Match Report

It was never going to be easy. Matches against top of the league teams rarely are. Nevertheless, hopes were high that Old Penarthians could continue the excellent form already shown in the SWALEC Bowl competition when they travelled to Senghenydd for their third round match on Saturday last.

A dramatic change in the weather had seen the departure of the monsoon conditions of recent times, brilliant weather replacing the gloomy clouds, whilst the surface, though soft, had also had some time to dry out. Problems for the Old Boys had manifested themselves earlier in the week when work commitments decreed that prop Tony Kemp was unavailable. That situation was made the worse on the day of the match when other individuals opted out to leave the selectors with unacceptable headaches that necessitated positional changes as well as the frantic call to neighbours Dinas Powys that sportingly permitted Nick Vagges to fill the crucial spot in the front row.

Nevertheless, supporters were jubilant when, despite playing into the breeze, Skipper Scott McCarthy blasted a 40 yard penalty straight through the posts after barely a minute’s play. That lead was maintained without too much pressure for the first 15 minutes of play when a series of errors dramatically changed the situation and saw hopes of 4 th round progress disappear over the tops of the surrounding mountains.

Possession won by Stuart Clarke was clean enough but Gareth Jones’s pass, although accurate, went to ground and neither Scott McCarthy nor Tom Draper was able to secure, the ball being snapped up by Senghenydd’s marauding flankers. In an instant, the ball was moved to the left where a myriad of players joined in the attack before Robert Anderson crossed wide out for a fine try that was well converted by scrum half Alun Ford. Almost at once, a Penarthian attack came to nought yet, when James Evans’s pass went straight to an opponent, there seemed no real danger. Lock forward Robert Channon, however, had different ideas and he simply put back his head and galloped to the line unchallenged for a fine solo effort that was also well converted by Alun Ford.

As if these scores were not enough, the hosts applied immediate pressure from the restart and the visiting defence was found to be wanting, allowing scrum half Ford a clear run in from the 25 for a try that he inevitably converted to put his side 21-3 ahead. At this stage, Penarthians appeared to take on the look of headless chickens as the hosts controlled all aspects of play. Mercifully, there was temporary respite in the scoring spree but it was to last for just 11 minutes before the elusive Ford was at it again, creating the space that allowed flanker Kieran Hughes to charge over, the scrum half promptly adding his fourth successful conversion.

Good work from Danny Godfrey and Gareth Jones set up a rare but promising movement that was carried on by Scott McCarthy only for Richie Moir’s kick ahead to fly directly into touch. At the opposite end, the hosts turned the screw yet again and Tim Naylor, Tom Draper, and Alun Haines did well to keep the line intact with some fine defending. Senghenydd, however, were not to be denied and it was ironic that, following the best scrum that the Old Boys had contributed to date, the ball emerged on the Senghenydd blindside for John Griffiths to score. Ford added the conversion for the 40 points to 3 interval score line that effectively signalled the end of Penarthian hopes.

The hosts, too, clearly recognised that the job was done for the lively Ford was replaced at the break by Hywel Griffiths, Penarthians similarly making a change with the late arriving Paul Langley taking over from David Mason in the back row. Changes in personnel there might have been but the pattern initially remained the same with

Penarthians in total disarray at the very first scrum, allowing flanker Dewi Smith to cross wide out. That kick failed.

At last there was some semblance of true Penarthians form when Tim Naylor made an excellent break only for Richie Moir to see the ball fly out of his grasp. The visitors then suffered another blow when James Evans suffered a recurrence of a shoulder injury and had to be replaced by Steve Mohring midway through the half. At this stage, much of the flair had gone out of the home approach as they sat back although any hope that the Old Boys might have harboured that the storm was over were shattered in the final period. In the space of just 7 minutes, Kieran Hughes, Hywel Griffiths and Rhys Nicholas all crossed for converted tries to hoist the total to a massive 61 points that could even have been greater had the Referee not taken pity and blown 5 minutes before the end of normal time.

This was a demoralising display from a Penarthians side that showed little appetite for the contest. Making matters worse, Scott McCarthy and his men have to face up to the prospect of taking on the same opponents this weekend when Senghenydd visit Cwrt-y-vil for a league match. Clearly, there were few reputations enhanced on this occasion although Alun Haines and Paul Langley did their best to stem the tide up front whilst Danny Godfrey worked very hard in the unaccustomed back row berth and Nick Vagges earned full marks for the way in which he slotted in as emergency prop.

Behind the scrum, there were few opportunities for the backs to show attacking potential but both Tim Naylor and Mark Sadler tackled throughout with great determination. For all that this was a sub-standard Penarthian display, it has to be said that the all-round performance from the hosts reflected their position at the top of the league and marked them down as one of the best sides in the division.

There was disappointment, too, at home where the Seconds, also afflicted by the unexplained absence of too many players, were up against it in trying to raise a full side for their game with CIACs. In the event, official Referee Stuart Kibble volunteered his services as emergency scrum half with Match Assessor Glyn James donning kit to take charge of the whistle. It is not known what marks or advice Stuart was able to give to Glyn for his performance but it is rumoured that Mark Bow is in favour of his partner-for-the-afternoon to sticking to his normal day job in the future! Some people are never satisfied!

As to the match itself, the Old Boys were forced to play second fiddle throughout to a CIACs front five that was completely in charge of the set pieces. Sean Leach tackled his heart out in broken play and received fine support from number eight Matt Franklyn whilst James Williams was a dangerous runner behind.

Nevertheless, it has to be said that this was largely a backs to the wall afternoon for a Penarthian side that was as well beaten as is suggested by the 29 points to nil score line.