PENARTH Under-15s travelled to the land of the Osprey to face Bryncethin in a late arranged fixture after Abertillery pulled out.

Having met last season Penarth knew that the home-side would be looking to avenge their previous defeat at Penarth.

Declan was missing on French touring duty so coaches Dai and Ceri took the reins.

On a flat, wide pitch both teams looked to release their backline whenever possible. Penarth were back to a fairly settled team with a couple of absentees through injury.

Penarth were first to profit from a quick ruck ball by Niall, Tom G and Tomo to give Gruff a platform to release Joe who went blind and gave a long miss pass to Josh on the wing.

Josh handed off and shimmied past three defenders to score out wide, 0 - 5 to Penarth.

Bryncethin hit back with a try of their own 10 minutes later as their forwards gained territory in the Penarth half and their outside half dummied and jinked past two Penarth backs to dive in to score, 5 - 5.

Penarth controlled the match well for the rest of the half with a combination of forward drives and well executed backline running.

From one such move Joe chipped ahead and was tackled late. The referee sensibly played advantage and Morgan gathered the loose ball and scampered in from 10 metres out as Joe lay flat out from the challenge, 5 - 10.

Bryncethin had chances to score from a number of scrums near the Penarth try-line but the defence stood firm to keep them out, especially a herculean effort by Morgan timing his dive from the wing to get underneath the Bryncethin player as he drove over the try-line.

The second half was a similar affair with Penarth having the advantage of the wind, especially from any penalty where they pegged Bryncethin back towards their own try-line.

Bryncethin managed to regain possession deep in their half and their bulky centre ran hard from his own 22. He went past all would-be tacklers on an arcing run who all went too high on the strong runner with Luc having two bites at him, only to see him dive in unopposed.

After a five metre lineout by Geraint who bulldozed through a few defenders and a couple of quick rucks by Alex, Hugh and Niall, Josh was released again with space to hand off and dive in at the corner, Joe converted well from wide out to lead 10 - 17.

There was still time for more drama after both teams made a number of changes, and Penarth sent Ben E, Alex O and Dan A into action, all acquitting themselves well making telling tackles and adding to the forward power.

With just one minute to play Bryncethin used the bulk of their forwards to pound at the Penarth line.

Penarth kept them out three or four times with great defence but Bryncethin managed to find a gap and their prop drove through to score.

A successful conversion would draw the match, but it was not to be as their outside half saw the kick drift wide in the wind.

Penarth held out for a narrow victory by 15 - 17 and stretched their unbeaten run tag to 10.

This was a superb competitive match with great attitude and commitment shown by both teams.

Thanks to Bryncethin for their welcome and the way the match was controlled and refereed.

"Dame-of-the-Game" went to Jack Vowles for his ferocious tackling and strong running in the centre who showed his singing skills after the match as the team celebrated together.

Squad: Geraint, Tom G, Niall, Alex S, Tom J, Tomo, Haaris, Hugh, Alex O, Dan A, Gruff, Joe, Jack, Henry, Josh, Morgan and Luc.