Llandaff North 17 - Penarth 81

Ten-a-side is a funny old game. A bit like 15s, but no scrums. Quite like 7s, but more collisions and you have to work harder to find space. However, the Penarth senior squad (quite a misleading description for such a youthful bunch of athletes) are looking very accomplished in this particular discipline.

This warm-up at Hailey Park could so easily have gone the same way as the session a fortnight ago over at Dinas Powys, except that hosts Llandaff North simply never gave up.

This turned out to be quite some feat, as the Seasiders scored straight from the kick-off with a try on the corner. But this was a tightly-contested game and the visitors consistently struggled to gain possession. The problem for the hosts was that once Penarth did get hold of the ball, their speed, physicality and passing ability inevitably led to score after score. By

the end of the first period, they had run up four tries in this way.

In the second period, a much-changed line-up (selected from a cast of thousands) didn't weren't given as much leeway, but still managed another couple of scores through Alex Thau and Harry Williams. Llandaff North finally got some reward for their persistence with a try.

The beginning of the third period saw the first line-out of the evening and when Penarth regained possession after a handling error, Andy Richards powered over. A further try, the eighth of the evening for the Seasiders, soon followed, while intense pressure from the hosts brought a well-deserved second try.

In the final period, the hosts' resistance finally cracked as Penarth racked another seven tries. A slow build-up suddenly exploded into life as two long passes resulted in a try in the corner, while the tenth try of the evening soon arrived as Williams broke clear on half-way and cantered to the line. Three long-range scores in three minutes brought the try tally up to thirteen before Llandaff North gained a third try through sheer hard work.

Bizarrely, there was still time for the Seasiders to notch up a couple more as James Crothers and Josh Hurley brought the final total to fifteen. Unfortunately it was not possible to identify all the scorers, but aside from a few moments of individual brilliance the punishing scoring rate was clearly a result of excellent teamwork skills and fitness.