Old Penarthians save the best for last (From Penarth Times)

Old Penarthians save the best for last

In the concluding away matches of the current league campaign, Old Penarthians finally realised the potential that has been latent until recent weeks.

The result was the 12-try bonanza in the excellent wins at Deri and Canton during the past seven days.

With the Vets also successful on Saturday, at home to Park House RFC, the smiles could not have been broader at the Club's Cwrt-y-Vil headquarters.

Wednesday's trip to the Rhymney Valley home of Deri Broncos was fraught with early difficulties when late arrival meant that the Old Boys had no option other than to take the field without the customary warm-up.

This was clearly to the advantage of their young opponents, as Deri dominated the opening exchanges.

Although Justin Maine's penalty for the village side was countered by a try from David Mason, after fine approach work from Chris Dacey, John Aubrey, and Mark Smart, Mark Bow failed with the easy conversion.

And the visitors were made to pay, as Number 8 Liam Evans was driven over for a try, converted by Maine, while the centre was to land the further penalty that put Deri ahead by 13 points to 5 at the break.

That position was to worsen when another drive from the forwards saw Lee Shaw secure a touchdown just three minutes into the second session.

Fortunately, that reverse seemed to spark the Old Boys into action and Ross Turpitt's fine take at a lineout saw the pack drive towards the posts before releasing the ball for the excellent handling move that ended with hooker Gareth Boulton plunging over on the right.

The next score was even better. Deri mounted an attack close to halfway, but Penarthians achieved a turnover and Rob Pearce broke clear near halfway to feed Steve Roberts on his left.

In an instant, the centre was at full pace and a thrilling touchline dash left a clutch of defenders trailing in his wake as he sped the 50 yards to the corner for a spectacular score.

Deri regained the ascendancy in the 23rd minute when Maine was a shade fortunate to see his 30-yard penalty strike the crossbar before bouncing over.

But Penarthians were quick to show that victory was their aim, with the forwards again gaining the quality possession at the lineout that enabled Chris Dacey to make good ground, before Simon Davies and Huw Williams exchanged the passes that prefaced Davies unleashing the devastating sprint that took him over wide out for a touchdown, well converted by Mark Bow.

Any hopes that the hosts might have harboured as to the chances of a late recovery were then scuppered when another fine move put Huw Williams in from 30 yards, with the winger doing well to ground the ball despite the attentions of three opponents, making the final score 27-21 in favour of the Old Boys.

Saturday's trip to nearby Canton saw the side in confident mood, after the midweek success.

But that threatened to take on the aspect of a banana skin when the home forwards took charge of the set pieces and plundered the possession that produced tries for Mark Jones, Darren Cleaver, and Steve Pitt, with a conversion from Tony Jenkins giving the side an astonishing, but deserved, 17 point lead after just 33 minutes.

Fortunately, Steve Roberts and Rob Pearce combined well to produce a try for Roberts that was converted by Mark Bow to reduce the deficit to 10 points at the break.

That score gave scant notice of the destruction that was to be in evidence on the resumption.

Adopting simple move-the-ball tactics that made full use of the pace that was vested in a youthful back division, Penarthians blew their opponents out of the water with the five-try salvo that provided the bulk of the points that were to be scored in just 15 minutes.

Simon Davies started the rout with a transverse run from halfway that took him to the right-hand corner, while Steve Roberts produced an equally fine solo effort that clearly inspired Huw Williams to take up the running for two tries of his own, before the ubiquitous Roberts completed his hat-trick with another 45-yard special.

Clearly, this was a quality that could not be maintained and Canton were thankful that the efforts of their pack denied possession to the Old Boys, until the final moments of the game when six men handled before winger Ryan Harper was put away on the right, his corner try being converted superbly by Mark Bow to add to his four earlier kicks that gave Penarthians their 45-17 win.

While the glory of the twin successes went largely to youngsters Steve Roberts, Simon Davies, and Huw Williams, credit is also due to excellent displays from Mark Smart, Ross Turpitt, Paul Kemp, and Dave Mason up front, with John Aubrey, Chris Dacey, and Mark Bow adding stability behind.

Others to do well included Lee Brennan and Mark Curtis, with Lewis Drew and Rob Pearce also playing their parts to the full.

For skipper Simon Hennessey, his own part limited by injury, there was the satisfaction of seeing his side play some of the best football of the season.

There was a touch of sadness associated with the visit to Cwrt-y-Vil of Kent visitors Park House RFC, the Bromley-based side that former Penarthian Simon Morris had played for prior to his recent and untimely passing.

Despite that situation, Rob Crimp and his men were in no mood for favour and they promptly dispatched their opponents in summary fashion 17-0.

Stuart Lewis, Richard Smith, and David Martin were the lynchpins of a dominant pack while Mike Goldsworthy was the controlling influence behind.

Penarthians' tries were scored by Colin Campbell and Geraint Evans, the third owing much to the magic of Goldsworthy, who somehow contrived to kick the ball completely over his head but into the path of Jon Howell, allowing the latter a clear run to the line. Goldsworthy himself added the sole conversion of the afternoon.

The season ends with a second team game at home to Fairwater this weekend.

And on Tuesday, May 3 the Vets pull down the curtain with the hosting of Japanese visitors, the Men from the Orient claiming to be fielding an 80-year-old in their line-up!