Lessons to be learned

There are many reasons why Newport Saracens returned to the top of Division 5 (East) this week for the first time since early November. Some were good and others less savoury, but there is much to learn from this match for the Seasiders if they are to mount a convincing promotion challenge this season.

One reason that has nothing to do with Penarth's approach to the game was Llanishen's defeat at Pill Harriers, their first in eight games. Unfortunately this makes it look rather as if the top three are starting to break away, with a six-point gap having opened up between the Seasiders and 3rd-placed Pill.

Saracens looked the sharper in the early skirmishes, but the game soon settled down into a pattern that seemed encouraging for Penarth, but was ultimately to prove disastrous. The Seasiders' line-out settled quickly to the unaccustomed absence of Darroll Howden, with Paul Gooding striking up a perfect "you throw 'em, I'll catch 'em" understanding with hooker Mark Wysocki.

This led naturally to some text-book mauling which drove through the heart of the Saracens' defence. The visitors were under siege for several minutes, as Penarth seemed certain to score, but when the break-out came, they drove straight up the field for number 8 Leighton Steer to score under the posts.

What looked like a flash in the pan was, of course, nothing of the sort. This was the Saracens' first half game plan in one series of moves: soak up the Penarth pressure and then hit them on the break.

The 'soaking up the pressure bit' was a combination of skilful defence and studied illegality, with a steadily climbing penalty count in the hosts' favour and hooker Carl Bourne spending 10 minutes in the bin for a try-saving shirt-pull off the ball.

The second try came on the half-hour just as the Seasiders were beginning to look as if they were coming to grips with things. Dave Jenkins put a grubber through the Saracens' defensive line on the visitors' 22 and was taken out right under the ref's nose. Ignoring this blatant and again try-saving obstruction was just the encouragement that Newport needed as they broke into the Penarth half of the field for the second time. Replacement Peter Holstrom ran across the posts and then drove through two tackles to put his side 14-3 up.

Despite having claimed practically all the territory and possession for 30 minutes, the Seasiders found themselves two scores down, but not exactly discouraged. They responded with the move of the game and one of the best tries seen at Penarth for some time.

Mark Jones picked up a loose ball near the half-way line and accelerated on a diagonal towards the left touch-line. Delaying the pass to commit two defenders, he gave Dave Jones enough space to make a further 15 metres before sending a inch-perfect looping pass inside for Danny Brookman in acres of space to cross for the try.

And the lesson to be learned? Saracens scored straight from the restart as Peter Holstrom was again instrumental in sending blindside flanker Matthew Becks through a gap to the posts.

The teams embarked on their half-time chats with the visitors reflecting on a job well, if cynically, done. They'd ventured into the Seasiders' half three times and bagged a try for each visit. Penarth had spent most of the half camped out in the visitors' 22 and had one glorious try out of broken play to show for it.

The fact that there was no score in the second half tells you all you need to know about it. The Saracens purely and simply shut up shop and waited for the Seasiders to get frustrated and make mistakes.

There were certainly errors a-plenty, but any side could have been forgiven for losing patience with the visitors' consistent efforts to disrupt the flow of the game. In an endless procession of minor 'injuries', no stoppage was complete without a Saracens player needing lengthy attention.

The single point of interest in this tedious display of lead-protecting was when the referee abruptly and inexplicably red-carded second-row Gerrard Nolan in a scrum towards the end.

The Seasiders continue their Div 5 (East) challenge in the Western Valley next Saturday when they visit ninth-placed Brynithel. The early season encounter at the Athletic Field saw Penarth rattle up their second-biggest win of the season, scoring six tries in a 43-11 win.

Penarth: Brookman, Patnett, Hobbs (Miller), M Jones, D Jones, Jenkins, Lewis (Edwards), Muggeridge, Wysocki, Swaine (Seymour), Gooding, Crothers, Gent (Howden), Clare, Carter.