Fixture

Cowbridge travelled to Penarth last Saturday and before the game the programme gave the reader an opportunity to catch up on some interesting facts including kick off for the French game was 08:00 on 1^st February !.  The teams last met it seems in 2006/07 season when Penarth were promoted . One of their players played in that fixture , keeping the Crothers link to the club going . There were potted histories of each of the clubs in the league. Penarth won their two previous home fixtures and were neck and neck with Tylorstown the week before until a bad injury to the referee resulted in the game being abandoned

Cowbridge were slow out of the blocks again and within the opening 6 minutes Penarth had broken through the defence with their outside half then linking with the inside centre , then the No 10 hit the cross bar from a penalty kick . The warning signs were there that Penarth were up for this and kicking to their  right wing ,  a balanced runner , would be returned with interest . On 14 minutes that same player  put over a penalty.  But 2 minutes later on a rare venture in Penarth territory Cowbridge were awarded a penalty  that Captain Ross Gibbon took quickly and burst through defenders to dive over for an unconverted try. At the mid point Cowbridge were penalised for offside after wing Rhydian Williams launched a high kick but a player was ruled in front and from that penalty Penarth again took the lead.  Shortly after the kick off and for the second time their scrum half burst through tackles to make 35 metre before a tackle by full back Josh Thomas brought him down.  Cowbridge in the opening 30 minutes by their standards had been poor . But then from pressure at a scrum from Cowbridge ,  powerful No 8 Reuben Tucker drove for the line. The next play was a lineout from which the pack drove over the line but despite protests were ruled to have been held up . With 5 minutes to half time from a line out 35 metres out a great riposte as flanker Dan Holder ,  excellent throughout  , took a clean lineout, scrum half Tom James got the ball away quickly to outside half Gareth Williams - Davies who popped it to Tucker outside him and at pace he broke through tacklers to link again with Williams –- Davies who ran in under the posts . Thomas added the extras.  Then for the next 5 minutes Cowbridge shone with James firing the ball away from rucks and mauls and  players linking. Spurning a kickable chance Cowbridge kicked to touch but the lineout went astray and the half ended 6-12.  

Cowbridge were soon attacking in the second half with Hywel Williams returning to scrum half  and James to centre . Gibbon took a flat pass in the Penarth 22 and broke through then off loaded to prop John Bater who crashed into the goal post before dropping down to ground the ball, but the referee ruled a forward pass.  Shortly after that looking to the open side  but passing inside Williams – Davies sent prop George Thomas through a gap and he looked to be going over but was brought down 3 metres out. Changes saw Zac Summerhayes on for Will Williams and Huw Lougher on for Sam Stevens . In between was a great break by Hywel Williams relieving pressure on the Cowbridge 22 to take play up field. At the mid point their scrum half was at it again as taking a quick penalty he dived over . Thomas came to the touchlines and young Harrison Ashby  came on for his first senior game.  Then from a scrum Hywel Williams broke to the right , was caught but got the pass out to Summerhayes who flew down the wing to cross. After a typical performance hooker Craig Boxall came off and Rhys Price on. Cowbridge continued to press and  with the penalty count in Penarth’s favour, the players were frustrated with no real action for a player getting under Holder at the lineout and more so when Rhydian Williams got around his opposite number passed to Williams -Davies who ran down the touchline and in the 22 chipped ahead but was clearly interfered with. Final score 11-17.

Penarth belied their position at 9^th with a strong performance. Cowbridge had been good in parts but in between basics let them down. On a positive note it was great to see Jamie Bennett back in action after injury and David Popham making it two games in a row. Both will be much needed in the weeks ahead . Youngster Harrison Ashby had several strong runs down the wing and one in the midfield to show there is much more to come from him.

This Saturday we take on Penygraig who have been going well with a fine victory at Pentrych in the bowl last Saturday . Thanks to those who travelled to Penarth and we need all of you over the next few weeks.  The Seconds are trying to arrange a game this Saturday please contact the club on Thursday for more details. The Youth are also believed to be in action at home.   

Many thanks  RK/RV