PENCLAWDD YOUTH EDGE OUT DUNVANT 19-15 (Dec 16th)

On a windy Friday evening at Penclawdd’s Crofty Pitch, the youth team made a valiant effort which deserved more for their efforts. Short of players due to a mysterious Xmas bug, the Youth team called upon Matthew Widlake from the under 16's to make up the numbers. However this was short lived as in the first 5 minutes Josh Morgan broke his wrist and could play no further part, however with the teams both reduced to 14 players this was not as disastrous as it could have been. Penclawdd possessed a much bigger pack and backs, but were not about to overwhelm the under strength Dunvant team. In what can best be described as a rapidly deteriorating bog, both teams played hard and made an effort to play attractive rugby. Penclawdd were the first to score after a breakaway that took them the length of the pitch, where Dunvant had been pressing but lacking composure near the try line. The try was converted. This rapidly increased to a 12 point lead, with a second score, the conversion this time being missed, from here Dunvant dug in and through pressure hacked up the pitch and after continual drives Alistair Hewins the captain scored to the right of the post, the relatively simple conversion was missed. This pressure continued up to half time and was good to see. However virtually straight from the start a blindside break led to another Penclawdd try and conversion, now 14 points behind the youth team took a while but started to gain the ascendancy and another try from Alistair closed the gap to 9, but again the conversion was unsuccessful, Dunvant were now dominant and with the clock running down good forward work led to a third try this time from outstanding forward Rhys Llewelyn, at least consistency was shown and the conversion was missed. With the score at 19-15 to Penclawdd unfortunately Dunvant could not push for that all important score and they were left kicking themselves, and they were close to missing that too. They should be commended for the way they have stuck together and are digging out results and holding in against in general older teams, half way through the season they are progressing well. Martin Newbury