4th October 2008
Penallta 10 v 14 Merthyr
(Half Time 3 v 7 )
After
their dismal performance against Llanharran the previous week Penallta
hosted a confident Merthyr side who had recently beaten Bargoed. With
their big pack of forwards and the heavy rain that persisted all day
even the loyal Penallta supporters who once again turned up in force
feared the worst. This fear increased when after only 3 minutes Merthyr
scored a after a series of forward drives. The Penallta players however
with their midweek tongue lashing from their coaches still ringing in
their ears threw everything into the game with Keiron Mahoney, Daniel
Meade and Andre Soroko making nuisances of themselves all game.
The aggresive nature of the defending rattled the Merthyr players who made numerous handling errors. Even their excellent number 8 whose strong runs from the base of the scrum required more than one tackler to stop him, knocked on when attempted pushover tries seemed inevitable.
Penallta got back into the game when a hack through caused caos in defence with Dale Powell and Steve Davies being tackled close to the line. From the resulting ruck Merthyr killed the ball and Penallta had to be content with just 3 penalty points. From the restart Merthyr found themselves close to the Penallta line and strangely Daniel Meade was shown the yellow card for a much lesser offence.
Penallta, already struggling in the scrum, defended ferrociously with Geraint Thomas picking up retreating scrum ball and getting over the gain line enabling his backs room to clear their line.
With only a 7 -3 half time deficit Penallta started the second half with the wind in their favour and repeatedly pegged Merthyr back in their own 22 with only their outside half gaining them territory with fine tatical kicking into the wind. From one such kick Shaun Robson and Karl Rees both failed to pick up the slippery ball and Merthyr hacked the ball on winning the race to the ball for a try under the posts.
With the strong Merthyr pack bolstered by the introduction of even larger substitutes Penallta, replaced hard working props Robert Channon and Martyn Dunne with Mark Palmer and the improving Mark Basset. With captain Dale Powell having his best game of the season and Daniel Meade winning the 50-50 ball Penallta continued to attack and were rewarded when after a few forward surges the ball was sent blind to wing James Powell who broke the defence before passing back inside to Geraint Thomas to score a well deserved try.
With 10 minutes remaining a shock result seemed possible but Merthyr's defence held firm to win 14-10 and Penallta had to be content with a losing bonus point.
With the spirit of the Penallta team once again evident, coupled with the undoubted skill levels it wont be long before one of the top sides will be beaten
Next week Penallta make the difficult trip to Cyncoed to take on the unpredictable UWIC.
The aggresive nature of the defending rattled the Merthyr players who made numerous handling errors. Even their excellent number 8 whose strong runs from the base of the scrum required more than one tackler to stop him, knocked on when attempted pushover tries seemed inevitable.
Penallta got back into the game when a hack through caused caos in defence with Dale Powell and Steve Davies being tackled close to the line. From the resulting ruck Merthyr killed the ball and Penallta had to be content with just 3 penalty points. From the restart Merthyr found themselves close to the Penallta line and strangely Daniel Meade was shown the yellow card for a much lesser offence.
Penallta, already struggling in the scrum, defended ferrociously with Geraint Thomas picking up retreating scrum ball and getting over the gain line enabling his backs room to clear their line.
With only a 7 -3 half time deficit Penallta started the second half with the wind in their favour and repeatedly pegged Merthyr back in their own 22 with only their outside half gaining them territory with fine tatical kicking into the wind. From one such kick Shaun Robson and Karl Rees both failed to pick up the slippery ball and Merthyr hacked the ball on winning the race to the ball for a try under the posts.
With the strong Merthyr pack bolstered by the introduction of even larger substitutes Penallta, replaced hard working props Robert Channon and Martyn Dunne with Mark Palmer and the improving Mark Basset. With captain Dale Powell having his best game of the season and Daniel Meade winning the 50-50 ball Penallta continued to attack and were rewarded when after a few forward surges the ball was sent blind to wing James Powell who broke the defence before passing back inside to Geraint Thomas to score a well deserved try.
With 10 minutes remaining a shock result seemed possible but Merthyr's defence held firm to win 14-10 and Penallta had to be content with a losing bonus point.
With the spirit of the Penallta team once again evident, coupled with the undoubted skill levels it wont be long before one of the top sides will be beaten
Next week Penallta make the difficult trip to Cyncoed to take on the unpredictable UWIC.
Scorers
Tries
Geraint Thomas (72)
Conv
Scott Bessant
Penalty
Andre Soroko (25)
Tries
Geraint Thomas (72)
Conv
Scott Bessant
Penalty
Andre Soroko (25)
 |
| From Penallta v Merthyr |
Penallta RFC v
Merthyr RFC from snappycappy3
on Vimeo.
Teamsheet
:
15 Karl Rees, 14 James Powell, 13 Steve Davies, 12 Simon Skinner, 11 Shaun Robson
10 Scott Bessant, 9 Andre Soroko, 8 Geraint Thomas, 7 Daniel Meade, 6 Huw Stevens
5 Kieron Mahoney, 4 Gavin Davies, 3 Martin Dunne, 2 Dale Powell, 1 Robert Channon
Replacements
16 Richard Rowe, 17 Howie Walsh, 18 Mark Bassett, 19 Mark Palmer, 20 James Tucker
Merthyr
15 Andrew Hutchings, 14 Daniel Hitchings, 13 Ben Warburton, 12 Paul Matthews, 11 Jon Hill
10 Neil Burnett, 9 Tom Dickens, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Rhys Miles, 6 Tom Penry Ellis
5 Darren Lynch, 4 Bob Mordecai, 3 Rhys James, 2 Aaron Fowler , 1 John Difford Capt
Replacements from
16 Lloyd Wood 17 Tom Griffin, 18 James Bull, 19 Mark Schropfer
20 Adam Williams, 21 Sam Whadon, 22 An Other
Referee Alan Jenkins Swansea
15 Karl Rees, 14 James Powell, 13 Steve Davies, 12 Simon Skinner, 11 Shaun Robson
10 Scott Bessant, 9 Andre Soroko, 8 Geraint Thomas, 7 Daniel Meade, 6 Huw Stevens
5 Kieron Mahoney, 4 Gavin Davies, 3 Martin Dunne, 2 Dale Powell, 1 Robert Channon
Replacements
16 Richard Rowe, 17 Howie Walsh, 18 Mark Bassett, 19 Mark Palmer, 20 James Tucker
Merthyr
15 Andrew Hutchings, 14 Daniel Hitchings, 13 Ben Warburton, 12 Paul Matthews, 11 Jon Hill
10 Neil Burnett, 9 Tom Dickens, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Rhys Miles, 6 Tom Penry Ellis
5 Darren Lynch, 4 Bob Mordecai, 3 Rhys James, 2 Aaron Fowler , 1 John Difford Capt
Replacements from
16 Lloyd Wood 17 Tom Griffin, 18 James Bull, 19 Mark Schropfer
20 Adam Williams, 21 Sam Whadon, 22 An Other
Referee Alan Jenkins Swansea
