Patchy performance in victory (From Penarth Times)

Patchy performance in victory

DANGLING on the end of a three-match losing run, Penarth must have hoped that their visitors' undistinguished league form meant an easier ride than of late.

Having scored two tries in the first seven minutes that's certainly how it looked.

A perfectly good push-over try by Mike Clare had been disallowed after three minutes, but the Seasiders' pack had simply served up a repeat dose, driving hooker Geraint Evans over for a try converted by captain Andrew Edwards.

But since when were things ever that straightforward at the Athletic Field? The previously dominant home pack started going backwards at a rate of knots as Llandaff scored three tries without reply to lead 19-7 at half time.

Even now, it's difficult to say why the pack were so ineffectual for the best part of an hour.

Certainly they fielded a dominant second row, where captain Scott Kelly was ably partnered by Alun Jones and the afternoon's outstanding player, openside Chris Boyce was caused all sorts of problems throughout the game.

Tighthead Mark Evans was driven over from a scrappy line-out after 13 minutes, levelling the scores and, as the visitors' pack continued to rule the roost, Penarth struggled to find a way back into the game.

A searing break down the left wing by Mike Taylor was only stopped by a superb Steve Roberts tackle into touch, but Llandaff claimed the line-out and mauled the ball sideways to the posts, where lock Alun Jones strolled clear to score.

Worse was to come on the stroke of half time as the Seasiders defence failed to stop outside half Paul Rees getting the ball away in the tackle. Chris Boyce sent the ball left and Barry Greenley came off his wing to speed away and score.

However, the openside was soon on his way to the touchline under the cloud of a yellow card having kicked the ball away from a Penarth penalty award.

Although little obvious had changed for the Seasiders after half time, the fight-back began almost immediately with a solid pushover try for Mike Clare. A technical booking for Chris Mortimer strangely seemed to encourage the home side and they produced the try of the game on 65 minutes.

A finely judged kick ahead by replacement wing Ieuan Moorcraft gained 50 metres and Andrew Edwards took up the running from the Llandaff 22, putting the wing away for a run in to the corner. He was tackled just short, but flanker Dai Carter picked up and drive over.

With the scores level at 19-19, Danny Brookman came on to replace David Lerway, who had completed an impressively steady return to the number 10 shirt after injury. Another replacement, Richard Ball, was already making a difference in the line-out as the pack began to dominate, but Brookman was yet to make his crucial intervention in the game.

Another driven maul from a Richard Ball line-out take had made 15 metres, but stalled as the replacement half-back put his shoulder to the wheel and provided the vital extra momentum to send Mike Clare over for the try that at last put the Seasiders into the lead.

Replacement hooker Peter Bennett added a further try on the stroke of full time to put the icing on the cake as Penarth ran out convincing winners in the end. Favourable results elsewhere, with Taffs Well and Bedlinog both losing while Penallta scraped home by a single point at Dowlais mean the Seasiders remain in the thick of what is looking increasingly like a six horse race at the top of the table. PENARTH: Steve Roberts, Lloyd Davey (Ieuan Moorcraft), Ross Olney, Andrew Edwards (c),James Crothers, David Lerway (Danny Brookman), Chris Mortimer, Richard Merrett, Geraint Evans (Peter Bennett), David Morgan, Jason Allen, Kevin Fitzgerald (Richard Ball, David Carter, Mike Clare, Alun Bonello