Seasiders end season in ninth place
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| CLEAN BREAK: Rhys Lakin breaks from inside centre with fellow centre Liam |
Treorchy 20
Penarth 15
THE GODS failed to smile on Penarth for their ultimate encounter of the
season, and the team finished in 9th place.
A re-arranged Wednesday night fixture up the top end of the Rhondda is not
everyone's idea of an end of term jolly. Add to that a freezing, rain laden
wind sweeping down the valley and you have a serious test for the hearts and
spirit of the players and supporters both.
The players faced a further challenge before the off, injury and
unavailability leaving the pack with a bit of a makeshift look to it.
Specifically that stalwart of the front row Gary Power drafted in at number
4 to view the world from between his colleagues buttocks.
It was no surprise then that the pack took time to settle and that with the
elements at their backs Treorchy settled into the Penarth 22.
Nevertheless the Penarth rearguard was staunch and all that 25 minutes of
pressure yielded for the home side were 8 points from a penalty for over
zealous defending and an alert tap from another such penalty which set up a
clear run in for the home full back Andrew Mallin.
Given the stiff breeze this was not an irretrievable deficit. Sadly there
followed a period when cold hands and a couple of loose kicks handed the
home side opportunities which they gladly accepted.
First though it was lack of communication at the base of the scrum which
allowed number 7 Ben Hughes to exploit the gap in front of him and to run in
unopposed. Then just on half time winning a scrum under the posts gave the
home side the chance to feed number 13, Trystran Lazarus, coming in on the
charge.
Lee Stone's uncanny knack of finding a post rather than the gap in between
restricted the Treorchy half time advantage to 20 points.
The chance to use the wind bucked up Penarth no end, as did a clean catch
and clearance by Liam Bevan at the kick off. The ensuing penalty offered
James Docherty the chance to reduce the target by 3.
By now the three quarters are functioning and keeping their forwards going
with intelligent kicking out of hand. Also at the lines out hooker Jordan
Davies was getting to grips with having virtually one jumper in Paul
Gooding. So on 55 minutes as maul followed clean line out take Mike Clair
was able to peel off for 5 further points.
Encouraged by this and the wind Docherty then opted for a penalty attempt
from well within his own territory. It was further encouragement that
although he failed it was by a cruel bounce back off the cross bar.
Thus with 20 minutes remaining, 12 points the deficit and the visitors with
the wind in their sails the match transformed into exciting entertainment
for the intrepid Penarth travelling support. There were two manifestations
of this change, most obviously the volume, intensity and inaccuracy of the
advice from the home spectators to the steadily impartial Mr Anthony Evans
of Aberbeeg.
Also the home team defended in increasingly desperate style such that, at
the death, Mr Evans had had enough and awarded Penarth a penalty try with
which to sign off their season. We now look forward to the next.
Penarth: Lloyd Davey, Chris Thorn, Liam Bevan, Rhys Lakin, James Docherty,
Andrew Edwards, Richard Merrett, Jordan Davies, James Thorpe, Gary Power,
Paul Gooding, Andrew Hilbourne, James Beaton, Mike Clair.
8:57am Thursday 8th May 2008
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