Seasiders end season in ninth place (From Penarth Times)

Seasiders end season in ninth place

8:57am Thursday 8th May 2008

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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.

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