Penarth Hockey Club’s graduation to the highest echelon of regional hockey got off to a winning start on the road in Plymouth, while two of the club’s other sides also gained vital early points as the 2018-19 Verde Recreo league got underway at the weekend.
Plymouth Marjon 1-4 PENARTH
As the second day of the Ryder Cup got under way, the 1st XI travelled to Plymouth Marjon, who went undefeated at home last season.
After a lengthy pre-season, Penarth started well, keeping possession and building the play with Chris Baker driving down the right. The game did not remain all square for long, as the visitors were rewarded for their fast start with a well-finished goal by Andy Willemite, who gathered a rebound from the Marjon ‘keeper, teed it up for himself and drove the ball on the volley into the top corner.
The game was even thereafter, with both teams trying to iron out silly errors until, a fairway into the half, Chris Hardy mastered control before opening his account for the Bears with a delightful finish to send Penarth two up. Determined not to adopt a bunker mentality, the Welsh side could have added to their scorecard, but a few good chances were missed – including one from the penalty spot by Jake Connolly, whose frustration showed with a huge cry of ‘why always me!’.
There were more ups and downs to follow, and a spot of rough play saw Marcus Powell sent to the sin bin to wear the green jacket of shame. Penarth faded away towards the end of the half, allowing Plymouth to draw a goal back with a penalty corner of their own and seeing their advantage halved immediately flagged up to the ‘hole’ Penarth team that they ‘wood’ need to up their work-rate in the second half if they were to ‘putt’ the game away.
Using the break to their benefit, the Bears came to the fore, controlling most of the second half and adding two further goals to their tally, with Ben Croxall and Hardy chipping in with one apiece. Three down with time running out, Plymouth were left green with envy as the visitors showed off the sort of finishing ability that will be essential if they are to be anything but a par team this season.
Although they were unable to add another and show ‘plus four’ in the goal difference column, a final score of 4-1 to Penarth left the Vale side happy to have avoided a potential hazard and put three points on the board in their first game in the Premiership.
A little birdie tells us that the Bears travel to Ashmoor next week, to take on familiar foes after the two sides battled over the Championship title last season.
PENARTH ‘A’ 1-3 Whitchurch ‘C’
The 2nd XI headed into their opening league fixture facing a Whitchurch team who had been crowned champions of De Cymru 1 the year before to claim promotion to combined South Wales and West of England divisions.
Penarth themselves had finished fourth in De Cymru & The Marches 2 in 2017-18, and had their sights set on mounting a charge for promotion after a very promising end to the previous season.
Both teams started the game strongly, passing the ball with accuracy and confidence in the opening exchanges, but it was Whitchurch who made more of their possession and had the better chances, leaving Penarth thankful to ‘keeper Adam Putt for a string of fine saves that kept the scores level. The Bears’ resolve was eventually broken midway through the half, however, with Whitchurch showing good composure in the D to take the lead.
Penarth hit back with chances of their own, but found the Whitchurch ‘keeper equally tricky to beat as he pulled off a string of impressive reaction saves to deny the Bears’ front line. It took until the stroke of half-time for the breakthrough that put Penarth were level, Chris McCarthy unselfishly finding Dave Joyce at the back post to flick the ball home.
After an evenly match first half, it was Whitchurch who came out stronger in the second and earned their rewards with an early goal from a penalty corner to regain their lead.
Again Penarth pushed for the equaliser, with Aaron Fulton-Brown beating the defence with an aerial only for Sam Chick to see his attempt to tee up McCarthy denied due to some more impressive goalkeeping. Jasminder Singh was now orchestrating the best of the Penarth moves, and proved instrumental in Joyce being able to draw the keeper before squaring to James Kidby – only for the forward to see his effort cleared by a covering defender. Penarth again came close when Singh drove through midfield and found Chick but, although his strike beat the ‘keeper, it found the base of the post and rebounded to safety.
As the home side pushed higher in search of a goal, Whitchurch were able to find more space in attack and duly wrapped the game up with another well-taken penalty corner to leave the final score 3-1 in their favour. Penarth, however, knew that they were not at their best, and have another home game this week, against Cheltenham, in order to get back to winning ways.
Llanishen & Caerphilly ‘A’ 0-15 Penarth ‘B’
The 3rd XI began their league campaign earlier than anyone, with a 10am start at Hawthorn, but caught their opponents napping to get off to a dream start.
In fairness to Llanishen & Caerphilly, the match-up should never have taken place, as the Cardiff side were relegated after a woeful 2017-18 season only to be ‘reprieved’ by an expansion of the division below. Penarth knew that, after running up the score on the home side in their two previous encounters, this was an ideal opportunity to get the new season off to a flying start.
While goalkeeper Calum Grant was only required to make one save of note, the goals rattled in at a rapid rate at the other end, with Penarth 8-0 up at the break. The Bears made the most of their opponents’ deficiencies to move the ball around at will, playing some of their best hockey for some time. Youngsters Elys Johnson and Morgan Salisbury provided outlets down the right, while Graeme Jones combined with Matt Birch to do likewise on the other side, opening gaps throughout the home side that the forward line was only too willing to exploit.
Seven further goals followed after the interval, despite a touch of complacency lessening the effect of Penarth’s play. Although centre back Will Ramage contrived to miss a penalty stroke, the final score was a comfortable 15-0 to Penarth, with hat-tricks for Dave Watkins, Joe Ramage and Russell Milne, a brace for Birch and one apiece for Johnson, captain James Davies, Scott Munro-Morris and Tom Ramage.
There will be tougher tasks ahead for the 3rd XI, starting this weekend, but the side now knows that it is capable of playing expansive hockey in their push for promotion from De Cymru 2.
PENARTH ‘C’ 11-0 PENARTH ‘D’
Penarth’s two representatives in De Cymru 3 were handed an ideal opening fixture, facing each other at Stanwell as the new 5th XI made their competitive debut.
The final score might suggest an entirely one-sided encounter in favour of the Fourths, but the score would have been much closer had it not been for the heroics of the returning Ben Jewess in goal. With a blend of youth and experience on both sides, there was much to admire in Penarth’s attempts to provide hockey for all, but the latest crop of youngsters emerging from the burgeoning youth ranks stole the show for the 4th XI, with Lewis Ingram, Zayn Zaman, Rhys and Iwan Meddins and Greg Cross all catching the eye. On the other side, however, special commendation must go to the youngest player on the pitch, as Joe Casey made his senior debut between the sticks for the 5th XI, and performed admirably in the face of concerted pressure.
The new league campaign continues this weekend, with all five Penarth sides in action. The 1st XI find themselves on their travels again, returning to the heart of Devon to take on an Ashmoor side that accompanied the Bears into the Premiership this season. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th XIs are all in action at Stanwell, playing host to Cheltenham (1.45pm start), Whitchurch (3.30pm start) and Gwent (noon start) respectively, while the 5ths travel to Cwmbran to face another Gwent side in a De Cymru match-up that will become very familiar this season.
Penarth Hockey Club always welcomes new, old and returning players, umpires, supporters, friends and helpers regardless of age and ability. Training takes place at Stanwell on Wednesdays, with the juniors on the pitch between 6.15pm and 7.15pm and the seniors between 7.00pm and 8.15pm.
Anyone interested in joining the club at senior or youth level can contact club secretary Dave Stevens (d_stevens81@hotmail.co.uk) for further information.