Twelve months earlier they had been on the wrong side of the result in the WRU National Plate final against Haverfordwest, 20-17, a brace of tries from full back Mirian Jones gave CRCC a narrow lead at halftime before second half scores from captain Maleri Daniel, Georgia McKenzie-Liddington and Laura Stewart sealed victory.
It was a memorable day for CCRC’s Anwen Hopkins who played in the winning side after watching her daughter, Gwennan, help Wales beat Italy a few hours earlier in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations.
The opening try went the way of CRCC after seven minutes with Jones scoring following some neat handling down the backline. Alaw Hughes added the conversion.
Outside half Hughes kicked a penalty in the 22nd minute to extend the lead to 10 points as the Old Pens struggled to create any real momentum. They finally managed to get on the scoreboard against the run of play in the 28th minute with scrum half Kim Seaford-Jones taking a penalty quickly to score from five meters out.
A second try for the Old Pens came a couple of minutes later following line breaks from try scorer Seaford-Jones and blindside flanker Jordie Parker. The ball then headed out wide to Jodie Read who went over unopposed from short range.
Full back Lucy Laky’s second conversion of the afternoon gave her side a 14-10 lead. In the final play of the opening 40 minutes Jones scored her second try for CRCC, beating two defenders to cross to give her side a one point interval lead.
The Old Pens re-took the lead at the beginning of the second half after a strong carry and offload from Rachel Cosier that allowed Ffion Bowen to score at the posts. Laky added a third conversion to make it 21-15.
The response from CRCC was almost immediate as they won a breakdown penalty following the restart. A tap and go from a second penalty after a high tackle saw captain Meleri Daniel power over in the 49th minute.
Winger McKenize-Liddington added a fourth try for CRCC after spotting a gap on the fringe of the breakdown to extend their lead.
With the game heading into the final quarter, CRCC scored their fifth try in the 68th minute after an excellent break from Jones, who was stopped inside the Old Pens 22. Quick ball from the breakdown saw outside centre Laura Stewart stroll in to score her side’s fifth try of the game.
CCRC: Mirian Jones; Georgia McKenzie-Liddlington, Laura Stewart, Laura Satterly, Rhi Gower; Alaw Hughes, Caitlin Dop; Meleri Daniel (captain), Beth Kenure, Elin Davies, Anwen Hopkins, Lousie Cox, Georgia Cummings, Maddie Rees, Carys Parry
Reps: Danielle Hargan, Sarah Turner, Emily Haywood, Beth Jones, Katie Hobbs, Sophie Longland, Lydia Marsh, Molly WebsterScorers: T: Jones 2, Daniel, McKenzie-Liddington, Laura Stewart; C: Hughes 2;
P: HughesOld Penarthians: Lucy Laky; Jodie Read, Rachel Cosier, Ffion Bowen, Jodie Smith; Amiee Smith, Kim Seaford-Jones; Chloe Thomas, Kaitlin Scanlon, Stacey Horne, Isabel Wing, Clare Reeve, Jodie Parker, Jessica Wallington (captain), Sioned Davies
Reps: Rhiannon Seaford-Jones, Kimberley Lacey, Molly Sheehan, Ella Hatherill, Natasja Gill, Sarah Davies, Bicky Evans, Kelsey EadyScorers: T: K Seaford-Jones, J Read, Bowen C: Laky 3
Go.Compare Player of the Match: Mirian Jones (CCRC)
