2011 Tournament

 

There is a new name on the Old Penarthians trophy following the 62nd staging of the Club’s annual seven-a-side tournament at Cwrt-y-vil on Saturday last.  In a final that involved two sides neither of whom had previously reached this stage of the competition, Cardiff-based Kratos Titans proved to be too strong for opponents Whitchurch H.S.O.B., ultimately racing clear in the second half of a match that gave them victory by 52 points to 17.

On an afternoon that had been largely cloudy and marred by a surprisingly cold breeze, a nevertheless healthy crowd had earlier witnessed an excellent session of sevens rugby before the two most impressive sides reached the final tie.  Once there, the early stages were nip and tuck with Elliot Frewen’s conversion of his own try for the Titans just nosing his side ahead of the unconverted touchdown secured by Gareth Williams of Whitchurch.  The speed of Curtis Cunningham gained the score that edged Kratos further ahead but the half ended with a brace of tries in quick succession, Dave Gilbert touching down for Whitchurch and Darren Richie matching that with one for Kratos that kept the side clear by 17 points to 10 at the break

It was, however, a different story after the break for a brace of touchdowns, one apiece for Frewen and Richie plus conversions from Frewin himself and Fred Wilson, came soon after the restart and appeared to knock the stuffing out of the opposition as the effects of a tough semi-final tie took their toll.  Further scores came from Tom James, Curtis Cunningham, and Darren Richie with conversions from James (2) and Lloyd Stapleton hoisting the tally beyond the half century mark.

To their credit, Whitchurch continued to battle and, indeed, managed the last word when wing Chris Roberts burst away on the solo run that took him over for his sixth try of the afternoon, the former Old Pens and Penarth player adding a routine conversion to complete the action of the afternoon.

Stepping down at the end of the 12th event in the 11 years of his reign as Tournament Organiser, Alan Vaughan was in receipt of appreciative applause as he was introduced to the crowd before then undertaking the duties of prize presentation.  Fijian visitors Tiger Rugby were popular recipients of the Plate trophy but it was a disappointment that their beaten opponents, Cardiff Baby Blues, did not put in a presentation appearance.  Whitchurch and Kratos then received their rewards with the respective Captains collecting, in addition, cheques in the sum of £250 and £500.  The final award as Player of the Tournament went to Kratos wing Elliot Frewen whose consistent scoring throughout the afternoon included all four tries that had secured his colleagues a hard-fought semi-final victory over Cardiff and District O.B..

The afternoon got of to a stuttering start when Old Cantonians, together with Old Penarthians, the only ever present competitors at the event, were let down at the last moment and arrived with only three players in their squad.  Fortunately, following a loudspeaker appeal, extra players were recruited on the ground but the scratch side was put to the sword by Fiji’s Covenant Brothers who cruised home by 45 points to nil.  That proved to be the final contribution of the afternoon from Cantonians for a couple of injuries meant that their depleted squad was reduced even further, forcing withdrawal with Meibion Plasmawr receiving a bye into the semi-final of the Plate competition.

Tigers Rugby, last minute replacements for unavailable Old Illtydians, provided Fiji’s second representatives but they succumbed to first round defeat at the hands of the Voyagers by 19 points to 12 before going on to victory against Old Breconians and Meibion Plasmawr O.B. in the Plate competition and then creating one of the surprises of the afternoon by taking that trophy after achieving 21 points to 19 victory over much fancied Cardiff baby Blues.

Impressive first round successes came from Cardiff and District O.B. with a 24 point whitewash of Old Breconians, Llandovery College O.B.’s 42 points to 5 demolition of newcomers Corsham R.F.C. from Wiltshire, and Whitchurch achieving the highest score of the round in their 52 points to nil defeat of Tregaron O.B. with Chris Roberts contributing a hat-trick of tries that he also converted.

Encouragement for home fans came from the useful display that saw Old Penarthians account for Llanrumney H.S.O.B. by 24 points to 14.  An opportunist try from Alun Harries was followed by a brace of first half touchdowns from speedster Ben Donovan with conversions from Harries that put the side 19 points clear at the break.  Alex Thau’s second half score increased that margin but Llanrumney were allowed back into the game, adding a couple of late converted tries to make the 24-12 scoreline the more respectable.

Defending Champions Ysgol Glantaf O.B., seeking a third successive title and the fourth in five years, were, however, given a very hard test in their tie with Cardiff baby Blues.  A brace of tries from Will Jones plus conversions from Rhys Patchell saw the Blues shade the first half as Glantaf could manage just tries from Ryan Owen and Alister McDonald and a solitary conversion from Sion Hopkins in the 12 points to 10 scoreline.  However, second half tries from McDonald and Tom Daley were converted by Sion Hopkins whilst Jamie Ringer’s touchdown was the only response from the opposition until the very last move of the game.  Then, it was Will Jones again who achieved the touchdown whilst Lewis Williams suffered a heart stopping moment when his conversion hit the upright before bouncing over.  Extra time followed with Jack Hopkins gaining the score that saw the Champions into the next round.

Not that things got any easier for Glantaf in the second round.  A very efficient Llandovery side, with tries from Rob Jones and Rich Read plus a conversion from Read, cruised into a 10 point lead before a Ryan Owen try converted by Andrew Carlson reflected Glantaf interest only for Gareth Stoppani’s try to take the tie into a 17-7 scoreline at the break.  The second half honours did, however, belong to the Holders but the tries from Luke Probert and Tom Daley were not converted so that the side was forced into a second helping of extra time before Daley’s second score settled the issue.

The anticipated challenge from Covenant Brothers did not materialise as Kratos, with Curtis Cunningham and Elliot Frewin each contributing a brace of tries, cruised home by 38 points to 5.  Cardiff and District safely disposed of Voyagers by 22 points to 7 and Whitchurch proved too strong for Old Penarthians.  The host club again did well in the first half with a fine try from the determined Alex Thau converted by Alun Harries keeping the side in 7-14 contention at the break.  Sadly, Whitchurch ran riot after the break with tries from Chris Roberts (2), Rhys Truelove, and Garin Pearce before Ben Donovan’s excellent corner try proved no more than consolation at the end.

Both semi-finals were tense affairs with Kratos trailing Cardiff and District by 19 points to 14 before two late Frewin touchdowns edged them clear at 24-19 and into their first final.  Tom Daley’s try put Ysgol Glantaf ahead in their tie.  However, once Garin Pearce and Dave Gilbert had scored for Whitchurch, the holders were only able to secure an unconverted score from Alister McDonald before Gareth Williams scored and Josh Jones converted to herald the appearance of a second new name in the final.

Main event results.  Round 1:  Old Cantonians 0, Covenant Brothers 45; Kratos Titans 22, Meibion Plasmawr 10; Cardiff & District O.B., 24, Old Breconians 0; Tigers Rugby 12, Voyagers 19; Ysgol Glantaf O.B. 31, Cardiff Baby Blues 26 (AET); Corsham R.F.C. 5, Llandovery College O.B.  42; Llanrumney H.S.O.B. 14, Old Penarthians 24;  Whitchurch H.S.O.B. 52, Tregaron O.B. 0.  Round 2:  Covenant Brothers 5, Kratos Titans 38; Cardiff & District O.B. 22, Voyagers 7; Ysgol Glantaf O.B. 22, Llandovery College O.B. 17 (AET);  Old Penarthians 12, Whitchurch H.S.O.B. 40. Semi Finals.  Kratos Titans 24, Cardiff & District O.B. 19;  Ysgol Glantaf O.B., Whitchurch H.S.O.B. 19.  Final. Kratos Titans 52, Whitchurch H.S.O.B. 17.

Plate round 1: Old Cantonians scr, Meibion Plasmawr w.o.; Old Breconians 0, Tigers Rugby 33; Cardiff Baby Blues 38, Corsham R.F.C., 0; Llanrumney H.S.O.B. 19, Tregaron O.B. 24.  Semi Finals. Meibion Plasmawr 7, Tigers Rugby 12; Cardiff Baby Blues 52, Tregaron O.B. 7.  Final.  Tigers Rugby 21, Cardiff Baby Blues 19.

 

Elliot Frewen (Kratos Titans) Player of the Tournament with Mr Alan Vaughan

Kratos Titans - Tournament Winners 2011

Tigers Rugby - Plate Winners 2011