Penarth 24 Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd 18

AFTER last Saturday’s instructive reverse over at the Common, the Seasiders battled back against the Cymry Cymraeg of the capital and regained their second place in the division behind runaway leaders Porth Harlequins.

It was a classic game of two halves, as Clwb took wind advantage and Penarth took a few minutes to fully get to grips with the game. So much so that they spent most of the first 40 minutes pinned in their own half.

Scrum half Rhys Evans opened the scoring for the visitors after only nine minutes, converted by centre Charlie Elton. Outside half Oliver Jenkins, who had caused Penarth much grief in the last season’s two games was having an off-day with the boot.

To be fair to both sides, the breeze was preventing anyone exerting too much control and a penalty converted by Elton was the only further score in the half, leaving the teams to turn around with the visitors leading 10-0.

The second half was only three minutes old when the Seasiders, now with the wind at their backs, surged back into the game.

Follow up a kick ahead, Ben Donovan scored an unconverted try in the corner. Within minutes Elliott Smith had brought the teams level with another unconverted try, but Elton pushed Clwb’s noses back in front with a second penalty.

However, Penarth had the bit clamped firmly between their teeth and a James Thatcher try, converted by James Docherty, gave them a four-point lead at 17-13.

At this point the aforementioned Jenkins made a dramatic entry into the proceedings, where he’d previously made little impact. Impact there was, decided the referee and he was off with a red card for apparently throwing a punch. This effectively ended the Clwb challenge and although they were to secure a losing bonus point with a late unconverted try by openside Sam Rogers, it was Alex Thau who scored the Seasiders’ fourth try which netted them an unexpected bonus point.

This leaves them just ahead of improving St Peters, who beat Dowlais on the weekend, while Dinas Powys dropped to fifth after losing 18-29 at Gwernyfed, the Talgarth club’s first win of the season.

Which leaves us with next Saturday’s match at the Welfare Ground, which pits second against first in Division 2 East Central. Porth Harlequins are surging ahead with a 100 per cent record, having seen off previously undefeated Llantrisant 29-19 last Saturday.

It’s still not entirely clear what this Penarth team is capable of, but with four wins out of five at the beginning of this season (and not forgetting a sparkling end to 2014-15), their challenge certainly can’t be discounted. Note the early kick-off because of Australia v Wales in the Rugby World Cup.

Penarth: Rhys Morgan, Ben Donovan, James Thatcher, Tom Luck, James Crothers, Nathan Smith, (James Docherty), Chris Mortimer (Tom Hillman), Richard Merrett, Joe Page, Owain James, Richard Howell, Lloyd Huxton, Scot Mackie (Owain George), Elliott Smith and Alex Thau.

Scorers: Donovan, E Smith, Thatcher, Thau (tries) and Docherty two conversions

Swalec League Division 2 East Central

Saturday, October 10

Porth Harlequins v Penarth

The Welfare Ground, Nythbran Terrace

Kick-off 1.30pm

Swalec League Division 2 (East Central)

Saturday, October 3

P W D L F A Pts

1 Porth Harlequins 5 5 0 0 144 87 22

2 PENARTH 5 4 0 1 99 75 18

3 St Peters 5 3 1 1 154 125 18

4 Abercynon 5 3 0 2 148 117 16

5 Dinas Powys 5 2 2 1 126 102 14

6 Dowlais 5 2 0 3 130 88 13

7 Llantrisant 4 2 1 1 120 102 12

8 Barry 5 2 0 3 96 132 10

9 CRC Caerdydd 5 1 0 4 117 134 8

10 Gwernyfed 5 1 0 4 84 107 6

11 Pontyclun 4 1 0 3 62 105 4

12 Treherbert 5 1 0 5 61 168 4