Home is away, but the Pitmen edge to victory

Mar 25 2008 by Our Correspondent, South Wales Echo

PENALLTA played the first of their ‘home’ games at Pontllanfraith RFC on a cold, windy day against Ynysybwl, that saw the Pitmen struggle for a win, but eventually gain it by 20-17.

The ’Bwl pack dominated the scrum and it came as little surprise when they were awarded a penalty try on 20 minutes – a replay of their previous encounter. Pen’s backs showed their class though when Shaun Powell cut through the defence to score under the posts five minutes later.

However, sustained pressure from the Bwl pack resulted in a second try to make the interval score 17-7 in their favour. Two penalties in six minutes by Andre Soroko saw the deficit cut and the large crowd sensed a come-back.

With five minutes remaining, wing James Powell spun his way through to release namesake Shaun for the winning try. Soroko converted and Penallta clung on for victory in what was one of their toughest matches this season.

Pentyrch completed a deserved double over a depleted CHSOB side by15-8 and opened the scoring after exerting considerable forward pressure when scrum half Craig Moss darted over for a try close to the posts and full back Mark Bean converted

Fly half Dan Jones reduced the arrears with a penalty for the Old Boys, who took the lead after the break with a corner try by wing Paul Adams, but Pentyrch rallied strongly and scored a try through flanker Joe Annette and a late penalty by Bean.

Old Penarthians gained another scalp as they defeated Canton 8-5 at Cwrt y Vil. Tries by lock Ben Russon for the Old Boys and fly half Jamie Morris for Canton saw the conversion attampts strike posts, but fly half Scott McCarthy kicked the winning penalty two minutes from time.

Taffs Well were looking for their fifth successive win, but were held 11-11 by visitors Llantwit Major. Andy Shea scored after good work by fly half Owen Thomas to give Taffs Well the lead, but they failed to build on it, and Llantwit, fighting to avoid the drop, came back to share the points after Lee Jones had kicked his second penalty goal for the home side.

Rumney returned to form with tries by Tom Daly, Lincoln Plummer and replacement Adrian Blake to defeat Beddau 17-3, whose scorer James Balfrey is an ex-Rumney player.

A penalty try, goaled by Stuart Lawrence gave Pontypool a 14-10 win at Bargoed and tries by Aled Llewellyn and Jon Myatt gave Llanharan a 20-12 win at Newportr Saracens, for whom Mark Wheeler and Ross Madden scored five-pointers.

echo.sport@mediawales.co.uk