Penarth dig deep to secure vital win (From Penarth Times)

Penarth dig deep to secure vital win

CILFYNYDD 8

PENARTH 15

IT WASN'T pretty, but the Seasiders knew exactly what they had to do to subdue a Cilfynydd side that were never going to lie down.

The better side throughout, Penarth nevertheless had to draw on deep reserves of patience and application to secure this vital win.

As ever, much was going to depend on the performance of the pack, and as they bulldozed Cilfynydd in the very first scrum, the effect was immediate.

A beautiful diagonal kick into space by James Docherty was collected on an awkward bounce by James Crothers and the wing raced for the line.

Cilfynydd infringed at the first line-out, but when Richard Ball took the next at the front, the result was never in doubt and Chris Mortimer crossed out wide.

A period of some pressure yielded little in the way of scoring opportunities, as the Penarth pack always had the upper hand, but Cilfynydd still had all the confidence of a side that hadn't lost a league game in more than four months and dug out sufficient possession to survive.

The Seasiders, on the other hand, were aiming higher and the kicking into space was of the highest quality.

After 25 minutes, Andrew Edwards put the ball behind the cover and the chase yielded a scrum. A fine handling move from the base ended as Mike Clare exchanged passes with Chris Mortimer and went over under the posts.

A Docherty penalty meant that Penarth turned round 15 points in front, but the third quarter proved spectacularly barren as referee Dominic Lonergan pulled Penarth up again and again.

The response from the travelling support when he finally gave an infringement against the home side after 17 minutes was the biggest cheer of the afternoon.

The pressure was certainly telling as the Seasiders failed to nail down the lid on Cilfynydd and the hosts came back strongly with a try of their own on the hour.

The final quarter had everyone on the edge of their metaphorical Welfare Ground seats, as play see-sawed back and fore.

The try-scorer was dispatched with a red card, apparently for punching in the scrum, and then a ferocious Penarth maul was brought down three times in succession, only for the referee to penalise the visitors at the fourth attempt.

In a heart-stopping finale, the Seasiders blew Cilfynydd clean off their own put-in at a five-metre scrum, only for the home scrum half to dig it out for the umpteenth time and set up a long-range counter-attack.

Only a superb Steve Roberts tackle that put the winger into touch on the Penarth 22 metre line saved the try and secured the three points. A draw would have been a travesty and Cilfynydd came within a hair's breadth of securing it!

With six games to go now, the finishing line is in sight for the Seasiders.

Bearing in mind the fact that the main contenders have yet to play leaders and championship favourites Penallta, the remaining hurdle has the name Bedlinog written all over it.

In the last two seasons, Penarth have met the Bargoed Taf valley side on four occasions, always beating them with some ease at home and then coming off second best away.

This Saturday, the Foxes arrive at the Athletic Field needing to make up ground. With two games in hand, they are six points adrift of the Seasiders and showing indifferent recent form.

Another powerful display by the Penarth pack should be too much for them and an ideal preparation for the rearranged and probably crucial away fixture at end of the season.

Penarth:Roberts, Bradshaw, Bevan, Edwards (capt), J Crothers (C Moorcraft), Docherty, Mortimer, Merrett, Evans (P Bennett), Morgan, Ball (Fitzgerald), Gooding, Allen, Clare, Hopkins