Roberts hat-trick sends Seasiders second (From Penarth Times)

Roberts hat-trick sends Seasiders second

10:18am Thursday 27th September 2007

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PENARTH 39

HEOL Y CYW 10

THE SEARCH goes on for serious opposition as the Seasiders continue to make excellent progress in Division Three (SE). An efficient 6-try bonus point win over their lacklustre visitors from Heol y Cyw puts them safely into second place after three games.

Early Penarth pressure brought a converted penalty from James Docherty, but 20 minutes had passed before they were able to demonstrate their superiority with a Gary Power try from a ruck.

A fine break from Liam Bevan brought play up to the visitors' 22, but the supporting Rob Pearce was injured in being tackled and the move broke down.

However, the Seasiders soon conjured a second try from nowhere as Jason Allen put Rhys Lakin into acres of space and two dummies took the young centre over with the defence in full attendance.

With their noses firmly in front, Penarth allowed themselves to relax and a well-beaten Heol-y-Cyw suddenly found themselves very much back in the game.

First a towering garryowen from outside half G Howe bounced awkwardly in the Seasiders' 22 and lock M Davies followed up smartly to score, and on the stroke of half time Howe converted a penalty from 30 metres to allow his team to turn round only 10-17 in arrears.

The first 40 minutes had hardly been anything to write home about, but Penarth began to turn things around within minutes of the restart.

A booming touch-finder from Rhys Lakin took play into the visitors' half and replacement flanker Andy Hillbourne claimed the ball from the line-out. The Seasiders' pack then took charge, mauling fully 30 metres for a Rhys Blake try.

With the score on 24-10, Penarth brought on some replacements in search of a bonus point and the arrival of Chris Mortimer immediately sparked things into life.

David Jenkins contributed an impressive two-minute cameo featuring a 40 metre charge and a knee injury, but the stage was set for full-back Steve Roberts to put the result beyond doubt.

Bizarrely, the final quarter was played out by the Seasiders with seven in the pack after Paul Gooding's withdrawal and the visitors simply couldn't make any impact.

A Gary Power drive soon took play deep into Heol y Cyw territory and Mortimer spun the ball wide where Roberts was waiting to plunge over in the corner.

Better was to come only three minutes later as Barry Esterhuizen took the ball up to the Penarth 10 metre and Roberts entered the line leaving the midfield for dead and backing his own pace to take him past the mesmerised full-back for a stunning solo score.

With the depleted home pack still happily taking the opposition to the cleaners, Mortimer kept the pressure on with a long chip ahead and as it bounced awkwardly for the Heol y Cyw defenders, Roberts was on hand to complete a nine-minute hat-trick.

League action is now suspended until October 13 and next week Vale of Neath side Cwmgwrach of Division 5 (South Central) are the visitors to the Athletic Field for a Konica Minolta Cup Preliminary Round tie. The kick-off is scheduled early at 1.30pm to allow for Wales v Fiji in Nantes at 4pm.

Penarth: Roberts, Thorne, Bevan, Lakin, Crothers, Docherty (Jenkins, G Blake), Edwards (Mortimer), Merrett, R Blake, Power, Allen, Gooding, Cosslett, Esterhuizen, Pearce (Hillbourne)

FIXTURE

Penarth are home to Cwmgwrach in the Konica-Minolta Cup, Preliminary Round at The Athletic Field, Lavernock Road, on Saturday, September 29, kick-off 1.30pm.

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