Penallta couldn’t gain any advantage by using 1 of their 2 games in hand to overtake Newport Saracens and lift themselves off the bottom of Division 1 Saturday after losing heavily to a far superior Blackwood side. Against a much bigger pack, Penallta were always going to struggle but, to their credit, Penallta gave the Gwent side a competitive first half and found themselves only 2 points adrift at Half Time.

With only the one try by Blackwood through speedy Winger Kristian Perry and a Karl Rees penalty making the game 5-3 to Blackwood’s favour, the Penallta players and supporters came back out to the second half confident and may possibly have sniffed a surprising League win over the much fancied table toppers.
 What the Blackwood Coaches Jeremy Lloyd and Jason Rogers said in the changing rooms at half time to rally their players for the second half nobody knows - but it  had the desired effect as Blackwood were on fire and ran in 7 more tries to crush the Penallta faithful 54-15.
 The second half restarted in Blackwood’s favour with their powerful forwards put some serious ruck and mauls together against the smaller Penallta outfit.  The pressure eventually took its toll right on Penallta's try line when big number 8 Dean Gibb picked up the ball from the back of the ruck to dive over for the first try of the 2nd half. Blackwood then went into overdrive and started to play some impressive Rugby. The centre pairing of Rhys Hallett and Gareth Price bagged 2 tries apiece -taking the game out of Penallta's hands with some fantastic running and interpassing that would take Blackwood out of reach of Penallta.  Penallta, who were facing a defeat of 54-3, never gave up and were awarded two consolation tries through Hooker and Captain Dale Powell and Winger Shaun Robson with 5 mins to to go. Unfortunately it wouldn’t be enough to come back into the game as Blackwood already had the game won by then but Penallta's coaches Alan Lucas and Matthew Tucker must be somewhat proud of how their players never gave in played right until the final whistle.

Penallta, in their first season in Division 1 were always going to find it difficult competing against the much bigger sides in the division and it was going to be a massive ask to turn over a Blackwood side who had only lost 1 game all season (Newbridge back on the 27th of September).  With 8 massive games coming up till the end of the season, beginning with the students of UWIC coming to Ystrad Fawr this Saturday, Penallta should have no reason not to be confident in gaining their right to remain a Division 1 club.  Penallta must now play Ystrad Rhondda Away, Beddau Away, Newport Saracens Away and Rumney Home who, like Penallta are not yet safe from relegation and there should be no reason that they cannot come away with a win on each occasion.

 Report by Sion Phenis

Blackwood Report  ~ Blackwood Video

Penallta Scorers
Tries
Dale Powell (77)
Shaun Robson (80)
Conv
Karl Rees
Penalties
Karl Rees (20)

Blackwood Scorers
Tries
Perry x2, Howlett x2, Jones, Gibbs, Price x2
Conv
Price x7


Teamsheet :  K Rees, L Thomas, S Davies, A Jenkins, S Robson, J Merriman, H Walsh,
G Thomas, A Powell, K Mahoney, J Tucker, M Tucker, M Basset, D Powell, M Palmer
Replacements : S Richards, G Watkins, M Dunne, D Morgan, R Hollister



Other Div 1 East Fixtures
Llanharan RFC 41 v 26 Merthyr RFC
Rumney RFC 3 v 30 Bargoed RFC