Penarth Under-16s start season well against Dinas Powys

Playing at the new pitch at Bryn y Don both teams were keen to impress in their first outing of the season. Penarth had the benefit of having a full squad available whereas Dinas were missing a few players due to injury and so a few Penarth volunteers stepped into the breach to play against their teammates.

Both teams started well, tackling ferociously, led by Hugh Leech and Joe Williams but lacking in handling skills at times with many mistakes and missed chances.

The Dinas pack was huge and tried to shove Penarth off the ball at every opportunity. Penarth came close when Joe was held up over the line and from the resulting scrum Ben Evans almost squeezed in at the corner only to be smashed into next week by Hugh again.

The Dinas team took some wearing down after a number of attempts with Penarth recycling the ball well at rucks. Ben Jones pinched the ball in the tackle and fed Tom Jones who showed power and strength to barge over from 15 metres near the posts, Ben converted, 0-7.

One more score was managed before half-time with a well planned backs move by Ben, Jack and Joe to release Morgan, who ran at pace to score, again Ben converted. The score was 0-14 at half-time.

A few changes of clientele in the backs and forwards saw a Penarth team take full control in the second half with a glut of tries being scored by many different players with great angles of running and secure play at scrum and lineout.

Josh was first to benefit from some slick handling to find himself in space out wide and used his speed to beat the defence to the whitewash and score out wide, Ben converted superbly from the touchline.

Joe, playing on the wing, showed good interplay between himself and Morgan after a run by Josh to score out wide again with Ben converting well from out wide, 0-28.

Morgan scored from a well planned back move from the scrum as Ellis fed Gruff and Joe came in from the blindside wing to make the extra man.

Morgan showed superb pace to round any defenders and score near the posts, Ben converted again. Penarth mangled two more tries before the final whistle, one from Joe after a cheeky chip, chase and pounce and one from Luc at full back after stepping and turning defenders inside out at pace to score under the posts, Ben converted to make the final score 0-47.

A plucky performance by Dinas, who kept at their task for the whole match, combined with a controlling effort by Penarth making this a great first fixture for both teams. A number of players put themselves on the line for the dame-of-the-game award, voted by coach Ceri, Morgan, Ben Jones, Ellis all played tremendously but was awarded to Hugh Leech for his superb all round performance for the opposition and negating some of the Penarth attacks far too often.

Thanks to all players, coaches, supporters involved today as well as the match referee.

Next week they travel to Pentyrch for a likely noon kick off and then to watch the Wales v Uruguay group game. Whoever is awarded dame of the game is obviously buying the first round for the team.

Congratulations must also go to the five Penarth players that were chosen in the Blues South training squad, Geraint Williams, Ellis Reed, Joe Williams, Ben Jones and Josh Lewis. Both Joe and Ben recently progressed to the match squad and have played against Wasps, Blues North and the Scarlets. Good luck in the other matches this season.

Squad - Gerant, Tom G, Niall, Alex S Daniel, Tom J Tomo, Ellis, Hugh, Joe, Ben J, Jack, Morgan, Josh, Ben Evans 1, Haaris, Lyle, Alex O, Ben Evans 2, Gruff and Luc.