Penarth must take their chances to close the gap (From Penarth Times)

Penarth must take their chances to close the gap

LLANTWIT MAJOR 16 - PENARTH 15

THE Boverton Road ground in Llantwit didn't look much like a banana skin last Saturday, still less a graveyard of promotion ambitions.

However, at the end of 80 minutes it bore all the hallmarks of both, as Penarth looked at the three-point chasm now separating them from second-placed Fairwater.

Not too wide a gap, of course, but unless the Seasiders stage an immediate comeback and beat leaders Aberdare next Saturday, it's all over bar the shouting.

They'll need to return to their'nine-match winning run' style sharpish, because the method employed against Llantwit simply won't do.

In a performance where they looked anything but promotion contenders (but nevertheless managed to score three excellent tries), Penarth failed to overcome the wind in the first half and the home side in the second.

That's not to say that the Seasiders didn't spend most of the game looking as if they could win it any time they felt like it.

An early penalty from the home side was cancelled out in fine style on 17 minutes when Andrew Edwards, at the base of a ruck, ignored a beautifully telegraphed overlap on the right and fed James Crothers on the blind side. The left wing beat two tackles and wriggled over in the corner.

Next, a nasty bounce in-goal took the ball unluckily away from the covering Andrew Edwards, and the Llantwit outside centre touched down for his side's only try.

The hosts, one way or another, were managing to nullify most of Penarth's strengths and ironically another line-out being interfered with led to the visitors' second try.

Dai Carter was struggling to make headway with slow ball when Dai Williams arrived to tidy up on half way and found himself heading for the try line, riding two tackles on the way.

With the scores level approaching half-time, Llantwit's outside half had two goes at converting a penalty and accepted the second, allowing his team to turn into the wind three points ahead.

There was no way the wind advantage was worth less than that, and it all seemed to be going to plan within two minutes of the restart. A Llantwit attack foundered and James Crothers pounced with a delicate but powerful hack ahead from half-way placed the ball perfectly in-goal and the wing easily won the race with the home outside half for his second try.

That was as good as it got. 15-13 up with the wind at their backs, the Seasiders simply couldn't fashion a single score out of the remaining 38 minutes.

The coup de grace came on 69 minutes, when the home outside half slotted over the one penalty they needed for a 16-15 win.

That Llantwit were able to convert four of their five kicks at goal ultimately cost Penarth the match.

* This Saturday Penarth play Aberdare at the Athletic Field, ko 2.30pm.

Welsh National League Division 4

(South-East) as at Saturday, April 2

PWDL FAPts

Aberdare18170149919451

Fairwater19160343524248

Penarth1915 04 54026745

Bedlinog18 13 0538623239

Llandaff 191009 337315 30

Llandaff North19110 838437930

Taff's Well20100 10336 40130

Llantwit Major187 01128431221

Cowbridge206 014226 35618

Dowlais18501327435515

Rhigos 1920172203986

Pontyclun191018227703 3