Final Season results:
Played 23: W18 ; L5
Scored: For 632; Against 176
Llanishen
Wednesday 9th May - won 3-12
The last games of the season was at Llanishan played in wet and windy conditions. Three penalties and a drop goal from Gareth Davies finished off the season, although it was the only league game in which Pentyrch failed to score a try.
However, the 'Tyrchs won 12-3 to maintain their unbeaten league record and finish top of the League BD with 42 points.
Scoring 434 points and conceding only 72
Congratulations!!
CHSOB
Saturday 5th May - won 5-10
The penultimate league game of the season was away at Cardiff High School Old Boys (CHSOB) on a rock hard pitch. A hard game was expected and so it proved against a CHSOB side with a few unfamiliar faces.
The first was fought out in the centre 1/.3 rd of the pitch with both sides battling for supremacy in the set plays. The CHSOB forwards were stronger but despite that the 'Tyrchs managed to win a few and when they didnt Dave Gibert, who had a superb game, harried their scrum half into making mistakes. Pentyrch finally went a head in the first half through a try from Rhys Thomas who chased down a kick ahead, this was converted by Ceri Llewelyn. 0-7 at half time.
The second half started in similar dogged style with pressure from Pentyrch but that pressure turned a few incidents resulting in Rhys Thomas and a CHSOB player being yellow-carded. CHSOB started to dominant in the play and this resulted in a try in the corner: 5-7. With 10 ,minutes to go, Chris Rogers sent a penatly kick through the posts: 5-10, but also unfortunately missed a second a couple of minutes later. As the clock ticked down, CHSOB pushed and pushed but could not covert this into points. Final score 5-10.
So it was lucky 13 today, 13th League game, for Pentyrch and all thoughts move to the final league game of the season away to Llanishan on Wednesday 9th May , kick off at 7 pm on the Usk Road pitch.
Old Illtydians
Saturday 28th April - won 28-5
Another unseasonly warm day for the away game against Old Illtydians at the Eastern Leisure Centre. In the first half, the 'Tyrchs were playing up the slope but the strength of the Old Illtyds forwards was the dominant feature. Pentyrch went ahead with a penalty from Gareth Davies, but this was cancelled out by the home team scoring in the corner. 5-3 at half time.
Playing down the slope seemed to have a psychological advantage for Pentyrch, as they finally converted pressure into points with less handling errors seen in the his half. Gareth Davies scored a second penalty and then Nick Elvin zipped in down the right wing to score in the corner (5-11). The Tyrchs dominated the mid field and gradually pulled ahead in the game. Gareth Davies scored the away sides second try. Then the game was wrapped up by two Nick Gill tries, one converted by Gareth Davies. The final score was a satisfying 5-28 maintaining the unbeaten league record with two games left.
Merthyr
Saturday 21stApril - won 39-3
Away to Merthyr development side, Pentyrch put on a good display winning 39 -3 with four tries from Chris Rogers and one each from Jon Coombes, Dave Gilbert and somebody else! Two were converted one by Joffy and the other by Chris Rogers
Rhiwbina
Saturday 14th April - won 62-22
Pentyrch hosted Rhiwbina in their last home league game of the season on the hottest day of the year. The 'Tyrchs picked a young squad who will form the basis of the team for next season.
An early try down the wing from Chris Rogers was quickly followed by two from Nick Elvin (the last converted by Barry Topping Morris), 17-0.. Nick Gill limped off to be replaced by Will Jeffs after the first try. That set the pattern for the first half with further tries at regular intervals from Ceri Llewellyn, Dave Gilbert Will Jeffs and a penalty try, with two conversions, one apiece from Barry and Ceri. The half time score was a stunning 43-0.
The second half however was a different story with seven replacements from Pentyrch including some of the older players who would be playing their last youth home game. But these changes seemed to disrupt the balance of the team allowing Rhiwbina to edge into the game with 22 unanswered points. However, in the final quarter of the match, Pentyrch regained control of the game to score three further tries from Ceri, Euan Mills and Tom Davies. Ceri converted his own try and Tom Davies converted his with the last kick of the game. Final score 62-22.
Three away league games remain for the 'Tyrchs, who are virtually certain to top the table.
Llandaff
Saturday 7th April - won 24-7
A sunny easter saturday saw Pentyrch host Llandaff at home. Several late call offs meant that some players were in different positions but it was clear that both sides wanted a win and that meant a scrappy game with some ill tempered one-on-one incidents which meant that the game ended with 5 yellow cards, one of which was converted into a red for swearing.
Back the game! Pentyrch opened the scoring with a try in the corner from Nick Elvin, but Llandaff hit back when the Tyrchs conceded a penalty 5 metre out which was quickly taken whilst the defence was reorganising. This meant the half time score was 5-7.
The next score came quickly into the second half as Tom Marley ran in from out side the 22 m line and with the conversion from Barry Topping-Morris the score was 12-7. Further tries from Michael Herbert and Ross Williams and one conversion from BTM gave the final score 24-7 to the home side. Ten out of ten and with a points difference of +289 and four league games still to go..
Barry
Saturday 31st March - won 3-49
The reverse fixture at Barry was a dull game despite the score line! In windy conditions it was clear from the first min that the 'Tyrchs were going to dominate the game. Although the first 10 min involved scrum after scrum inside the Barry 22 area and at the same spot. Three tries by Dave Gilbert, Chris Rogers and Chris Dixon (all converted by Gareth Davies) and one penalty from Barry left the score at half time at 3-21.
Disappointment in the second half as Robbie Miles went off to hospital with a suspected broken collar bone - the other one to the one he broke last season! But Pentyrch pressed ahead, with two tries from Gareth Davies and one a piece for Ross Williams and Dave Jones, All these were converted in a superb kicking display in very windy conditions by Gareth Davies who ended the game with a personal score of 24 points.
Barry
Thursday 15th March - won 52-0
At the end of a great sunny day what more could you want but a game of good game of rugby in a pleasant evening? Well a good it turned out, but the rain arrived with the kick off!
The first twenty minutes suggested that a close game or stalemate was on the cards, but then within a space of 4 minutes, the 'Tyrchs opened up a 21-0 lead! First, Maxie (also known as Richard Allen) burst (!) through on the wing scoring near the corner which was converted by Barry T-M. Straight from kick off, Ceri Lleweylln ran in under the posts (converted BTM): 14-0. Then an almost identical play resulted in Chris Dixon scoring in exactly the same place, again converted by BTM to make it 21-0. This score was maintained at half-time as the stunned Barry players managed to hold off any other score in the first half.
The second half opened with Pentyrch having the best of the territory and possesion although the computer analysis was not working exactly, it is probably around 75% each in favour of Pentyrch. The scoring was opened by No 8 James Locke scoring again converted by BTM (28-0). Two unconverted tries followed from Dave Jones and Tom Marley (38-0). Chris Dixon crossed for this second of the evening, converted by Gareth Davies (45-0). With Barry under constant pressure for the last 5 mintues, Nick Gill broke through under the posts, with Gareth Davies converting the last kick of the game. Final score 52-0.
Rhiwbina
Saturday 3rd Feb - won 13-5
A sunny day at last, but it seemed that the players were more interested in chillin' than playin'! Early pressure resulted in a penalty (Gareth Davies) but lack of concentration allowed Rhiwbina to score a quick response in the corner (5-3). A scrappy game progressed until Nick Gill crossed the whitewash, converted by Gareth Davies. 5-10 at half time
A slightly better performance in the second half, but only one further score, another penalty from Gareth Davies to give the 'Tyrchs a sixth league win by 13-5.
Old Illtydians
Saturday 20th Jan - won 21-9
The first league game of the new year after a couple of weekends of cancellations saw Old Illtydians travel up the hill to a windy Pentyrch. Although the surprise of the afternoon was seeing a referee AND two qualified linesmen arriving to take charge of the game!
The Illtyd's chose to play with the wind blowing down the second pitch, but a strong defence meant that they failed to use the wind advantage until the very last movement of the first half. This cancelled out the first score by Pentyrch by Ceri Llewellyn (converted by Gareth Davies). 7-7 at half time.
The 'Tyrchs playing with the wind behind them, went back into the lead within the first minute of the second half, with Tom Marley scoring in the far corner, with a great kick by Gareth Davies: 14-7 to Pentyrch. Midway through the second half, Tom Marley got Pentyrch's third try (again converted by Gareth Davies), 21-7. Despite some late pressure from the visitors, Pentyrch held on for their 5th league win out of five!
Blackwood
Saturday 30th Dec - lost 15-0
A rearranged friendly away to Blackwood on a cold, wet and windy December afternoon was not a promising fixture. But a good performance from the 'Tyrchs showed that the trip was a very useful game against a Blackwood side in the Gwent Premier league and with a strong and big front row.
Blackwood scored early through a 30 yard driving maul that the Pentyrch forwards could do nothing to stop. A couple of early penalties near to the Blackwood line were not converted into points either from the boot or stopped by a well organised defence. Near to half time, Blackwood scored in the corner as a result of a forward pass that the referee missed. 10-0 to the home side at half time.
The rain add to the gloom in the second half and with the pitch beginning to resemble a ploughed field both sides showed some excellent handling and and tackling. The home side got another drive-over try for the game to finish 15-0 but the 'Tyrchs could draw a lot of positives from the game.
St Albans
Saturday 23rd Dec - won 45-0
A cold and foggy afternoon at Pentyrch saw the Youth have their last home game of 2006 against St Albans. Despite the cold, a number of spectators turned up to see the game, which was relatively well balanced in the first half although the 'Tyrchs pressure allowed Rhys Thomas to score twice, with one converted by Gareth Davies, giving a score at half time of 12-0. Better disciplined second half also meant that Pentyrch could reinforce their superioity in the backs by scoring five more tries. First, a wingers try stretching in the corner from Michael Herbert. Chris Dixon with only his second touch after coming on as subsitiute., converted by Gareth Davies (24-0). Rhys Thomas for his hat trick under the posts after a generous pass from Chris Dixon after he had crossed the line and again converted by Gareth Davies (31-0). Finally two late tries from Dave Jones and Rhys Thomas (sgain), both converted by Gareth Davies to give a final score of 45-0 to Pentyrch.
Man of the Match was Rhys Thomas
Llantwit Fadre
Saturday 2nd Dec - won 31-5
Report to follow
St Josephs
Saturday 18th Nov - won 27-15
Despite the continuing threat of rain, this friendly between Pentyrch Youth and St Josephs Youth did not sparkle in the autumn sunshine! A relatively dull first in which the 'Tyrchs backs and the St Joes forwards seemed to be the most awake. Three first-half unconverted tries by Nick Gill confirmed that the 'Tyrch backs were working well, and two drive over tries from St Joes left the score at 15-10 in favour of the home side.
In the second half, the home forwards began to match their larger opposition, but despite losing the majority of scrums and lineouts, Pentyrch gradually gained the upper hand with flanker Chris Dixon crossing the line to open the second half scoring. The best try came late in the half with a dazzling display of interchange between Finlay Mills and Ross Williams for the five Pentyrch try converted by BTM. A even later try, again driven over by the St Joes forwards meant that the final score was 27-15 to Pentyrch.
Llandaff A
Saturday 28th Oct - won 29-7
A wet afternoon on Llandaff fields against the home "A" side. Early pressure from Pentyrch was not converted and play was interrupted by a serious clash of heads between two Llandaff front row players in a ruck situation. Unfortunately, one play was knocked unconscious and had to be taken to hospital by ambulance - later reports indicated a shatter eye socket - all at Pentyrch wish him a full recovery. After the game restarted, a defensive kick from Llandaff was not defend by Pentyrch, and Llandaff scored a converted try under the posts. However, just before the half time whistle, Pentyrch scored their opening try, Jon Coombes, for a score of 7-5.
The second half resumed with more pressure from Pentyrch, who scored four more tries (2 converted by BTM) without reply from Llandaff. Rhys Thomas scored two, including one from a Nick Gill kick ahead with the bounce going his way.
A good result in the end, in the drizzle, but the 'Tyrch's have yet to show their best form this season!
Llanishan
Saturday 14th Oct - won 18-10
Against the run of play, Llanishan picked off a floated pass to run in the opening try under the post which was easily converted. Pentrych responded well with two tries the first by Ceri Llewellyn, with the second by Ross Williams, both unconverted. The half time score: 10-7. An early exchange of penalties (Barry Topping Morris) pushed the scoreboard around to 13-10. Another lack of discipline saw the 'Tyrchs reduced to 14 men, but despite that scored a third try, Nick Elvin, with possibly the best move of the game for a final score of 18-10.
St Albans
Saturday 30th Sept - won 15-0
Against an aggressive and older St Albans side, Pentyrch failed to make an impact in the first half. Several opportunities were lost due to dropped balls or miss passes, but fortunately St Albans also failed to score as the half ended 0-0.
However, almost straight from the restart, Pentyrch played the simple game with short passes resulting in Michael Herbert scoring in the corner, the conversion from near the touchline was converted by Barry Topping-Morris. The second half was spoilt by two red-cards, one for a persistent St Albans player. With 10 mins, to play another simple move from a line out saw the ball move to Nick Gill in the centre who cut through the tiring defence - 12-0. The final score was a penalty scored by Barry T-M to give the "Tyrchs victory in their opening league game by 15-0.
Builth Wells
Saturday 16th Sept
Narrow loss by 4 tries to 3!
LLantwit Fardre
Wednesday 30th August
First pre-season friendly saw a 0-3 lost at home against Llantwit Fadre
District 7's
Pentyrch youth took the District 7's on Sunday 7th May. They beat Rumney, Llandaff North B, Llandaff North A and overwhelmed Llanishan in the final!