Fixture

In their first foray into division 3B after last season’s promotion New Panteg came away with an emphatic 50 point victory away to Blackwood Stars. The hosts had no answer to the intensity of play from Panteg who have visibly improved already from previous years and tries came at a steady pace. Panteg’s scrum was demolishing their counterparts with front row of Woolfall, Gardner and Kennedy giving their opposite numbers a torrid time. From this dominance new signings Ross Palmer at number 8 and Spike Watkins at scrum half were causing havoc in the Stars defence, and it was Palmer who set up the opening score. After busting through two attempted tackles he found second row Bailey in close support with a sublime pass who showed great pace to crash over.  Playing with superb confidence Panteg were happy to run from all parts of the ground offloading with an apparent arrogance. As the ball was rapidly passed between numerous pairs of hands winger Lewis Silver was on hand to finish an outstanding move to increase the lead. From the supremacy of the set piece Watkins was able to orchestrate proceedings and showed good vision and pace to dash over for a third score which was converted by pivot Bury. The vigorous defence of the visitors was causing the Stars to make numerous mistakes and some poor decisions and this resulted in Panteg’s bonus point fourth try. The Stars tried to get outside the rush defence led expertly by player coach Carter but a stray pass was intercepted by centre Lloyd Reader who ran unopposed under the posts. Bury again added the extra’s and the Stars were now playing catch up with only 20 minutes gone. An almost identical move from the home side saw sprinter Lewis Hinwood intercept a speculative pass to add to the mounting score-line and again Bury easily goaled the kick. Flankers Joe Young and Joel Hamer were working tirelessly at the breakdown and new Captain Dan Young was the recipient of a great turnover. He found himself in acres of space 40 metres out with support all around but decided on an outrageous dummy and backed his pace to score a marvellous solo try. Panteg finished the half leading 36 – nil but knew they would have to play up a significant slope in the second period so there was no room for complacency.

Early in the second half the Stars opted for passive scrums which negated Panteg’s ascendancy in this area but also started playing with much more resolve. Space was not so easy to find as it was in the early stages but some good broken field running from Scott Daley at full back opened up a corridor for Bury to exploit. He scored out wide and excellently converted the kick and would finish with a personal haul of 15 points. Reader tore through a fatiguing defence for the final try of the game showing fabulous pace and power and the coaches then had the luxury of employing their very strong bench into proceedings. With standout displays all across the park particularly from the new signings it was difficult decision for the Man of Steel award. However it was decided that Liam Bailey could not be overlooked for his domineering display with ball in hand and his forcefulness in defence. He shares the award with scrum half Watkins who was a superb link between backs and forwards and a constant threat to the Stars defence.

The coaches are hoping to see a continuation of this style of play when New Panteg host St Julians at home next week kick off at 2.30pm.