Super Cup Pool C

Penybanc Panthers 40 Nantyffyllon 17

Thanks to last week’s win over cup favourites Haverfordwest and facing a depleted Nantyffyllon, the Panthers found themselves in the unusual position of pre-match favourites.

But any pressure on the hosts certainly didn’t show as Brittony Price continued her rich vein of form by crossing the whitewash inside the first minute. Catrin Rees converted.

Nantyffyllon reacted well and levelled on six minutes, but the Panthers appeared in determined mood and produced a fine try on eight minutes as powerhouse Fabiana O’Callahan crashed over for a try. Rees again converted.

The Panthers settled into their rhythm and Price doubled her tally with a great individual try on 12 minutes.

With the young Panthers going through phase after phase, on fire Price danced her way to the try-line for a 25-minute hat-trick. The dependable Rees added the extras in metronomic fashion.

With Nantyffyllon’s looking to exploit their strength in the pack, the slick Panthers opted to utilise their backs and enjoyed passing the ball around the park with impressive Alana Woodford orchestrating things from outside-half.

Totally against the flow of the game, the visitors turned over a loose ball over and their No8 crashed in for a try.

The score spurned the Panthers on and some fantastic phases of play ended when O’Callahan went over for her second. Rees converted to end the half with the Panthers 33-12 to the good.

With Penybanc’s dominating every aspect of the first half they were guilty of taking their foot off the gas after the break, allowing Nantyffylllon to register their third try of the game with the game deteriorating into a stop-start affair with the referee’s whistle becoming ever more prominent.

Panther ill-discipline offered Nantyffyllon some good field position but the visitors failed to take advantage while solid tackling from Danielle Jenkins and Kirsty Hopkins kept the opposition at bay.

With the game seemingly won, the Panthers reshuffled their pack and handed Michelle Phillips her debut in Penybanc colours.

The hosts continued to dominate with their passing game and Price raced in for her fourth score, which Woodford converted.

A professional performance earned the Panthers all four points plus a bonus, confirming their position at the top of the Pool C table with two games remaining.

Penybanc RFC’s Director of Women’s rugby Hywel Thomas said: “This was a top performance with many individuals shinning, but we have still have some work to do on the training ground if we are to achieve our goal of reaching the finals.

“However, we can now travel to Bargoed for our next game confident that we can get something out of the encounter.”

The club would like to wish Panther Chloe Davies their best when she runs out at Twickenham on Friday for her University – UWIC in the BUCS final against Exeter.