With the first sight of Sunshine of year 2009 to date Penallta welcome Llanharan down to Ystrad Fawr for the eagerly awaiting division 1 clash on Saturday.

 

After the demolishing of “The Nalgo”, Penallta’s old fortress palace of a clubhouse back in February 2008, the club was unfortunate not to have a solid base nor meeting establishment of their own for the rest of that season and the first half of this season, but thanks to Pontllanfraith RFC, The Butchers in Maesycwmmer and The Junction in Hengoed they allowed Penallta to use their facilities to give the visiting side a warm welcome for after match function on a temporary basis until the new clubhouse was built. For this Match V Llanharan it was apparent and significant that the wait was now over and we, for the 1^st time this year, have our own home and a Brand New Clubhouse situated in Ystrad Mynach.

 

With Cancelled home games V Bargoed in the Mid District Cup and the the disruption of the Six Nations Internationals Llanharan would become the first ever visitors to Penallta’s New Home.

 

Llanharan, who are also known as “The Dairymen” who were unfortunate to have lost their previous 2 games to Bargoed and UWIC and came to Penallta with a must win attitude. Penallta on the other hand facing themselves at the other end of the table with big losses to Merthyr and weeks without no rugby due to weather Penallta we’re glad to have a game of rugby and had no options but to win as Newport Saracens are right behind the “Pitmen’s” tail and Beddau within reaching distance it was becoming increasingly tight to achieve the winning battle of gaining the right to stay in Division 1 for season 2009/10. With Beddau not playing on Saturday, Penallta had a great chance of leap frogging them and also Newport Saracens travelling to 2^nd Place Newbridge, Penallta were confident that for the first time since September they wouldn’t be sitting in the relegation zone. But how wrong this would be!!!

 

Llanharan with the much bigger presence were always going to be on top of the Pitmen’s pack and this showed right from the off with the visitors dominating the scrums but Penallta never gave in and gave the Visitors a right game. With indiscipline from Penallta their Full Back Ross Pearce added the first points of the day which after 15 mins was then reversed to Penallta’s favour with opposite Number Karl Rees slotting for the 3 points for the Pitmen 7 mins later. Llanharan to their credit we’re playing some excellent running rugby which which saw their impressive Winger Lee Thorne crossing after excepting a pass from his scrum half Craig Burton to run in his 9^th try of the campaign. Penallta were awarded another penalty which Karl Rees was successful in slotting. With the Pressure of the Big 8 of Llanharan their second try was in no doubt due which came with a run from Wing Lee Thorne who with slick handling handed Back Row man Aled Llewellyn the touch down and conversion was successful by Full Back Pearce. Penallta to their credit never took a backwards step and kept within the game 2 Karl Rees Penalties. The latter of the kicks came on the stroke of Half Time as Referee Gareth Saunders Sin Binned Dairyman James Harris for an infringement. But to their Credit it was Llanharan who took the advantage of having 14 men on the field by succeeding another penalty Ross Pearce for his second penalty of the afternoon leaving half time score Penallta 12 Llanharan 15.

 

 With the youthful half backs of Hywel Walsh and Joe Merriman making their second start together and new signing Gavin Furgusson making his first debut with the late withdrawl of Steven davies at centre and to their credit all 3 we’re having  excellent games but it was the outside half Joe Merriman who was the provider to the ever brilliant Geraint Thomas with a cross field kick which Llanharan couldn’t capitalise on to send him over the try line for his 3^rd try of the season and with Karl Rees’ conversion gave the home side a 19-18 lead and with another Karl Rees Penalty we we’re in preparation mode of a brilliant and significant home win. But to their credit to Dennis John’s men they never gave up hope, It was second row Lee Davies who was galloping for the winning try after some good footwork from Winger Elliott Frewen with the conversion also successful from Full Back Ross Pearce. Penallta kept on pressing with some good rugby it was unlucky for Geraint Tomas now to score his second try after some good teamwork but was stopped just short of the line. But it was Llanharan who had the last laugh with their 3rd and final penalty of the day with Ross Pearce converting again making the game 28 to 22 in Llanharan’s favour.

 

Coaches Alan Lucas, Richard Scrivens and Matthew Tucker were graceful in defeat with Player/Coach Tucker commenting “It was a much improved spirited performance from everyone today, and we are disappointed that we did not come away with the win but there are lots of positives that we can take away and prepare for Blackwood next Saturday. We are now in a position where we need to target each game as it comes and come away with as many points as possible.”

 

To rub salt in the wounds to Penallta, Newport Saracens and Ysrad Rhondda came away with the most unpredicted results of the day with Newport winning in Newbridge and Ystrad Rhondda Humiliating Bargoed up Bargoed Park. With these results Penallta now sit at the bottom of the league but have 2 games in hand over Newport Saracens who are 1 point in front. Penallta have the most difficult task of the season by entertaining Blackwood at Ystrad Fawr next Saturday after the cancelled game back on Sept 6^th.

 

Report by Sion Phenis