Penarth 32-28 Llanishen
Brilliant sunshine and a stiff breeze down the cricket side should have produced an unseasonable game of running rugby, but both sides struggled to maintain any sort of consistency.
Handling errors (and therefore scrums) were the dominant feature of the afternoon. That’s not to say there weren’t the occasional outbreaks of brilliance from both sides, as demonstrated by nine tries scored.
The first half was a comedy of errors as both sides expended a lot of honest effort for little reward. The Lions struck first, as their back division went through a lengthy build-up into the home 22 before their hooker made a successful dash for the line [0-7].
More knock-ons (and, therefore, scrums) brought neither side any reward for the next 20 minutes, before the visitors delivered a dropped pass on their own 22 which Rhys Beynon pounced on before strolling to the posts [7-7].
Five minutes later, the Seasiders even went into the lead for the first time as they capitalised on a 5-metre scrum under the posts and Ben Jones scored in the corner [12-7]. Llanishen came back strongly to secure a half-time lead as a surge down the right touchline put their full-back in at the corner [12-14].
Llanishen were obviously starting to feel the pressure, even though 25 minutes remained and elected to take the points with their next penalty award, only to see the kick slide across the posts. The next penalty fell to Penarth, inside their own half, but with the wind at his back, Rhys Mottram made no mistake from more than 50 metres to regain the lead [22-21].
This seemed to enliven the previously lethargic Seasiders, who began to dominate the visitors in the tight. Ben Jones broke free on halfway and sprinted away with Spencer Robinson in support. As they approached the 22, Robinson accepted the inside pass and left the cover for dead to score in the corner [27-21].
For a while, it looked as if Penarth were now going to run away with things as a siege on the Lions’ line ended with an unstoppable Will Odgers drive from three metres. [32-21], but that would have been too easy. Instead Llanishen dominated the remaining 10 minutes. confident they could overhaul the 11-point deficit.
They managed the first seven points when relentless pressure on the home goal line brought their fourth try and two bonus points, but stout resistance from the Seasiders in the last three minutes deservedly kept their four-point lead intact.
Back to the Six Nations for the next two weekends and no more league rugby until March 21, when Penarth visit bottom club Rhydyfelin.
Penarth: Ben Jones, James Crothters, Andy Richards (Leon Andrews), Rhys Beynon, Ifan Sion, Rhys Mottram, Spencer Robinson, Sam Sully, Tom Griffiths, Alan Doyle (Ryan Jones), Dan Cahalane (Dom Owen), Will Odgers, Cam Sultana, Matt Allen, Ellis Smith.
Scorers: Rhys Beynon (try), Ben Jones (try), Tom Griffiths (try), Spencer Robinson (try) Rhys Mottram (2 conversions, 1 penalty)
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