Penarth RFC get winning form back with 18-12 victory

PENARTH RFC will be pretty pleased with their afternoon’s efforts. Despite some anxieties late on they never really looked like losing this one and at times played some excellent rugby.

It was, following some disappointing results, a must win game and an opportunity to clamber off the bottom of the table. So it came as a delight and a relief when the best possible of starts was recorded.

Scarcely had the sides taken up position after the silence to commemorate the war dead when Penarth fielded a clearance and full back Huw Elias banged it back up the park well into the opponents’ 22 metre area. The subsequent line out was secured to set up the maul leading to Mason Good finishing off the surge with a touch down. Tom Smith converted from wide out.

So within two minutes of kick-off Penarth went into the lead and were not to lose it.

Although Pontyclun have a big strong pack which they use aggressively the relatively young Penarth eight settled comfortably. So much as that Gareth Mathias at scrum half was able to distribute a steady stream of possession. This was supplemented by impressive ball winning at the lines out and breakdown.

Prominent in this was the versatile Chris Mortimer who distinguishes himself in a number of positions and today demonstrated his destructive tackling and ball winning skills at blind side wing forward. Throughout he cajoled and encouraged those around him and put in a personal contribution second to none.

On 20 minutes a great piece of front row rucking made ball available to captain and centre Tom Luck. He executed a silky side step at pace to make room outside and James Candy glided onto his perfectly timed pass to run in unopposed.

This gave them a 12 point lead which quickly became 15 as Tom Smith slotted a penalty conceded from a high tackle.

A moment later Pontyclun were awarded a penalty for the same offence. Strangely they opted to play for touch instead of taking the three points on offer. Penarth coped well against the line out drive, got turnover ball, Huw Elias once more belted the ball to safety and Pontyclun went back empty handed.

Penarth were looking dangerous again and the visiting centre got himself 10 minutes in the bin for the use of illegal tactics to defend. Penarth couldn’t turn this advantage into points and half-time arrived with no addition to the score.

On the restart the visitors turned the tables by replicating the home side’s start to the first half. Their opening long clearance was dropped, the resulting scrum driven and number eight Jack Theaker touched down. His namesake Nicky Theaker converted.

This galvanised the visitors who upped the intensity and physicality but Penarth held firm albeit helped at one point by the greasy playing surface over which attacking Pontyclun centre Huw Probyn was unable to keep his feet when looking through.

By this time play was breaking up and becoming a bit scrappy. In the midst of this back row man Matt Allen found himself with ball in space and produced a remarkable gallop downfield but without support the move fizzled out.

Jerome Bryan had worked his socks off and was given a deserved break by Richard Merrett. He was in time to be part of spectacular forward drive of 20 metres or so. This was followed by an equally devastating set piece drive and prop Pilkington foolishly reacted with a blatant spear tackle which earned him a red card. Smith converted the penalty.

Pontyclun didn’t give up and actually had the last say showing that they could move the ball wide to set up a score for left wing Sam Davies.

There it remained a tense few minutes as Penarth defended their six point advantage. But in truth this had been a well deserved victory in which every man had played a part.

Penarth: Huw Elias; Tom Smith; Tom Luck (C); Dylan Hansen; James Candy; Adam Lewis; Gareth Mathias; Jerome Bryan (Richard Merrett); Mason Good; Owen Thomas; Matt Allen; Eliot Smith; Chris Mortimer.