OLD PENARTHIANS 1st XV 8pts

ST ALBANS 1st XV 29

TWO well attended training sessions last week for the Old Penarthians were not enough to overcome St Albans in their latest SWALEC-sponsored WRU Division 5SE league fixture.

The squad had been well prepared, but the good work on the training field could not be transferred to match day and the tactics that seemed coherent earlier in the week were lost when it came to the reality of the match.

The final score was probably a reflection of the contest but it does not relate to the territorial advantage that Old Penarthians had in the second half. Match statistics are not available but the general impression was that possession was in favour of the Old Pens but there were few occasions when the advantages looked like being converted into points.

The result may have been different if an opportunity created by some excellent work by Alex Holder after four minutes could have been converted into a try by winger Richie Moir who inexplicably dropped the ball when under no pressure. A similar situation in the second half saw Elliot Clarke catch the ball with the line in sight and then drop it.

Captain Joel deClaire tried to rally the team throughout the game and everyone tried to match the performance of the skipper who had one of his best games of the season. But it was to no avail and too many mistakes overturned the otherwise competitive nature of the match. Missed tackles, incorrect defensive alignments and handing possession to the opposition when in attacking positions, were all errors that led to tries which, with more control, could have been avoided.

The first try on nine minutes was, however, not an error but a well worked try from St Albans No 8 Dave Whitman, who took a good attacking line through his centres to score under the posts. Dan Sadler and James Furnish added tries, all of which were converted by Michael Thomas, with only a Jonathan Crimp penalty to show for Old Penarthians' efforts. These endeavours were led up front by Simon Barry and Dale Norris, with Danny Godfrey and Damon Flynn providing line out support. The threequarter opportunities were limited, but debutant Rhys Lakin looked both impressive and exhausted which reflected his abilities and lack of game time that saw him substituted at half time.

A Thomas penalty made the half time score 24-3. The second half started well when forwards and backs combined well and Moir scored a try by the touchline that could not be converted. It was a time to consolidate, but, almost immediately, Paul Holden scored for the Buns, which proved to be the last score of the game.

Despite a couple of charges from Tom Sidford, two aggressive attacking runs from centre Dean Dacruz and a sleight of hand from deClaire, the St Albans defence stood strong and, with the lapses of concentration, the game was lost.

Next weekend brings another break in the schedule to accommodate the Wales v Australia match and it will not be until December 7 that the first team will see home action against New Panteg.