After last week's excellent League win over Abertridwr, Penallta Athletic travelled to Beddau hoping to maintain their 100% league record and keep up the pressure on league leaders Caerphilly.  For the third week running, injuries, work commitments and unavailability for a number of other reasons saw the Coaches making a number of changes to the team.  If that was not enough,  the team bus took a wrong turn in Beddau and ended up with its wheels sunk up to the arches in mud and unable to deliver two thirds of the side to the field of play. When they finally did arrive it was to find that there were no changing facilities or showers available on site, and after changing in the car park it was straight onto the field and an immediate kick off with no warm up or game preparation time.

 

It was obviously not the best build up to a game and perhaps the writing was on the wall even before the match had started. Beddau came out all guns blazing, their powerful pack driving well and their outside half pinning Penallta back with some very good tactical kicking.  Penallta seemed affected by the pre-match events and were caught cold after only five minutes when the Beddau inside centre broke several weak Penallta tackles to crash over near  the posts. This try was converted and Beddau lead 7 - 0.

 

Alun Radcliffe and new boy Ben Harding started in the second row, Dan Barwood played at scrum half for the second week running, youth team player Bleddyn Corns was at outside half, Dafydd Morton at full back and Bobby Evans again played on the wing. The first half continued and both side failed to take any charge of the game, Beddau missed a couple of penalty chances, but in general the game was scrappy with numerous mistakes and handling errors.

 

 

At half time Penallta made a couple of changes with captain Mike Oliver and James Tucker coming into the second row and - despite playing up the slope of the pitch -  produced long periods of pressure.  Barwood was always dangerous and looked a class player at scrum half, Rhion Hollister worked tirelessly in the loose as did No 8 Devin Morgan.  Centre Steve Smith continually took the game to the Beddau opposition.  However it was not to be, as an excellent Beddau defensive effort coupled with some strange refereeing decisions prevented any Penallta scores  It was from one such period of Penallta pressure that Beddau, taking advantage of a turn over, moved the ball quickly through their back line for their right wing to score in the corner. That summed up Penallta's day, lots of effort but little reward the game ending 12 - 0 to Beddau.

 

 

With no scores the highlight of the Penallta performance was the defensive work of Bobby Evans who put in a number of huge hits on the opposition. Another plus was the performances of youth team players Bleddyn Corns, Ross Edwards, and Nelly Purnell. What was disappointing for all in the Athletic set up, coaches, players and supporters alike was the fact that a number of first team squad players who had not been selected for the game against Bargoed were excused from or elected not to play for the Athletic. No one player should consider himself bigger than any team, and it is a known fact that there is strength in unity something which Penallta unlike lots of other clubs have always possessed. Every good first side needs a strong and successful Athletic or 2nd's, lets not make the mistake that many of our local rivals have done in neglecting their feeder sides.