produced an excellent performance to dispose of a strong Cathays HSOB side 26-5.

Ieuan Moorcraft's men ran in four fine tries with the Skipper himself leading the way while others came from Tim Broome, Jon Howell, and Karime Hassan with outside half Broome landing the three conversions.

Back row forwards Scott Hill, Andy Nourish, and Gareth Aubrey were in outstanding form as the Old Boys withstood a Cathays barrage that belied the scoreline, while hooker Ross Meadows was a real force in the loose.

Stuart Gunnarsson enjoyed mixed fortune as an unlikely scrum half but this did little to destroy the effectiveness of strong running centres in Moorcraft and Hassan.

* Saturday sees the Firsts return to Cwrt-y-Vil for a match against South Wales Police, ko 2.30pm. Although no fixture appears on the list, the Seconds are hoping that Fixture Secretary Peter Goodfellow can work the oracle sufficiently to ensure that opponents can be found for their anticipated outing.