It's double woe for Old Penarthians (From Penarth Times)

It's double woe for Old Penarthians

CARDIFF'S Cae Delyn Park proved to be a disastrous area for Old Penarthians last Satur-day, when the First and Second sides produced performances well below standard as they succumbed to clear-cut defeats to their old rivals Rhiwbina.

Pre-match hopes were high for the senior side when it was seen that the team taking the field was precisely as selected earlier in the week.

It may well have been that the writing was on the wall when the half-time break came with the hosts just five points to the good, after lock John Lane claimed the touchdown after one of many pedestrian mauls in the half.

Unfortunately, the Old Boys had failed to appreciate that the solitary success achieved by their opponents was in the face of the bitterly cold wind that swept the length of the field - while the closest that their own efforts had come to producing a score was when Mark Bow was well wide of the target with a penalty attempt from close to touch.

Even so, Penarthians could be forgiven for failing to appreciate that the Rhiwbina side had weapons in their armoury other than the driving tactics of the pack, and it was the realisation that the home backs were well capable of stringing together more than a couple of passes that was their ultimate undoing.

It took just two minutes of the second session for a movement to be mounted on the left-hand touchline.

Three players handled in excellent fashion, and, before the visitors were aware of the danger, scrum half Derwyn Neale was touching down at the posts for a try that was simply converted by outside half Adrian Evans.

Injuries to Simon Hennes-sey and Lee Brennan saw those players replaced by Paul Kemp and Bob Denning, and Penarthians found themselves in complete disarray as number 8 Gavin Harris and flanker Dave Boston eagerly raced in for touchdowns, converted by Evans, to suddenly extend the Rhiwbina lead to a match-winning 26-0.

Penarthians fought back with some spirit, but very little cohesion to pen the hosts deep inside their own 25, but the lack of finishing power cost the side dear and the Rhiwbina line remained intact until the 32nd minute of the half.

At that point, Simon Davies cut away from a maul on the left to feed the supporting Tony Kemp and the lock drove himself over close to the posts.

That it was not to be Penarthians' day was reflected in the way that John Aubrey's attempted conversion from close-range went nowhere near the target.

Play then degenerated into a particularly poor standard, with neither side impressing, but the hosts had the final word in the closing minutes when flanker Boston showed scant regard for the poor defence that saw him brush aside three opponents, as he helped himself to his second try with Adrian Evans again adding the extra points that enabled Rhiwbina to register their largest ever victory over Penarthians by 33-5.

A distinct lack of understanding was evident within the ranks and, indeed, there were times when the players appeared not to know each other. Certainly, greater application will be needed in the few games remaining if the side is to improve on the meagre total of four wins this term.

Equally poor was the performance of the Seconds who, on the adjacent pitch, never found an answer to the strong running of the Rhiwbina backs.

As a consequence, Ieuan Moorcraft's men found themselves on the receiving end of a six-try mauling with the 40-17 scoreline clearly reflected the difference in the sides.

Adrian Penny tried hard throughout at scrum half, while there was good support from Mark Rees, probably the only professor to feature in the Old Boys ranks, in a match that otherwise did little for the reputation of the players.

On a very limited credit side, Penarthians' points came from tries by prop Peter Harry, Skipper Ieuan Moorcraft and flanker Scott Hill, while Rees weighed in with a superb touchline conversion that surprised even himself.

Saturday sees the Firsts at home to Ogmore Vale in a league match, kick-off 2.30pm. No details are yet available as to the Second team's pool opponents.