LATEST OLD PENS NEWS
Posted 12 December 2011
Old Pens awarded Denzil Lloyd Memorial Shield by Welsh Rugby Union.
Last Saturday Old Penarthians 1st XV did not have a scheduled fixture and the second XV opponents, Clwb Rygbi Caerdydd, could not raise a team at the last moment because of players attending the international match between Wales and Australia being played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. It obviously meant that the crowd was swelled by some of the sixty-odd players reported to be training with Clwb Rygbi but it will leave fixture secretary, Jon Vaughan, with his first head ache of the season in trying to rearrange the fixture.
The absence of a game did however make it slightly easier for the Club’s President and Honorary Secretary to forsake their match day duties to accept their invitations from the President of the Welsh Rugby Union, Dennis Gethin, to attend the pre and post match functions in his suite at the Millennium Stadium.
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The usual Saturday arrangements were therefore put aside in favour of a taxi ride into Cardiff at the somewhat early hour of 11.15am, over three hours ahead of the scheduled kick off time. In fact Secretary, Tony Crimp considered it was the first time for a long time that he would be arriving at the ground before the anthems were sung, let alone dressed in a suit and carrying a camera. But so armed and attired, he and Roy Churchill were ushered into the Presidential Suite in the company of the Chairman of the Welsh Exiles Association, Martyn Ryan. Martyn, who lives and works in London, has strong connections with Old Penarthians having been a second row for the first team whilst still at school, before leaving to become a student at Southampton University, but is now a non-executive member of the WRU sitting on their Game Policy Committee.
During the arrival of the guests Roy was able to catch up on old times with former Wales scrum half and captain and former WRU President Clive Rowlands, reliving their days of National Service together in Cornwall. Meanwhile Tony was speaking with former Glamorgan cricketer, Mike Powell , about his new challenge of playing for Kent CCC next season. Mike has recently enjoyed a successful benefit year which ended in a ‘white collar’ boxing match with former Welsh rugby international prop, Peter Rogers. Mike thought that a draw was a fair result but he considered that he had retained his ‘good looks’ whilst Rogers was sporting a ‘nice shiner’ after the contest.
The luncheon for approximately 230 people commenced with an introductory speech from Mr Gethin who welcomed representatives from the Welsh media, for their support during the World Cup, team sponsors and Brian Cresswell, a back row forward from the Newport heydays of the 1960s who played for Wales in an all Newport backrow with Glyn Davidge and Geoff Whitson.
Mr Gethin then welcomed the representatives from Old Penarthians to join him at the podium for the presentation of the Denzil Lloyd Memorial Shield for the most hospitable club in Wales as voted for by the referees who adjudicate at matches throughout the country. The award was presented to Roy and Tony by Tony Rowlands and Andrew Miles, the President and Chairman respectively of the WRU Society of Referees. Mr Rowlands has been a referee for many years and can now be heard more often than he is seen as the voice behind ‘You may award the try’ in his role as the fourth match official at televised matches.
In a typically humorous response, Roy paid credit to the role of the referees and to the honour that had been bestowed on the club. The award is in fact a reflection on the hospitality shown by all members of the club to visitors and is something that everyone associated with the club can be justifiably proud.
The presentation party then retook their seats at the table to enjoy a meal hosted by WRU Board Member, Humphrey Evans and former referee and friend of Old Penarthians, Tony Lloyd. Following the meal the second most important event of the day took place on the Stadium pitch where Australia defeated Wales by 24 points to 18 in a game that unfortunately did not match the intensity of the Wales performances at the World Cup. It did however provide a fitting finale to the career of Shane Williams who with the last play of the game scored his 58th international try. This leaves him third in the all-time international try scoring list and the most prolific Welsh try scorer. His celebratory summersault will undoubtedly be copied by many children aspiring to take his place over the next few years.
After the match Roy and Tony rejoined the function room and over the next couple of hours the players from both Wales and Australia enjoyed the hospitality provided before Dennis Gethin again took to the microphone to present a first cap to Alex Cuthbert and a commemorative presentation to Shane to celebrate his illustrious career. Both awards were treated with standing ovations led by the Wales players who genuinely acknowledged the achievements of a young man starting his career as an older man leaves his behind.
For the Old Penarthians representatives present it was a fitting conclusion to a great day for them personally but also a tribute to the fact that awards to individuals are also a celebration of the hard work and dedication that many others contribute to any success.
Posted 26 August 2011
Injury to Club Captain.
Due to the enforced long term absence of Club Captain James Evans due to injury, it has become necessary to appoint a 1st XV captain. We would like to confirm that Mark Sadler has accepted the appointment. Many congratulations to him.
The Committee and members of OPRFC would like to send their best wishes to "Jippy" for his forthcoming knee reconstruction and wish him a speedy recovery.
Posted 8 August 2011
Pre-season Friendly - Thursday 25th August 2011 v Cardiff Saracens - KO 7pm
Posted 5 August 2011
Pre-season Friendly - Saturday 13 August 2011 v Barry Sea View (Home) KO 12 Noon
(Wales V England KO 2.30pm). Players to meet at 11.00am at the Clubhouse
All players, new and old are invited to attend and all will play some part in the game.
In preparation for this, our first pre-season friendly, please make every effort to attend training next Tuesday & Thursday - 7.00pm.
Other friendlies are planned as part of our preparation for the start of the season which begins V newly promoted Clwb Rygbi Caerdydd on 3 September when both 1st & 2nd XVs will be at home against the same opposition. Only eight training sessions to go!
Posted 28 June 2011
Rugby Meeting 25 June 2011 - BY THE COACH
Thank you to those persons who attended the informal gathering (and free BBQ) last Saturday. I hope it provided an insight into our ambitions for the new season.
However, to make it happen we need the players to buy into the plan, which means commitment and a good pre-season of preparation. It’s no good turning up mid-August!!
The ‘Touch’ rugby sessions continue on Thursday evenings (7.00pm) with pre-season training commencing Tuesday 19 July. (Please note that training will take place every Tuesday and Thursday this season.) We intend to schedule pre-season friendlies on Saturdays 13th & 20th August (including a team building away game overnighter) with another over the August bank holiday weekend.
The new coaching team is looking forward to getting on with its work, so if you want to know more, please come along to the ‘Touch’ rugby sessions and we’ll tell you.
All players, both new and old are very welcome.
Posted 21 June 2011
NEWS FROM THE COACH -RUGBY BASH - SATURDAY 25 JUNE
There will be an excuse not to go shopping on Saturday! We are having a touch rugby session for an hour starting at 2.30pm followed by a free BBQ and a Players' Meeting. With so much planning going on for the new season we thought it would be an opportunity to let everyone know what's going on, how things are shaping up and hear of any thoughts that the players or anyone else has. Everybody is welcome - please make every effort to attend!
Posted 5 June 2011
Club Dinner 27 May 2011 - Report and Photographs
Please click HERE to view the report and photographs of the club dinner.
Posted 30 May 2011
Baa Baas training at Penarth
The Barbarians Rugby squad will be training at Penarth Athletic Club (Penarth Rugby Club ground) this Tuesday, 31st May 10:45am.
The full squad will be there as part of their preparation for the game against Wales next Saturday.
It will be a great event for any children who can watch the training then pick up autograph’s, photos etc. Please mention to your friends.
Posted 24 May 2011
Club Dinner This Friday - 27 May 2011
Don't forget the club dinner this Friday with guest speaker Mr Mervyn Davies. Only a few tickets are left. Please contact Mel Jones or Rob Crimp as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Posted 24 May 2011
East District Cup Semi-final Photographs
Photographs from this game can be viewed from our match photos link on the menu bar to the left of this text.
Additional photographs can be viewed at
http://www.fidopics.co.uk/rugbyphotos/rhiwbinavoldpenscupsemifinalmay2011/index.html
Posted 11 May 2011
East District Cup Semi-final
The east District Committee have confirmed the date and time of the East District Cup semi-final against Rhiwbina:
East District 1st XV Cup Semi Final
Rhiwbina v Old Penarthians
Tuesday 17th May at Rumney RFC. Kick off 19:15
Rhymney RFC are based at Riverside Park, Hartland Rd, Llanrumney, Cardiff, CF3 4JL.
Please spread the news and try and get a big crowd out at Rumney to cheer on the team.
Posted 10 May 2011
Annual Club Dinner
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Club members are reminded that tickets are on sale for the Club’s annual Dinner and Presentation evening. This event is scheduled for the 27th of May and is again being held in the top lounge at the Cardiff Athletic Club. The Guest Speaker will be the former London Welsh, Barbarians, Wales, and British Lions number 8 forward Mervyn Davies and tickets, already now in short supply, can be obtained by contacting Mel Jones or Robert Crimp via the Club
Posted 2 May 2011
East District Cup Semi-final - By the Coach
Whilst the date of this fixture V Rhiwbina has still to be confirmed, the most likely date appears to be Tuesday 17 May 2011 at a neutral venue which also remains unconfirmed. We shall let you know the details as soon as the Union lets the Club know.
With that in mind, the training session arrangements in preparation for the game are as follows:
Thursday 5 May
Thursday 12 May &
Monday 16 May
In the meantime and in between these sessions, it will be an individual responsibility to ensure that a good level of fitness is maintained.
Please ensure that you let Tony Purnell know if you are unavailable for any of the sessions or the semi-final itself.
Posted 25 April 2011
Easter Training Arrangements
There will be just the one training session this week, as agreed - Thursday 28 April - please make every effort to attend!
Posted 25 April 2011
Easter Weekend Games - By The Coach
The 1st XV had another bonus point win against the Old Illtydians (again) in what was really a disappointing performance. They started with only 13 players and it disrupted us, as daft as that seems. They raised their game and we went completely off the script that we put together. I don't know if the warm sunshine was to blame, but the team seemed to want to play Baa Baas style; throwing the ball around from everywhere. But with a small pitch there were surprisingly few gaps to exploit until late on when they tired.
Once we played the phases we were ok. It didn't help that soon after the start Tom Draper made a couple of mistakes and his head dropped and that had a major impact on our performance and Gareth Jones at scrum half struggled as a result too. It didn't help that the outside half was standing so far away from him.
Anyway, the try scorers were Tim Ursell again - from all of 50 metres!, Rhodri Smith, Adan (who came on as sub and was very good) and Dave Mason who caught another try scoring pass - incredible. After giving away his customary 3/4 pens in the first 20 minutes, he went on to put in a MVP performance. Scott McCarty kicked a conversion and 2 penalties and Tom Draper had 3 conversions.
A big bonus for me was the attitude at the end of the game. As much as some of the players clearly have the summer in mind already, they were quite disappointed at the end because we realised we didn't play as well as we can and did on Wednesday. However, if this time last week I was offered 10 points after the 2 fixtures I think I would have been happy!
Scott went off injured and is one of a number of players who will be struggling for next week. Captain James Evans came off early on and Scott McCarthy was also forced off with an injury but we are hoping that Stuart Clarke and Alun Harris will be available for Wattstown next Saturday.
With the number of players we know are already out and depending on the casualty news, I'm afraid it may have an effect on the 2nds.
The 2nds lost 26-15 on Friday against a lovely bunch of chaps from just outside Brighton. We had 19 players turn up for us but could probably have done with 29 given the heat.
Posted 14 April 2011
Home game v Old Illtydians RFC 1st XV 20th April 2011 KO 6pm
Rearranged first team fixture has been confirmed with Old Illtydians. Match to be played at Cwrt-y-Vil on 20th April 2011 KO 6pm.
Posted 12 April 2011
MVP & Top Tackler V Cilfynydd 09/04/11 by The Coach
The Man of the Match was Mark Sadler and Top Tackler was Adan Cole (9), closely followed by Alun Haines (8).
Well done to them but all-in-all a very unsatisfactory and disappointing afternoon.
Posted 4 April 2011
MVP & Top Tackler V Wattstown 02/04/11 - By The Coach
The Player of the Match award went to Jonathan Crimp and was well deserved on a day when few players enhanced their reputation. Statistics to determine the Top Tackler are not currently available, but on a day when so many tackles were missed by so many different players, it seems almost irrelevant.
A very disappointing performance and if the season is not to end on a low note an immediate response is required from everyone. Next Saturday's league encounter at Cilfynydd now takes on great significance and nothing less than a 'W' will do.
Posted 1 April 2011
East District Cup Semi-Final
It has now been confirmed that our opponents in the cup semi-final will be Rhiwbina. The date (and neutral venue) is still to be confirmed.
Posted 27 March 2011
MVP & Top Tackler V Penygraig 26/03/11
The Man of the Match award went to Stuart Gunnarsson in his fairwell appearance for the team before his work takes him to an overseas posting.
Top Tackler was Mark Sadler, whilst the side was led very well by Paul Langley
In what turned out to be a very "mixed bag" of a day - the side scored some excellent tries and played some great stuff at times, the superiority of Penygraig shone through. We talked about how the game could turn on simple mistakes and the need to be precise as the hosts were good enough to punish us and they didn't disappoint, scoring some excellent counter attacking tries. They are not top of the table and unbeaten for nothing, but conceded more points than any previous league game
There were more positives than negatives, and no-one could fault the enthusiasm and commitment of the players who will hopefully learn the invaluable lessons in the defeat that will do the team good in the long run. .
Posted 24 March 2011
Many thanks to all players (and supporters) for turning up for the 'friendly' CIACs game last Saturday at the Marl that saw the Pens achieve a 41-5 victory.
The coaching and management had stressed the importance of the run-out all week as vital preparation for important league games this Saturday. The 1st XV travel to play at top of the table and unbeaten Penygraig, whilst the 2nd XV face Barry IIs who top that League.
A total of 27 players responded to the appeal and all featured during the afternoon with some excellent performances that are sure to make the Selection Committee's job something of a challenge. The commitment and enthusiasm was a credit to the Club.
Tries were scored by Alun Harris, Rob Benson, Joel de Claire, Gareth Jones, Lloyd Davey, Richie Moir & Craig Buckland. Scott McCarthy helped himself to 2 Conversions and Rhodri Smith added another.