News

PENLAN WIN DERBY AWAY TO MORRISTON

On 30^th December Penlan went to Morriston for their local derby return game.  In their home encounter, at the start of the season when Penlan were in difficulties, Morriston emerged the 6 – 23 winners so the team knew that they would have a tough encounter.

It was cold but dry as referee Mr. Paul Jones from Ebbw Vale got the game underway with Morriston making the kick off.  Although still struggling, Penlan were “riding high” following their first win of the season against Taibach two weeks earlier but, in the early stages of the game, Morriston looked the stronger side.  Play was mostly in the Penlan half and within 4 minutes Morriston scored the first 3 points from a centre field penalty.  Penlan showed determination though and managed to hold them at bay.  At 15 minutes they evened the score from a penalty safely landed by full-back Paul Spowart.  Thereafter they increasingly got their team game going and were putting the Monkeys under pressure. 

At 25 minutes second-row Kurt Velardo won ball from a Penlan lineout in the Morriston 22 and his team set up an attack for the line.  The Morriston defence could not hold the Penlan pack and were pushed back over their line until hooker Adam Glover landed his third try of the season.  Paul Spowart made a fine conversion for a 3 – 10 Penlan lead.

Both sides worked hard to dominate but the score held until just before the half time whistle when Penlan won ball from their scrum and made a charge for the line.  Once again the Penlan power and determination proved too much for the home side who were pushed back over their line until Kurt Velardo powered over for Penlan’s second try.  Paul Spowart made another safe conversion to make it a 3 -17 Penlan lead at half time.

Morriston were no push-over and in the second half did all they could to get ahead of Penlan.  Although some entertaining rugby resulted there was no change in the score until the 35 minute mark when Morriston pressure at the corner finally managed to breach the Penlan defence for a try.  The conversion failed which left the score at 8 – 17 at the final whistle.  It was a satisfying and important result for Penlan which saw them lift to third from table bottom, if only by one point.  Next week’s game at home against Maesteg Celtic has had to be postponed as they are still in the Plate competition so Penlan’s next game will be on 13^th. January, at home against Nantyffyllon.  Their home encounter had been a resounding win for Nantyffyllon who are currently top of the league, so the return game will be a big challenge for Penlan.

Other results in Div 2 West Central are reported as

Nantyffyllon 13  Maesteg Celtic 10

Taibach 12  Cwmavon 9

Ystradgynlais 8  Builth Wells 17