---

The first game against Baglan was has called off due to the wet weather but we switched our second team game in round 2 of the Swansea District Vaughan Sound Cup with Vardre to their pitch rather than ours.  Despite giving them the home advantage, Penlan came out on top with a 14 to 5 win.  Penlan had one unconverted try and three penalties to Vardre's one unconverted try.  The other games (Pontardulais v Skewen,  Brynamman v Trebanos  and Gorseinon v Loughor) were all postponed.  The draw for the semi-final should be drawn next week and will be held at a neutral ground.

Other results reported as -
Division 5 South West
Glais 29  New Dock Stars 12

Division 5 South West in Swalec Bowl
Amman United 28  Gowerton 0
COBRA 14  Tycroes 22

---

It was a beautiful day for rugby at Mynydd Newydd as Penlan welcomed Cwmtwrch for their return fixture.  An exciting game ensued with Cwmtwrch playing at a level that belied their present eleventh place in the league.  Penlan were back on form though and, within two minutes of kicking off under the control of referee Mr. David Todd-Jones from Treorchy, they scored a try.

It came from won ball from a Penlan scrum on the visitors 22 with some quick passing getting the ball out to Outside-Half Lee Banfield who sprinted clear to land the ball near the posts.  Full-back Luke Davies safely made the conversion for 7 points.


Cwmtwrch had been caught napping but they came right back and at 10 minutes won ball from their lineout near the halfway line.  They passed rapidly across the field and, catching Penlan off-guard, Luke Mainwaring sprinted over at the corner to make it 7 to 5.

They managed to keep Penlan at bay until about 25 minutes in but then Cwmtwrch were awarded a scrum on their 10 metre line from which they won the ball but then knocked it on.  Ian Scrine,at No. 8, was quick to get the ball out to scrum-half brother Bobby who made great ground towards the centre.  Some fine mauling advanced the ball to the line and got the ball to flanker Rob Green who charged through for a firm try near the posts to make it 12 – 5.


Penlan looked the dominant side but the visitors kept up their defence until Penlan were awarded a lineout well within the Cwmtwrch 22 at 35 minutes.  Penlan won the ball and quickly got it out to the centre.  Ian Scrine made substantial ground up centre before being stopped but after some mauling the ball came out to left-winger Dominic Cambriani on dual registration from Waunarlwydd.   Dominic charged through the remaining defence and was safely over the line for try number 3.  Full back Luke Davies made another safe kick to advance Penlan’s lead to 19 – 5, which was where it stood at half-time.


The second half got underway with Penlan taking Cwmtwrch by surprise in under 2 minutes.  Penlan were awarded a scrum in their half straight after the kick-off.  Penlan won the ball and a sprint for the line followed with some fine passing at speed from Dominic Cambriani and Ian Scrine and then right-winger Mark Hughes who went over for a bonus point winning fourth try.  Luke Davies was on form for his third conversion to give Penlan a 26 – 5 lead.


Penlan were on a roll and at 11 minutes Ian Scrine got possession from a Penlan scrum on the visitors 22.  A powerful sprint got him within sight of the goal line before he was tripped but he skilfully off-loaded to Bobby Scrine in close support. With no-one else available to pass to, Bobby seized the initiative and went for the try by dodging through the remaining defenders who could only hold on to him as he flew over the line for try no. 5.  Luke Davies slotted the kick to advance the home lead to 33 – 5.


Cwmtwrch could never be taken for granted and at the 18 minute mark landed their second try which was a classic and caught Penlan off-guard.  They won the ball from their scrum on the half-way line and skilful passing at pace got the ball across field to the opposite wing which was relatively unguarded and enabled Keiran Ace to sprint up the wing and go over at the corner flag.  With a fine angled conversion kick by Scott Evans, the score became 33 – 12.

Penlan effectively closed them down for the rest of the game, recognising that they had to keep on top of their game to leave Cwmtwrch no chances. At 25 minutes Penlan scored their 6th. try after constant and determined work upfield.  The ball was advanced by ruck and maul until it was approaching the visitor’s line when Dominic Cambriani used his strength and skill to sprint through the ranks and dive over the line for the touchdown that left the final score 38 to 12.


Penlan Man of the Match was awarded to second row Kurt Velardo who did so much to secure the chances throughout the game.

Thanks to Colin Rush for his action shots, always greatly appreciated.  More at the end of this report.

ALL DIVISION 5 WEST RESULTS               
Alltwen v Crynant  Postponed
New Dock Stars  23  Llandybie  22
Penlan  38  Cwmtwrch  12
Tycroes  54  Baglan  0
Ystradgynlais  6  Cwmgors  16

An important bonus point win for Penlan that keeps them in top league place by one point over Tycroes with a game still in hand.  Some teams can no longer overtake Penlan in the league, namely Cwmtwrch, New Dock Stars, Llandybie and Ystradgynlais but the other 7 are still in the running with Tycroes, Cwmgors and Alltwen being the closest threats.  A long way still to go until the end of the season with the next game being our re-arranged home game against Baglan next week. Although presently in 8th. place we have not met with them yet this season and from experience we know they can present a challenge on their day.  Our second team also has a home game that day against Vardre in the second round of the Swansea Vaughan Sound Cup so they have their similar challenge.

More pictures from Colin Rush -

---

Our website has been down for a couple of days being upgraded.  It is almost finished but some items are being completed so may not work correctly yet.  Please bear with us.

---

Penlan made heavy weather of their re-arranged away fixture win against Cwmtwrch on Saturday. With the teams at either end of the league table Penlan could have been considered the favourites, but Cwmtwrch had other ideas.

Admittedly the heavy pitch was not to Penlan’s liking and they were missing some key players but the truth is that they failed to get their act together, in the first half especially, and Cwmtwrch displayed great defence.  

The weather was ideal for the game but, understandably, the pitch was rather muddy and heavy going as referee Mr. Jonathan Fairhurst from Ammanford got the game underway.

Both teams made their attacks in the first half but Penlan were disappointed with their game as things just didn’t go their way.  There is a slight incline in the pitch and Penlan were playing uphill in more than one sense.  They failed to press home their chances with the home side doing well in defence.   Apart from 3 points to Cwmtwrch for a penalty near the posts, there was no other score at half-time and it was a rare occasion for Penlan to be trailing at half-time.

With half-time reflection it was a wake up call, and with the slight downhill terrain, Penlan stepped up their game.  Determined pressure led to Penlan advancing the ball well into home territory.  Penlan were scrummaging well and won the ball from their scrum near the wing.  Some quick passing got the ball to flanker Robert Green who sprinted over the line to secure Penlan’s first try near the corner flag to make it 3 – 5.

Penlan were increasing their dominance as time continued and made a number of attacks for the Cwmtwrch line only for some mistake at the last minute to deprive them of possession.  The home side also had their chances but never really looked like breaching the Penlan defence.

In the latter stages the Penlan pressure finally paid dividends after some well executed mauling enabled captain Ian Scrine to land the try and make the final score at 3 – 10 to Penlan at the final whistle.  Cwmtwrch gained a losing bonus point and it is not that often that Penlan give them away.  There was no Penlan man of the match awarded.

It was a win for Penlan but not a memorable one.  Yes Penlan had some shortages with players out of position but that was probably the case for Cwmtwrch as well.  There may have been a degree of complacency on the part of Penlan which was almost matched by the determination of Cwmtwrch.  There were some valuable lessons for Penlan and they now have a fortnight before their next game which is the home return match with Cwmtwrch.  

The win means that Penlan edge into first league place by one point ahead of Tycroes but with one game still in hand.  9 games still to play with some tough games ahead and, as the Cwmtwrch game has shown, none that can be said to be easy.

Our second’s at home to Vardre in the Swansea League had a higher point scoring win by 21 to 10 against Loughor with 3 tries to 1.  

There was one other Division 5 South West game which resulted in a 38 to 22 win for Cwmgors against Crynant.  

In the fourth round of the bowl we congratulate our fellow Div 5 South West teams who remain in the competition.  Tycroes had a 0 – 22 win away against Nantgaredig and Gowerton a 15 – 28 win away against Banwen.

---

It is with the deepest regret that we heard of the death of Penlan's old friend and former Swansea Councillor, Geoff Burtonshaw.  Geoff, who died on Monday after a long illness, was one of the original Penlan boys and instrumental in the establishment of our clubhouse at Mynydd Newydd and the continuance of the game of rugby football in the area.  Along with his wife Councillor June Burtonshaw and his father and ex-mayor, the late Trevor Burtonshaw, Geoff was a loyal friend of the club who will be remembered by so many of our older players and members.

Our deepest sympathy is extended to his wife June and family.