Fixture

It was accepted that despite a below par performance New Panteg still came away with the full complement of five points against a resilient Malpas team. It is always an abrasive encounter against the Newport outfit and they also held the bragging rights with a victory from the most recent meeting. The size difference between the two teams was evident with the visitors having a significant weight advantage in the forward exchanges. Panteg’s game plan of moving their less mobile opponents wide was largely negated by the inclement weather conditions and frequent poor decision making.  Malpas took a deserved lead early in proceedings with a penalty after an indiscretion at a ruck and continued to frustrate the hosts attacking ambitions. Finally New Panteg were able to put together half a dozen phases which created the space for the speedy backline. Good hands and intelligent angles of running saw Allcock finish a fine passage of play to get the scoreboard ticking over. Jet heeled wingman Hinwood then crossed for a customary score, easily outpacing the covering defence before scrum half Daley scored the try of the game. There was parity in the scrums and when Daley spotted space on the blindside of a static set piece, he kicked chased and regathered for an extravagant try. Gwatkin converted two of these scores for a comfortable lead but Malpas are not a team to give up easily and just before the interval they reduced the deficit with a fine try after some unusually weak defence.

Liam Bailey and Dan Young in the boiler house are rapidly gaining a big reputation with their consistent performances in both tight and loose play and they were instrumental in the increase in tempo in the second period. Panteg pushed for a bonus point score early on but were devastated when what looked like an easy scoring pass was intercepted on the try line for the Malpas winger to show great pace and composure to run the length of the field to score.  A further penalty for Malpas reduced the arrears to a penalty kick and the nerves seemed like they were going to play a part in the result. However evergreen flanker Iain Walters showed the youngsters around him the commitment and level of performance necessary to close the game out with a man of the match display. He had been exceptional all afternoon with his defensive capabilities and his appetite for the ball in hand and he was the man to settle the jitters with the all-important fourth try. With the pressure valve released the coaches rung the changes to personnel and Gardner at hooker was influential in turning the screw with some robust running. With space finally opening up due to a rapidly fatiguing Malpas outfit, replacement wide man Eveson was the beneficiary of a fine passing movement to score the games last try and ensure Malpas left empty handed.

The result ensured New Panteg cemented their place at the top of the table and winning ugly is always adequate but they are under no illusions that the level of performance must be better if they have ambitions to maintain these heights.