LEADERS EDGE IT IN CLOSE BATTLEPenarth should have won and theyll be kicking themselves that they (From Penarth Times)

LEADERS EDGE IT IN CLOSE BATTLEPenarth should have won and theyll be kicking themselves that they

PENARTH 15

PENALLTA 23

NOW here's a match that lived up to its billing.

Not only did it pit the two leading clubs in the division against each other, but two utterly contrasting rugby styles went head-to-head.

The Seasiders, as we all know, have the sort of pack that keeps opponents awake at night, while Penallta field a back division like a well-oiled and expensive try machine.

Neither disappointed in a fascinatingly tight contest.

Let's be quite clear about this: Penarth should have won and they'll be kicking themselves that they let it slip away from them.

They adopted exactly the right game plan, fielded the team best equipped to carry it out and the pack didn't simply dominate the opposition, they blew them off the park.

So how did they lose?

It was a simple calculation: since the visitors' backs are vastly superior to anything else available in the Asda Leagues (don't ask why, they just are), could the home pack limit their possession and keep them out of the game?

The answer - and this is what will keep the Seasiders going for the rest of the promotion campaign - is "nearly".

Despite having to watch their forwards going backwards for 80 minutes, the Penallta backs got their hands on the ball about five times in the whole game and came away with the spoils.

This was an immense performance by the Penarth forwards and one that will live long in the memory.

The only thing missing was a win and they came ridiculously close to securing that in a breathtaking final quarter.

The visitors' first opportunity came as David Jenkins nearly broke through straight from the kick-off. The scrum resulting from the knock-on was all the encouragement Penallta needed.

Slick passing, a clever chip inside and 80 metres later, their right wing touched down and the visitors led 7-0.

The forward contest was already over by this time and the Seasiders seemed to hold all the aces.

With half an hour gone, Chris Reddicliffe, a revelation at outside half, unleashed a huge touch-finder and Penarth found themselves with a penalty for hands in the ruck.

The catch and drive was executed perfectly and as the pack drove for the line, the referee, to the disbelief of Penarth, blew up for a home scrum.

A 35-metre Reddicliffe penalty on 38 minutes was the sole reward and the sides turned round with Penallta leading 7-3.

The second half started in familiar fashion, with the visitors being driven back in the scrum. However, some smart work by the scrum half and a couple of slick passes later, the left wing was over in the corner.

The Seasiders finally managed to make all their forward dominance count on the hour as Reddicliffe followed up his own neat grubber and was taken clean out by the Penallta number 5.

The lock saw yellow and this time the catch and drive was allowed to proceed to its natural conclusion and Mike Clare was the scorer.

Penallta kept their noses in front with a couple more penalties following huge wind-assisted clearances, but with eight minutes to go, the Seasiders hauled themselves right back into contention with a Peter Bennett try.

All that was needed was to keep it tight and work it upfield for the winning score, but what actually happened was a finger-tip deflection in an attacking line-out, the trade-mark sweep into opposition territory and a match-killing drop goal for a two-score lead with a minute to go.

Penarth: Roberts, I Moorcraft, Jenkins, Edwards, J Crothers, Reddicliffe, Mort-imer, Merrett, P Bennett (Evans), Morgan, Allen, Gooding, Pearce, Clare, Bonello (Hopkins).

Asda Welsh National League

Division 4 (South-East)

Saturday, January 28

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6Llandaff North1381430331025

7Cowbridge1270524514121

8Llantwit Major16401217032612

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