WITH the arrival of Canton at the Athletic Field on Saturday, the second half of the 2019-20 season should have been getting under way.

However, with three postponed matches outstanding and no game since the away win at Cardiff Quins nearly a month ago, Penarth must be raring to go.

That last game raised the Seasiders to the dizzy heights of third in the table, but at the apparent cost of having played more games than anyone else. Whatever else has happened in the intervening weeks, they still find themselves as high as a comfortable fourth and only eight points away from the second promotion place!

Canton remain in first place, fully 13 points ahead of Penarth, having lost only one of their eight games, a close-run 31-30 home defeat against Penygraig.

On the opening day of the season back in September, the Seasiders faced the same opponents, newly promoted from Division 3 East Central B and they learned some lessons. Firstly, that if you don’t get your defence organised against sizeable, fast, confident opposition, they can take the game away from you very quickly. It took Canton 15 minutes to score three tries and the game was over as a contest.

The point of interest here was that Penarth ‘won’ the remaining 65 minutes, 22-19, scoring three tries. Although Canton fully merit their position at the top of the table, they’re surely not unbeatable. The score plenty of tries, but also concede far more than you’d imagine.

Meanwhile, we have to consider the strong position the club finds itself in as regards playing resources. The Athletic XV is now firmly established and successful. This means that not only do all members of the first team squad get regular match practice, but it benefits players at both ends of the age range equally, as well as the club as a whole.

It’s worth noting a recently-announced change in the fixture list. The scheduled visit to Pentyrch on 28th December has now been brought forward, with the agreement of both clubs, to Saturday 21st December and will now be the last league fixture of the year.

Division 3 East Central A

Saturday 14th December 2019

PENARTH v Canton

The Athletic Field, Lavernock Road

Kick-off 2.30 pm