PENARTH 13 PENTYRCH 15

PENARTH have now completed 15 league games this season without recording a single win, but the systemic problems which have plagued them throughout were wholly absent in a match they should have won at a canter.

For the first time in living memory, the Seasiders were fielding a team that looked something like a First XV. No-one was out of position and with a very tidy-looking pack, there was every expectation they could give lowly Pentyrch something to think about.

That this didn't happen in a scrappy first half had everything to do with a steady breeze at Pentyrch's backs which made hard-won field position difficult to cling on to.

Penarth's useful-looking pack with Richard Ball and James Beaton returning to the second row was nevertheless a touch on the light side, but held their own in the set piece without getting on top of the visitors.

What they did contribute was a fierce determination not to yield an inch and the inclusion of Spencer Brady on the openside flank was paying huge dividends. In the end, the only score of the half was a solitary Pentyrch penalty conceded on 18 minutes and they were clearly disappointed to have to turn around to face the second-half wind with such a slender lead.

They had good reason to worry, as the Seasiders ripped into them from the off, led on most occasions by tight-head Tom Gent, who was winning every collision and charging at the defence like a number eight. Very much like Alex Thau who, in what looks like his natural position at number eight, was making inroads every time he got the ball.

After James Docherty had levelled the scores 4 minutes into the half, the Penarth pack were finally beginning to get the upper hand and a massive break by Thau from a scrum was taken on by Docherty and the forwards went through nine phases in the Pentyrch 22, while the visitors conceded a string of penalties before they settled for the points and a 6-3 lead.

The Seasiders were straight back in Pentyrch's faces from the restart as Docherty made 50 metres with a touch-finder. They stole possession from the line-out and then more huge pressure as Thau broke again. One more ruck and replacement Matt Sutton was over. An excellent conversion from Docherty from wide out meant Penarth were 13-3 in the lead, two scores ahead with 20 minutes to go and coasting.

So many of the Seasiders' games this season have turned on the hour mark and this was no exception. Having shown few weaknesses for the first 60 minutes, the forwards had to adjust to the loss of a limping Tom Gent.

Losing his controlled aggression and straight running was a blow they might have handled, but what happened next was catastrophic and a match they were winning comfortably was distressingly conceded.

A pack which had first contained and then moved on to dominate the opposing eight suddenly began to ship water at an alarming rate. The rest of the game belonged to Pentyrch.

Two tries from openside Rhys Thomas and full-back Morgan Williams gave them the 12 points they needed to overhaul a total the Seasiders never looked like adding to.

Penarth have two free Saturdays now to work out where they go from here before a visit to Rhiwbina on February 11.

PENARTH: James Thatcher, Ben Donovan, Gareth Sullivan, James Candy, James Crothers, James Docherty, Chris Mortimer (Gareth Clancy), Sean O'Sullivan, Joe Page (Simon Barry) Tom Gent (Josh Edwards), Richard Ball, James Beaton, Scott Mackie, Alex Thau, Spencer Brady (Matt Sutton).