IT MAY have taken seven months of effort and 18 previous league and cup fixtures but on Saturday, April 4 Old Penarthians 1st XV won their first game of the season away to Caerau Ely in a WRU National League Division 3E (A) fixture.

After coming within two points of beating Taffs Well the week before, this was a deserved victory that says much for the spirit of the team that has endured some heavy defeats during the season but their belief has always remained strong.

The result was also achieved without captain Lloyd Davey, side-lined with a knee injury, and head coach Graham Matthew, leaving Joel deClaire and Curtis Taylor to take the credit on the day.

All four have however been instrumental in engendering a belief in the team and with a core of other players this win should give encouragement for the rest of the league programme.

The end result may not have been anticipated after the first 11 minutes when Caerau kicked two penalties following two offside offences by the defensive line. This was compounded by handling errors and poor decisions by Old Penarthians and the hardy spectators thought it was going to be another long afternoon on the touchline

This was all turned around when good line out ball was won by Jack Margetson from a Richie Dighton throw and the forwards combined in a maul to drive Caerau back by 30 metres.

From the penalty awarded for collapsing Penarthians kicked to the corner and from an exact same scenario the forwards drove over the try line for Dai Roberts to score, converted by Jonathan Crimp.

This brought the threequarters to life and from a penalty within their own 22 James Williams broke free and with some interplay with Mark Sadler and deClaire, full back Huw Morgan kicked ahead to put Caerau back near their try line.

Then came an almost carbon copy with Penarthians attacking from deep through Williams, Sadler and Morgan. Scott Hill was in support with Sidford and Sam Hall and after several forward incursions the ball was released from Gareth Clancey to Crimp who found prop Dale Norris in the centre who gave the perfect try scoring pass to winger Steve Thomas.

Penarthians now led 12 points to six going into the interval and the quality of the rugby was starting to bring a smile to the face of the club president, Roy Churchill.

The second half did not start so promisingly when an over-ambitious drop goal attempt by Steve Thomas from 45 metres fell short by 30 metres and was snatched upon by Caerau who managed to cross the try line but in the act of grounding the ball was adjudged to have knocked the ball on. This was a relief for Old Pens and in particular Thomas.

Then came the score that mattered when Craig Haines intercepted a Caerau attacking move on his own 22. He made ground but after 40 metres found he was treading water. He had the presence of mind to pass the ball overhead to Richie Moya, on as substitute for Williams. He took the ball into the opposition 22 where he passed inside to Norris. As Norris committed the last defender he returned the pass to Moya who scored for Crimp to convert and a 19 – 6 lead.

With 20 minutes remaining Caerau mounted sustained attacks and only good defending by the whole team but in particular Sadler, Crimp, Roberts and Sidford meant that the attacks were withheld.

On 74 minutes the Caerau pressure told and a converted try brought the score to 19 – 13. It was then all hands to the pump and with belief perhaps sapping away the referee’s whistle went for full-time signalling wide spread celebrations for the Old Penarthians players and a smile on the president’s face as bright as the sun that had come out to help warm the proceedings.

Next weekend the first team are at home to title chasers Barry RFC in a game scheduled to kick off at 2.30pm