JANUARY and February results have not been kind to Old Penarthians first XV although with one exception against Llantwit Major the performances against Old Illtydians and Canton showed character and determination despite all the matches ending in defeat.

The visit to Cowbridge was therefore to be seen as a measure of the team’s progress as they played the team just above them in Division 3 East Central (A).

The team were buoyed by the news that Cowbridge had been deducted four points for failing to fulfil a fixture earlier in the year and therefore the teams were separated by only three points

The game could not have started better for the Old Pens as active driving by the forwards led by Stuart Gunnarsson and Matthew Craft supported by Gary Bishop and Sam Hall saw the team encamped in the opposition half.

The backs were also gaining ground and Lloyd Davey and Mark Sadler nearly broke the defensive line.

The first score was however to come after 15 minutes from a penalty from Jonathan Crimp when he was tackled off the ball when another promising Penarthians attack from James Merriman was halted.

The kick off from Cowbridge did not go the requisite 10 metres and from the ensuing scrum on half way Clancey broke to the blind side and passed to Craig Haines. He handed on to Davey who passed to Simon Davies who scored in the corner.

Cowbridge entered the Penarthians twenty two for the first time after 22 minutes and were awarded a penalty for offside which was successfully converted.

Almost immediately Cowbridge attacked again and another penalty was conceded and converted via a bounce of the ball off the crossbar.

Then came a golden opportunity for Old Penarthians after a Cowbridge scrum was won against the head by Gareth Boulton and James Williams thought he had scored, only for the referee to say that the ball was not grounded.

The ensuing scrum from five metres again saw the pack’s dominance but with the shove going forward and the ball at Joel deClaire’s feet for some reason the ball was released to the threequarters and the chance was squandered.

Then just before the end of the half Old Penarthians lost their composure as first Merriman was yellow carded for handling in a ruck but was subsequently sent off for something he said.

Two minutes later Boulton was also sin binned for 10 minutes.

At half time with Old Penarthians leading by eight points to six the team regrouped and Dave Hoskins was introduced for the injured Gunnarsson.

The coaches Matthew and Taylor urged their team on and they responded magnificently carrying the game to the opposition.

Opportunities were almost created for Davies and deClaire but they were not quite successful.

The forwards through Jack Margetson and Craft again drove into the opposition but the depleted threequarter line could not quite manufacture a break through.

Unfortunately the stubborn resistance was broken after 72 minutes with the award of a penalty to Cowbridge for an offside offence and the successful kick saw the home team lead for the first time by 9 – 8.

Old Penarthians heads could have dropped but they stuck to the task and after pushing the Cowbridge team off their scrum on the five metre line confidence was restored and territory was regained in the Cowbridge half.

The last three minutes were all played in the Cowbridge 22 with forwards Margetson and Mitch Penberthy and backs Crimp and Sadler in particular making ground but ultimately there was disappointment at the final whistle as the team came up short by one point

The team did however pick up a losing bonus point and there is much to take heart from for the remainder of the season

Next Saturday the first XV play at home to St Albans with a kick off at 2.30pm prior to the France v Wales match which kicks off at 5pm.