For the third week in succession late withdrawal and unavailability meant that it was a much changed Athletic side that travelled to play St Peters in Cardiff. A number of players at Penallta seem to continually let the side down declaring unavailability using some poor pathetic excuse, only to be seen trawling the sidelines of the First Team home games an hour or so later.  Others just let you down by not just turning up at all and have not even got the common courtesy to let you know before hand. Perhaps they think they are to good for the Athletic, well I've got news for you boys - wake up and smell the coffee "YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT AS GOOD AS YOU THINK YOU ARE".

That aside the Athletic still managed to take a squad of 18 players to St Peters that was a mixed bag of developing youngsters and a few more, not lets say old but mature players.  These included five players over 45 years of age, yes I did say 45.  In the starting fifteen were Lee Acreman (52) at prop and in the back row Brian Corns (45) on the flank. The Penallta Athletic bench had a total of 146 years experience between them .... and there were only three of them!  Team Manager Mike Thomas was the youngest at (45), followed by Backs Coach Leigthon John a mere (48) and Player X who weighed in at (53).  

 Mike Oliver, Martin Rowe, Darren Hooper, Ian Smith and Mark Bassett ensured that the "Dads Army" image of this particular Athletic team was enhanced.  Mixed in with this bunch you had 18 year olds Seb Toms and Nathan Mahoney, young Ross Morgan and the youthful and very energetic Daniel Mead.  Andre Soroko played very well at scrum half, Mathew Jackson soldiered on on the wing and chuck in the considerable bulk of Carl Smythe and Dai Powell you really did have an unusual line up.  But as Bertie Bassett once said, not Mark "Bertie" Bassett our tight head prop but Bertie Bassett the sweet maker, "IT TAKES ALL SORTS"

 St Peters were far more youthful and in difficult conditions set out their intentions early running the ball from all areas of the field. Perhaps their plan was to tire the old legs out early and then finish the job. What they didn't count on was the sheer grit and determination of the Athletic side. St Peters scored after 10mins and the conversion gave them a 7 - 0 lead. To their credit both sides attempted to run the ball at every opportunity and in the conditions mistakes were plentiful. From one such mistake on the halfway line Penallta hacked the loose ball deep into the Rocks' 22 and from a resulting penalty Andre Soroko took a quick tap and carried 3-4 St Peters defenders over the line for a fine score.  Soroko then converted to bring the game back to 7 - 7.  Both sides had further chances in the first half but dropped passes and equally good defence kept the score board level going into the second half.

 The second half continued in much the same pattern both sides having chances to go ahead, Leighton John entered the fray on 55 minutes and looks a good prospect for the future. Continued Penallta pressure resulted in Soroko kicking two second half penalties giving the Athletic a 13 - 7 lead going into the last ten minutes. The second of these being a superb effort from all of 45 yards out. The game was now poised for a nail biting last 10 minutes as St Peters threw everything they had at the Athletic. This was however countered by a stroke of "Management Genius" when Team Manager Mike Thomas sent on "Player X", remember him (53)? in order to slow the game right down which he did without any effort at all.  All jokes aside "Player X" made a considerable contribution particularly in the scrum which was crucial as Penallta fought off any St Peters comeback.

 At the final whistle "Dads Army" were the victors 13 - 7 and experience had certainly triumphed over youth.  Another win for the Athletic despite the diverse make up of the team.  Acreman and Corns defied their maturity, old legs but huge hearts, Leighton John and "Player X" much the same.  Martin Rowe even being a "cripple" plays with a passion and commitment bigger than that possessed by players half his age. Darren Hooper is well "Darren Hooper" - 120% Penallta. 

Man of the Match Soroko scored all Penallta's points and had a fine game at scrum half, his kicking out of hand was immense and heaped pressure on the St Peters defence.  He was pushed all the way for the Man of the Match award by Flanker Daniel Mead whose open play and defence around the set piece was Awesome.  Nathan Mahoney (18) had an impressive senior debut on the wing and Seb Toms continued to show at (18) he is a class act who will soon feature in First Team plans.  To all who played yesterday "Take a Bow", to those who let you down "Bow your heads in shame".

 What this team showed was a commitment, determination, passion and a team spirit that cannot be bought, borrowed or coached, you either have it or you don't. It is a spirit that everyone at the club, Players, Coaches, Supporters, and Committee must show for the remainder of the season as we all look to consolidate our position at the top end of Welsh Rugby. If we believe it can happen, it will happen.

 
Finally to the Athletic remember, "ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE, F TROOP, F TROOP, F TROOP, F TROOP".