Penallta's interest in this years Swalec Plate Competition ended at the first hurdle with a 16 - 8 defeat to near neighbours Nelson.

The Unicorns deserved thier win in an hard fought encounter at Trinity Fields. The visitors appeared hungrier through-out the game, and in centre Ieaun MORRIS they possessed some serious mid-field firepower, an area where Penallta often came up short both in attack and defence.

Nelson took the lead after 10 minutes when a series of forward drives sucked in the Pitmen defence to create a scoring opportunity under the posts. The try converted the Unicorns were 7 - 0 up early on, and were in control.

Penallta Full back Gary WILKS missed a couple of shots at goal, and was not showing the regular accuracy in his place kicking. The Pitmen were also guilty of kicking away ball "Willy Nilly" allowing Nelson fullback Kurt CLABBY to pin them back time and time again with an excellent field kicking display.

Nelson added two penalties on 19 and 22 minutes to lead 13 - 0 and things lokked ominous for the hosts.

WILKS was finally on target after 26 minutes landing a 3 pointer from 30 yards out, but this was all the Pitmen could manage and they ended the first half trailing 13 - 3.

The second half was much the same Penallta's wrong options and Nelsons excellent defence keeping the Pitmen at bay. Nelson incresed thier lead with another penalty, before an Aeron BIDGOOD try reduced the deficit to 8 points.

Penallta No 8 Mike ADAMS was then twice adjudged to have been held up over the line as Penallta fought to get back in the game. Nelson also had further opportunity and but for some excellent defence by wingers James POWELL and Gareth EDWARDS might have killed the game off as a contest midway through the second half.

In the last 20 minutes the game was contested mostly between the 22 metre lines and as frustration set in tempers became fraid with the referee having to give several warnings to players from both sides.

In the end Nelson under the guidance of thier influential Captain CANDY held on for a deserved victory and remain in the hunt for Millenium glory. Thier sheer delight and joy at the final whistle shows testament to how much it means to sides to beat Penallta, historically the poor Junior Union relation to other local WRU clubs.

The Pitmen were obviously dissapointed and there was much reflection during the after match team talk. This was not a good Penallta performance and everyone involved will need to take a long hard look at themselves before next weeks away game at Rumney.

In preperation the Coaches will look to learn from this reverse and put things right for our trip to Cardiff, the players will look to learn from the negativeness of defeat and strive to make sure it is a feeling that they wont often have to endure during the rest of the season.

Even Champions get knocked down, but the test of a true Champion is how you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and become a winner again.

Man of the Match was James POWELL, a shining light in an otherwise DULL Penallta performance.

WE ARE THE PITMEN, WE ARE THE BEST

Penallta Rugby

Match details

Match date

Kickoff

Location

Team Sponsors

Login