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Penallta travelled to Nelson for their rearranged away fixture against the Unicorns. What should have been a barnstorming local derby was tempered somewhat with Penallta –inevitably – having to rest a dozen players ready for Sunday's Plate final and Nelson with experienced players away on a mini tour.

Nevertheless, it was a competitive game of rugby and a great chance for younger players to shine. Penallta gave opportunities to three youth boys, Max George, Corey Hewlett and Lloyd Bodman, two of home were making their full debuts. Hewlett, at loose head, a position where Penallta are struggling for depth, may well have played himself into the Plate Final squad. Nelson were missing their veteran prop forward John Difford and were forced into passive scrums just after half time, but by that point Hewlett had demonstrated that he is a very capable young prop, and his performance was a huge plus for the coaches. George also played well and has a big future in the game, but unfortunately he is ineligible for selection in cup games.

Penallta lost the game 16-13 when Nelson scored a converted try with the final play. It was an irritating loss more than a disastrous one, given that the league title is almost definitely heading to Bedlinog and Penallta are almost certainly guaranteed second spot. But the Penallta coaches will be annoyed that the players didn’t see the game out. At 9-13 up and with Nelson down to 14 men, Penallta were in control; enjoying plenty of second half possession and playing with freedom. Probably too much freedom, and it eventually cost them the game. Full back Andre Soroko, desperately trying to get a starting spot in the Final side, missed more kicks than is usually the case, failing to put Nelson out of sight. Meanwhile Danny Ellis, at outside half for Nelson, kept the scoreboard ticking over for the Unicorns. Ellis’s first half drop kick from 35 metres was struck beautifully.

Nelson had been reduced to 14 men when second row Liam ‘Lunk’ Williams got sent off for clonking his old butty Jonny Wright on the back with a shoulder. The referee deemed it a yellow card because no arms were used in the tackle and then Lunk compounded his problems by getting into a retaliatory scrap with Jonny. Two yellows became a straight red and he was off. Both Jonny and Lunk are past masters at indiscretions straight in front of the ref, so before Penallta and Nelson derbies, they’d both be better served calling a pre-match truce so they can avoid the disciplinary panels. The pair of them are the least likely rugby players to get hurt by a crushing blow to the head anyway. No sense, no feeling.

Penallta were a little too disjointed to make much of the numerical advantage. They were repeatedly frustrated by brilliant jackalling work by Nelson’s forwards. Both Joel Knott and Alex Herbert were excellent over the ball and turned Penallta over on at least a dozen occasions. Without the work of the Nelson players on the deck, Penallta would’ve won the game and Knott’s performance – particularly in the first half when Nelson were, at one point, down to 13 men – was spectacularly good. He was the best player on the field and provided a lesson in ruck-timing to the young Penallta forwards.

Nelson were leading 9-3 after 55 minutes, Soroko and Ellis the only scorers. Then as the game fragmented further, Lewis Barnett scored what looked to be a crucial try for Penallta. Jonny Wright won a good turnover in midfield and from the tap penalty Barnett raced over the line to grab the game’s first try. Soroko converted to put Penallta ahead. Barnett was Penallta’s best player on the day, he looked strong and sharp and is a guaranteed starter in the centre next week alongside the rested Andrew Jenkins.

Another player who hope to get a start at the Principality Stadium is youngster Matthew Brewer. Brewer came on for the final fifteen minutes and announced his arrival with a superbly struck penalty to increase Penallta’s lead. It looked like one-way traffic at that point. Nelson were tiring, Penallta were throwing it about and at 9-13 against a Nelson side patched-up with injuries it looked for all money that Penallta would hold out. But Penallta shot themselves in the foot on a number of occasions, either running from deep and messing up, kicking poorly or giving away even more silly penalties. With time running out Number 8 Matthew Williams produced a lovely off-load to substitute winger Daniel ‘Man Cub’ Davies and he grappled his way over for Nelson’s winning try.

Time was up as Ryan Jones added the conversion and Nelson were free to celebrate another home win over Penallta, following their great win last season when they halted Penallta’s year-long unbeaten run.

The result will mean little other than loss of bragging rights and relative annoyance to the Penallta coaching staff, but the performances of Hewlett, Gezza Dallimore at open side (who tackled magnificently all afternoon) and Lucas Edwards at hooker, will be pleasing. Lloyd Rowlands too, having another go at outside half, played with assurance and passed the ball well. Another important aspect of the day was to get away from Nelson without any injuries, and that, luckily, was a box ticked.

So Penallta will travel to the Principality Stadium on Sunday May 1st against old rivals Bedlinog for the Plate final. The only player missing from what will otherwise be a full-strength squad will be flanker Ross Morgan (romantic weekend, in Rome) and Penallta, having lost home and away to Bedlinog in the league this season, know it’s going to be a tough game to win. Finding a way of holding off Bedlinog’s powerful scrum and cracking their well-organised defence will be the order of the day. Penallta have had as much success in dismantling powerful packs and turning a lost arm-wrestle into wins as any other club in the business. On Sunday they’ll face one of the toughest arm-wrestles of the lot. But never write the Pitmen off.