Penarth Sport

Seasiders scrap to stay ahead - with crunch match coming up

7:50am Thursday 18th March 2010

HEOL-Y-CYW 23 PENARTH 23

FOLLOWING last week's poor showing, Penarth were looking to bounce back, away, against the league’s in-form team Heol-y-Cyw.

But no sooner had this game begun, than a vicious and relentless brawl broke out involving almost all of the 30 players on the pitch.

This culminated in Geraint ‘Trev’ Blake being left unconscious on the ground.

Reports later confirmed that he had suffered a broken cheekbone and a broken nose. All at the club send their best wishes to him and hope he makes a speedy recovery.

To the surprise of the on-looking supporters, the referee decided there was no case to answer and settled for a quick chat with both captains.

This ruckus had differing effects on the teams – Penarth being clearly rattled and having to cope with the loss of one of their most consistent, stand-out performers; whilst Heol-y-Cyw were obviously buoyed by events.

The home team went on to quickly grab a 10-point lead from a well taken try and a subsequent penalty.

At that stage it looked as though the league leaders were unable to put up any answer, especially to the enterprising and elusive Heol-y-Cyw back three.

But respond they did, with a superbly crafted try.

Forwards and backs combined to take play into the home side’s 22, where the forwards created quick ball 15 metres out.

When Liam Bevan took the ball at pace, spotting a chink of light, his usual bullocking style was traded in for a moment as he dummied, stepped and sped his way through the gap for a touchdown under the posts. James Docherty converted.

Unfortunately, the forwards’ thoughts still seemed to be elsewhere and a fumble at the kick off gave their opponents valuable territory again.

While they tried valiantly to turn over possession, they remained camped in their own half for some time.

A Heol-y-Cyw kick to the corner was well marshalled by Chris Roberts who cleared well, but yet again it was the ensuing chase that let Penarth down, and the hosts’ lively fullback and left wing yet again created confusion, and it was the winger himself that finished the move.

Penarth did pull back a penalty before half time and went in at the break 17-10 down.

Considering the brutal start to the game, there were signs that Penarth had pulled themselves back together and their scrum was taking the home pack backwards almost at a jogging pace.

The home back line were clearly showing their concern about Liam Bevan’s attacking power, as they repeatedly sent three men in to make a tackle on him.

Surely this alone would mean space for the speedsters who had as yet gone unnoticed, and so it would prove.

From the kick-off Penarth set about dominating the second period, attacking the scrum and lineout and producing quick ball for their back line who were looking more and more dangerous all the time.

Chris Roberts came into the game more, firstly with a stunning 40 yard solo run which took Penarth deep into Heol-y-Cyw territory, then finishing off a sustained period of pressure with a change of pace and enough power to ride a couple of tackles on his way over the whitewash.

Leading 17-15, Heol-y-Cyw briefly struck back with a penalty but the upper hand was still with the Seasiders as the pack took their turn, rumbling their sizeable mass up the pitch and eventually gaining a 5 metre lineout.

Surely only one outcome? But it wasn’t to be, as first the lineout went astray, then their drives were repelled by the aggressive Heol-y-Cyw unit.

This tactic had, however, sucked in plenty of defenders and with Bevan attracting the remaining defenders, the ball was sent behind his back where Steve and Chris Roberts used their skills to put James Crothers in for the try, to bring the scores level at 20-20.

Constant pressure around the home 22 ensued, although Penarth looked to be their own worst enemies as they kicked attacking ball away on four separate occasions.

Eventually the time seemed right for a winning score, and after the pack secured good ball from a lineout, James Docherty made amends for his earlier wastefulness to strike with the sweetest of drop goals from fully 40 metres.

Two minutes to play. Surely that was the four points secured?

For the first time in the game, Penarth secured the kick off effectively and looked as though they could comfortably see out the remaining two minutes just by keeping hold of the ball.

It was not to be though. A comedy of errors, with one pass flying over Docherty’s head before having to be recovered, and kicks not being made to touch, gave Heol-y-Cyw one last say in the result.

They fielded the loose kick on half way and drove play up to Penarth’s 10 metre line. At the ruck the referee declared an infringement by a Penarth player and awarded the penalty to the home side.

Home fly half Mike Huckridge struck the ball beautifully and the game was drawn.

The two points keeps The Seasiders at the top of the table, though Tylorstown are now chasing hardest with their bonus point win over Treherbert on Friday night.

Sure enough, the next fixture is away against Tylorstown, on Friday, March 19, kick-off 7.15pm.

PENARTH: Chris Roberts, Chris Poole, Steve Roberts, Liam Bevan, James Crothers, James Docherty, Gareth Clancy, Richard Merrett, Gary Power, David Morgan, James Roach, Darroll Hawden, Marc Devine, Elliott Smith, Geraint Blake.

FIXTURE

Swalec League Division 3 (SE) – Friday, March 19, Tylorstown v PENARTH, Penrhys Park, Tylorstown. Kick-off 7.15pm.

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