What a start! (From Penarth Times)

What a start!

10:24am Thursday 6th September 2007

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PENARTH 20 TYLORSTOWN 11 IT'S TOO early to tell whether the limited repertoire of visitors Tylorstown gives any clue to the playing standard of the third division, but a fresh-looking Seasiders bursting with talent look well up to the mark.

Physically, it was a stern examination, as a brutal Tylorstown rarely looked as if they'd come south to play much rugby, but Penarth had plenty of the finer points of the game to demonstrate and strolled out easy winners, on points and morally.

That's not to say it was an error-free performance and there's plenty for coaches Moro Smith and Mark Isherwood to work on during the week, but Seasiders have already improved on last season's promotion squad.

There were assured debuts from blindside flanker Barry Esterhuizen and the latest product of the Lakin rugby dynasty, Rhys. Outside half Jack Davies had a more difficult time of it, but will have been more disappointed with his debut than the supporters, who recognise potential when they see it.

The first ten minutes all belonged to the home side with Esterhuizen and Lloyd Davey both going close, but after 15 minutes of the visitors niggling and spoiling a brief spate of handbags yielded them a penalty.

A quick thrust upfield and into the Seasiders' half and outside half Julian Pike was helping himself to a thoroughly undeserved 3-0 lead with a 30m penalty.

Penarth were still way ahead on the run of play and the Tylorstown excursion into their half a bizarre aberration, but it was the hosts' own errors at critical moments that were costing them dear.

No mistake on the half-hour, though, as the pack drove fiercely through a madly infringing Tylorstown rearguard for a comeback try by returning Athletic Field favourite James Cosslet.

Minutes later, the visitors paid their second foray over the halfway line and were similarly rewarded with a penalty, again converted, this time from 40m by Pike. With the Seasiders still promising the earth and playing all the rugby, the unlovely visitors turned around leading 6-5.

Penarth started the second half in something of a dream, but replacement wing Matthew O'Neill soon injected some pace down the right flank. At about the same time, Flint referee Ieuan Williams finally rumbled the visitors' game plan and number 5 was on his way to the bin.

Davey was once again hauled down short of the line as they upped the pace and the break-though wasn't long in coming. Jack Davies put Andrew Edwards into a gap and the centre slipped the ball out of the tackle to O'Neill, who forced his way over under the posts.

At 12-6 in front, the Seasiders had no time to relax and this point was forced home as some lax tackling allowed the Tylorstown left wing to get away down the flank and only a superb chase back by Chris Mortimer stopped him scoring. However, his inside centre was up in support and completed the touch-down.

James Docherty replaced Jack Davies with 20 minutes left and the score a precarious 12-11 in Penarth's favour. The Tylorstown tight-head was next to see the colour of the ref's cards and this time it was red for a blatant punch on Paul Gooding, Docherty converting the penalty.

The Seasiders' attacks were coming in waves by now and an extreme case of offside at the ruck saw the visitors hooked joining his front-row colleague on the sidelines and uncontested scrums. From the resulting penalty, the pack saw Peter Bennett in for the final try of the afternoon and a comfortable 20-11 score.

Without getting carried away, it's fair to say that the 2007-8 crop of Seasiders are already looking like a very classy outfit. It's far too soon to be certain, but there's a lot to be very pleased about in the way they refused to be intimidated by the likes of Tylorstown.

From a nominal third position, they visit Fairwater next Saturday, who lost 7-26 away at promoted Bedlinog. A second outing in Division Three (SE) will give us all a much better idea of where we stand.

PENARTH: Roberts, Crothers (O'Neill), Lakin, Edwards, Davey, Davies, Mortimer, Merrett, Bennett (R.Blake), Morgan, Ball (Aylward), Gooding, Esterhuizen, Allen, Cosslet.

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