By Tom Jameson U12 manager
“High Tides and Full Moons!”
From the kick off the ball sailed into the grateful arms of the most fleet of foot Old Penarthian; he wasn’t old, but young enough to avoid an outstretched arm. On 5 seconds he’d evaded the kick off chase and was fairly flying down the wing. On 10 he had just Ben at Full Back to beat. By the time 20 seconds were on the clock our boys were under their own posts contemplating having conceded the fastest score I can remember.
But we are a ‘Mood’ team and after a hard and fast warm up and a ‘Full Moon’ just around the corner I sensed this was going to be a Black and Amber day. Given a second chance the forwards bashed into rucks, recycling and hitting the fringes of the rucks as we’d done so impressively at Dinas and at Blackwood. Ben Hembury and David Burnell-Brown made typically forceful runs but on a stodgy pitch it was a day for the pack. Sam Griffin levelled the scores from close range, his first try for the club, before Archie put us in front in similar style. Smashing our intent at the rucks soon put off the Penarthians, ‘007’ Dylan being a threatening menace and fingers pointed at our Tighthead; accusations of skulduggery but this is Bond after all. His namesake Dylan Booth on the otherside of the Front Row was immense once again, ripping ball and throwing about his weight. We took a 19-5 lead into the break, Archie having added his 7th try of the season.
The only fight put up by the Penarthians in the second half was a Ma’a Nonu style tip tackle on Inside Centre Rowan Jameson. The boy had already got his pass away so it was a dangerous and late hit. We collectively punished. Gabriel was dishing out dummies for fun and scored in the corner before Wing Ben Evans caught a clearing kick to score his first try since his U10 days. The home side took knocks to bodies and to pride and finished with 14 men. The relationship between the two sides was commendably friendly throughout and we stood down Robert to even up the numbers. Skipper Sam Thomas however cemented our dominance and took a 5m Scrum ball over for our sixth and final try.
Hot dogs on the beach for the boys! A Full Moon day for the Sunday Casuals!
Result:- Old Penarthians U12’s… 5 – 34… Llandaff North U12’s
Tries:- A.Baxter (2), S.Griffin, G.Bertelli, B.Evans, S.Thomas
Conversions:- B.Yarwood (2)
Man of the Match:- D.Booth
Manager’s Player of the Day:- S.Griffin
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