Rhondda visitors run away with match against the Old Boys (From Penarth Times)

Rhondda visitors run away with match against the Old Boys

OLD PENARTHIANS were hosts to runaway Division 5 South East leaders Porth in last Saturday's latest round of matches in the ASDA National Leagues campaign.

The Rhondda visitors possessed too much power for the local side and the 11-try tally that featured in the final 67-0 score line was a true measure of the difference in class between two sides currently ensconced at opposite ends of the league spectrum.

For the Old Boys, the humiliation of their heaviest defeat of the season was probably determined well in advance of the day of the action.

Certainly there is no other way of explaining the situation that saw programme organiser Phil Davies forced to go to print with a squad of 18 names rather than a selected side.

Neither did the matter end there for the approach of kick off time revealed that five of those listed were, in truth, not available and five others had to be drafted in, leaving home Skipper Mark Smart with the unenviable task of leading a side that could not muster a full substitute complement.

No such problems faced the visitors but there was local pleasure in the sight of former Penarthian player Andy Hopkins in their line-up.

Currently 11 points clear at the top of the table and averaging 49 points in each of the 12 games played prior to Saturday, Porth were full of confidence and, from the outset, showed an intent to concentrate their efforts on scoring as many tries as possible.

Locks John Beynon and Greg Booth were dominant in the linesout while back row forwards Gary Harris and Ryan Robertson proved a real handful in the loose where scrum half Dafydd Morris was seen to be a lively ally and ever ready to set his strong running threes in action.

Fine handling was the basis of the opening scores that came from wing Steve Walkers and centre Jamie Caple whilst Harris barged his way over from a lineout to contribute the try that, with a brace of conversions from Caple, put the side 19 points clear after 24 minutes.

From the restart, the next score was a beauty. Lock Greg Booth showed the initial handling dexterity whilst the pace into the line of full back Dai Roberts cut the Penarthian cover to shreds, enabling left wing Anthony James to sprint clear for his corner touchdown.

As if that were not enough, successive scrums close to the right hand corner ended with referee Neil McDonagh awarding the penalty try that was converted by Caple to lift the score at the break to 31-0.

Steve Walker's second try opened the post break scoring but number 8 Ryan Robertson then put his mark on the game with a run from 20 yards. Jamie Caple added the conversion and then hoisted the tally to the half-century mark with a try and conversion of his own.

Scrum half Pritchard was next to touch down before Skipper Jones added the tenth, flanker Gary Harris completing the list with Caple adding his sixth conversion of the afternoon.

Starved of possession, the Old Boys were clearly given the run-around all afternoon.

This did not stop the likes of Mark Smart, Dave Mason and Nick Vagges giving of their all up front with good support from Andy Nourish and Jamie Croll.

Behind the scrum, there was another battling performance from Adrian Penny but the injuries to Huw and James Williams and Gavin Davies did little to improve the attacking chances and Penarthians will be glad that they do not have to face Porth in the foreseeable future.

The Seconds were at Cowbridge for their league game and appeared to be up against it when the hosts led 17-0 at the break, the margin largely due to the kicking and passing generosity of John Colderley who seemed set on contributing a nightmare performance.

Fortunately, the centre was in a much better frame of mind after the break and a superb solo try plus a brace of conversions set the Old Boys on course for the 24 points to 22 victory that had earlier seemed to be an impossibility.

Other fine tries came from Calum Harper and Sacha Scurlock with Stuart Lewis's ability to turn an offside position into a scoring opportunity owing much to the enterprise of Richard Kynaston.

Lewis was, in fact, the subject of a nasty incident when set upon by an opposing flanker.

Fortunately, Mark Bow was on hand to intercede by castigating the forward for assaulting an OAP.

This brought an unexpected response from a distraught Lewis who didn't mind the pensioner reference but objected to being called old!

In a match made difficult by the bitter wind, Old Pens were well served by Mark Lloyd, Rob Boyd, and John De Claire in the forwards whilst Richard Kynaston and John Colderley took the honours behind.