Quiet weekend as Old Penarthians prepare for tour! (From Penarth Times)

Quiet weekend as Old Penarthians prepare for tour!

7:40am Thursday 18th March 2010

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IT WAS a weekend of inactivity for Old Penarthians with the domestic schedule suspended in favour of the penultimate round of matches in the 6 Nations tournament.

Whilst a number of club members made the journey across the Irish Sea en route to Croke Park, the vast majority were ensconced in the St Mark's Road Clubhouse, where they were unable to believe their eyes at the way in which the national side capitulated, albeit in the face of a workmanlike performance from their Irish hosts.

This Saturday, of course, sees the final matches in the international confrontation for this season and the majority of clubs will again be sidelined.

Penarthians, however, have decided to buck the trend and Chairman Mel Jones is taking charge of the 25-strong party that departs on Friday for the luxury surroundings of Bredbury Hall in Stockport.

It is hoped that a weekend of rest and relaxation will serve to bond the players and prepare them for the final onslaught to the season that begins a week later with the visit to Cwrt-y-Vil of the much improved Penygraig outfit.

Fixtures against Deri (home) and St Albans (away) have yet to be slotted in to the programme but the side can look forward to the early April trip to Cowbridge before they host Dinas Powys in a local derby clash that is eagerly awaited. The month finishes with a trip to Cefn Coed but Scott McCarthy and his men then face the daunting prospect of away and home matches against promotion-seeking Senghenydd before they can seek the solace of the summer recess.

This weekend’s trip encompasses a mixture of players from all levels within the club, and Chairman Mel has taken the edge off the enjoyment by insisting that a fixture is played!

In fact, the side will take the field on Saturday morning at nearby Glossop where it is hoped that the resources of the Derbyshire Club’s 3rd XV will not provide too testing a task for the tourists.

Situated at the edge of the Peak District, Buxton RUFC has an interesting history, and local records show that it was in existence and playing regular fixtures in the season 1889/90, only to disappear completely and for reasons unknown some 5 years later.

The present club was resurrected in 1969 and has since made steady progress to the extent that, having achieved Rugby Union Membership in 1971, it has become possible to field three senior sides together with a Ladies team and a thriving minis and juniors section.

Erected without planning permission in 1971, their original timber clubhouse fell foul of the local authority and had to be demolished, allegedly being disposed of in the "best Guy Fawkes bonfire ever seen in the area!" A second building did meet with planning regulations but that, too, has since been replaced by the magnificent facilities that were built in 2005.

Clearly indicative of the fact that friendly relations with the local authority had been restored, is the fact that completion of the present structure was finally only possible as the result of an excellent grant from the High Peak Borough Council, and the generous sponsorship of Manchester based accountancy firm, Ford Campbell.

The new clubhouse will, in fact, be the venue for Penarthians to view the Wales v Italy game once their own exertions have been completed.

Chairman Mel, however, has promised to keep a wary eye on his charges throughout the afternoon especially as the clubhouse is the only one experienced in the history of the Old Boys that is licensed for the performance of wedding ceremonies. Could that be the reason for the unexpected purchase of a new suit for the trip by one of the younger members?..

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