WRU Division 4 East

GWERNYFED 43  HAFODYRYNYS 10

A good crowd watched Gwernyfed deliver an impressive performance, completing the double over the visitors from Gwent with a six try romp. With four tries from the Eckley brothers from Glasbury and another sterling performance from prop Prys Eckley, there was inevitably only one name on the lips of those celebrating in the bar after the game.

In fact, notwithstanding the eventual outcome, Hafodyrynys took the lead in the first minute when over-enthusiastic defensive alignment conceded a three-pointer from in front of the posts. From that point onward there was only one winner. The lead was recovered when number 8 Will Eckley pounced on a loose ball emerging from a defensive scrum to touch down, allowing evergreen fly half Gareth Dodd a simple two-pointer.

It was Eckley again who got the ball down after some good work by Ashton Barrell, Prys Eckley and Craig Parry in the depth of the maul, Scott Rees and Lloyd Powell helping by adding momentum to the drive.

As always, flankers Lewis Bowen and Sam Stephens tackled incessantly and it was their determination to win the confrontation that allowed the backs the space to move the ball along the line. Lloyd Rees and Harry Saunders-Jones were prominent, releasing live wire winger Matty Price who got over the line from twenty metres out in spite of the attention of a rake of defenders.

The visitors never gave up and when, in trying to run out of defence Gwernyfed spilled the ball, Hafodyrynys took advantage by hacking through and winning the footrace to touch down under the posts. The ensuing melee saw Gareth Dodd receive a yellow card which is something of a collector’s item for a player who has performed magnificently in local rugby for over two decades and always been a player of care and integrity. The temporary absence of the veteran saw top class full back Calum Ferguson take over the kicking duties, potting two penalties by half time to open up a 26-10 lead.

The second period saw Price in action within minutes of the re-start, seizing a ball that should have been collected by the visitors backs and setting off at pace down the left wing. Caught metres short, a composed Price saw Luke Eckley following up, as good scrum halves do, Eckley showing his brother that whatever his bother could do, he could do as well, touching down under the posts.

Older sibling Will returned the compliment when completing another of Gwernyfed’s trademark roiling maul moves, mom Lisa pronouncing that it would be extra roast spuds for the boys on Sunday to celebrate the Eckley try feast!

Coach Richard East threw all of this subs on and their drive and energy was the final nail in the coffin for the valiant visitors, Johnny Rees going close before James Holmes-Powell completed an impressive interception to release Sam Clegg who drove over with three defenders on his back, Dodd completing a successful afternoon with the conversion.

International activity allows some of the injured players not currently available time for recovery before Gwernyfed resume league activity with a visit to Blackwood Stars on 2 March.