Plate dreams over for Old Pens

7:30am Thursday 20th November 2008

Old Penarthians 17

Cardiff University 29

OLD Penarthians made an inauspicious start to the inaugural SWALEC plate competition on Saturday last.

Drawn at home to Cardiff University, the Old Boys found the students too hot to handle and, once again, paid the penalty for a poor performance behind the scrum as they succumbed to a 17 points to 29 defeat, the margin reflecting a four tries to three tally in favour of the visitors.

The inevitable injuries and unavailabilities produced the usual headaches for the selectors, prompting no fewer than four changes in the back division and including senior debuts for Chris Poole and Dan Read, whilst Rhys Jenkins came back on the wing and Tim Naylor reverted to his favourite position in the centre.

In the pack, Tony Kemp returned at prop with James Evans on the bench whilst Taz Rosoman and Ollie McGivern started as changes from the side that lost to Penygraig two weeks ago.

Having opted out of the league system in favour of the midweek competition provided by the British Universities Sporting Association tournaments, the visitors were something of an unknown quantity to their hosts.

Indeed, the sides had not met since the 1991/92 season when Lindsay Jones¹s side enjoyed a comfortable home and away double victory. One familiar face, however, was outside half Cody Rees, recently a regular member of the Old Illtydians sevens side and son of former Wales B international Paul "Pablo"

Rees.

Playing towards the Clubhouse end of the ground, Penarthians had first use of a surprisingly lively breeze, but were taken aback somewhat by the spirited opening that saw their opponents clearly intent on moving the ball at every opportunity.

Indeed, it appeared that the home line was under real threat until Tim Naylor pounced on a loose ball and hacked downfield. Danny Godfrey and Rhys Jenkins joined in the chase and the panic in the Students' ranks saw a couple of clear obstructions before Naylor himself was palpably pulled backwards in the very act of falling on the ball in the corner.

Referee Mark Condon showed no hesitation and, indeed, had little option other than to award the penalty try that was converted by Chris Poole to give the Old Boys an unexpected lead.

No sooner had the dust settled than the University were taking charge at the other end and a home scrummage ended in complete disarray to concede the penalty that enabled outside half Rees to land the goal that narrowed the earlier deficit.

The same player was in action again soon after when he carved through the midfield from halfway only to waste that good work by ignoring the supporting cast.

Instead, it was the hosts who were next to score. Simon Davies broke clear with an excellent break to set up the offensive that was, once more, completely against the run of play. Inevitably, it was the predatory Tim Naylor at his elbow and the centre raced clear of the cover for a fine try at the posts. Sadly, Chris Poole failed with the conversion.

Making matters worse was the inability of the home side to consolidate their lead. Barely four minutes after their own score, the Old Boys failed to close ranks in midfield, allowing centre Harry Davies to display a clean pair of heels as he raced on an angle to the corner for an excellent unconverted try. Student tails were now well and truly up and outside half Rees finally edged his side into a deserved lead when he sidestepped his way through a shell-shocked defence to touch down at the posts before comfortably adding the conversion.

Even then there was time for a further attack and Rhys Jenkins did ever so well to get back and execute a marvellous cover tackle as the University full back seemed certain to cross at the corner.

The second half could not have begun in less favourable manner. Penarthians set up an excellent forward drive on the right before releasing the ball.

Commendably, Chris Poole looked to bring his fellow backs into action but he succeeded only in executing a perfect impersonation of a Wales outside half, as he essayed the pass that was comfortably intercepted by centre Nathan Flye, who strolled to the line for the try ­ converted by Cody Rees.

Now 10 points adrift, the hosts opted for change up front with Stuart Gunnarsson coming on for Ollie McGivern and James Evans taking over from Tony Kemp.

Whilst this had the effect of introducing some of the forward aggression previously lacking, it did not prevent the opposition from adding to their tally after 24 minutes. This time it was a loose clearance from the 25 that conceded possession to the Students, with their replacement scrum half gratefully seizing the ball to race through for yet another try converted by the accurate Cody Rees.

The match was now clearly lost but the final changes that saw Gareth Jones come on for Simon Davies and Mike Starling take over from Taz Rosoman appeared to instil further life into the home effort, and a fine run from Mark Smart saw Rhys Jenkins over the line only for Referee Condon to determine that a knock on had been evidenced.

Yet Penarthians were not to be denied that final word. A scrum on the left saw Gareth Jones and Chris Poole combine cleverly before putting Dan Read in possession, and the newcomer did ever so well to show his opposite number the inside before powering away on the outside for his touchdown in the corner to make the final score 17 points to 29.

This was another of the lack-lustre performances that is featuring in a bad run for the Old Boys and it is clear that hard work is needed on the training ground before the league programme resumes at the beginning of December.

Up front, only Mark Smart and Adrian Penny showed the early aggression that was needed to curb an enthusiastic University pack, although the introduction of Stuart Gunnarsson and James Evans partially addressed that deficit later. Behind the scrum, a distinct lack of experience meant that best use of the dangerous Tim Naylor was rarely made, even though Simon Davies again worked hard at the base of the scrum.

Equally disappointing was the fact that a scratch second side travelled to Pentyrch for their league fixture only to find the hosts in rampant mood and full value for the 36 points to nil thrashing that they handed out to their visitors. Making matters worse was the fact that any advantage the Old Boys might have had was negated when Pentyrch opted for passive scrums although, in fairness, the 19-0 score line at that stage suggested that the contest might already have been lost!

Certainly, the lack of continuity in player availability is costing the side dear although there were whole-hearted performances up front from Gareth Boulton and Ian Buckley, with Tom Rogers and Nathan Eykes also catching the eye.

It was good to see Mark Sadler and Huw Williams back after injury inactivity whilst Tim Cheney and Dave Owen were others to do well behind.