Let-down of season forgotten at dinner (From Penarth Times)

Let-down of season forgotten at dinner

OLD Penarthians brought to a close an otherwise disappointing season with the highly successful annual Dinner and Presentation evening that was held at Jury's Hotel Cardiff in the presence of more than 90 members and their guests.

Club Chairman Mel Jones presided over an event that featured a highly amusing address by former Wales B and Newport RFC full back Phil Steele, currently forging a successful broadcasting career for himself with BBC Wales.

Promising centre Steve Roberts was acclaimed as the 1st XV Player of the Year while prop forward Chris Kitch received a similar award in respect of the 2nd XV.

The 3rd XV award went to evergreen prop Stuart Lewis while Lewis Drew was a popular winner of the Most Improved Player award.

Equally popular was the Committee's choice of Player of the Year in flank forward Mark Smart, while First team colours ties were awarded to Simon Davies, David Mason, Ed Morgan, Gareth Shaw, and Ross Turpitt, each of whom had completed a total of 50 appearances during the term.

The Chairman went on to confirm the appointment of Mark Smart as Club Captain for the season ahead, a feat that is all the more remarkable in that Mark only joined the Club in September last.

Nevertheless, the 22-year-old had enjoyed an outstanding season with the Club and had proved to be a popular deputy for Simon Hennessey on occasions that the Skipper was absent due to injury. In addition, Mark had achieved a record of leadership during his earlier days with St Cyres School and Penarth Youth while the experience gained with Dinas Powys and Penarth ensures that he is one of few players guaranteed a senior starting spot with the Club.

While there was disappointment at the fact that no nomination had been forthcoming for the onerous task of leading the Seconds, Robert Crimp was again confirmed as leader of the 3rd XV, the side also operating under the guise of the "Vets".

Mr Jones ended the evening on an optimistic note by announcing that the appointment of Mark Smart had been supplemented by the completion of successful negotiations that would see grade 3 qualified Tony Vagges taking over the coaching reins in company with Tim O'Donnell, with Jon Barry and Mark Bow also expressing the wish to be involved and seeking to be enlisted on WRU courses that would widen their experience.

The Chairman ended his remarks by appealing to the players to respond to these appointments by committing themselves to ensuring that every effort is made to raise the Club from the doldrums that have plagued the playing record in recent seasons.

To that end, an early start is to be made with regard to pre-season training with Monday and Thursday sessions set to commence at the Club's Cwrt-y-Vil headquarters on Monday next, July 4.

All players are invited to attend these early sessions so as to achieve maximum benefit and are asked to ensure that they are ready to commence work at 7pm on the nights designated.