WRU Division 4 East

CRUMLIN 17  GWERNYFED 20

Gwernyfed travelled to the Kayfield, Crumlin on a day made for rugby. Having played Crumlin at home less than a month ago, both players and coaches new they were in for another tough and physical encounter.

The away team started the match the brighter and livelier of the two sides. In the early goings they attacked the oppositions territory, playing with structure and discipline which continued to test the oppositions defence. Despite Gwernyfed winning the early possession and territory battle, it was Crumlin who score the opening try. The away team coughed up possession cheaply in the oppositions half and the home side went through multiple phases in attack. Despite the away sides valiant and continued efforts to keep the home side at bay they managed to create an overlap on the blindside to score the opening try in the corner.

Unphased by the opening score the men in green went back about their business with the forwards creating quick ball with dynamic carries from the like of Sam Stephens, Will Eckley and Prys Eckley. The increase in the tempo of the game resulted in Crumlin being offside in midfield and Zach Snape kicked the easy 3 points in front of the posts to reduce the home side’s lead to two points.

Just before the interval, substitute Gethin Davies, on for his senior debut in the green, black, and white shirt, made a powerful break in midfield splitting the opposing centres. He continued to carry the ball towards the try line and with the fullback oncoming, dived towards the try line and grounded the ball just inside the corner flag,

The conversion was missed but Davies’s try gave the Talgarth men an 8-5 half-time lead.

In the second period Gwernyfed continued where they left off. The forwards continued to lay a strong platform with carries from Lloyd Powell, Scott Rees and Craig Parry generating quick ball for the backs to attack with. This platform gave the likes of Snape and Davies, whose presence was continuing to be a real thorn in the away team’s side, the opportunity to attack wider channels. A long pass from Snape found its way to full back Callum Ferguson who in heavy traffic danced towards the opposing line. As he was being tackled the youngster had the presence of mind to stretch forward and ground the ball on the whitewash. 

Gwernyfed didn’t have it all their own way and Crumlin reduced the arrears with a try and

continued to apply pressure and sensed that a comeback was on the cards. The Crumlin outside half chipped the ball over the Gwernyfed defensive line into the hands of the Crumlin inside centre who was standing out wide (albeit offside) and grounded the ball just to the right of the oppositions up right to make create an easy conversion.

Gwernyfed hit back immediately. From the resulting kick off they pressurised the Crumlin forwards and forced a penalty at the ruck for holding on. Gwernyfed kicked to the corner, with the ball going out 10 metres from the try line, this presented a great opportunity for the pack to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. Gwernyfed caught the lineout, uncontested by the home side and this gave a great platform for the forwards to drive. With all 8 forwards working in unison, they marched towards the opposition line and Andrew ‘Chuck’ Norris grounded the ball over the line. 

With 8 minutes of the game remaining and the result in the balance there was all to play for. From the ensuing kick-off Gwernyfed let the ball bounce and roll over their try line, it was grounded for a goal line dropout. From the dropout, Crumlin continued to apply pressure to the opposition’s defensive line. Gwernyfed’s defence, which had been outstanding all day, stood firm and second row Lloyd Powell made the turnover at the ruck, allowing Gwernyfed to clear their lines. Gwernyfed won a penalty at the next lineout and with 30 seconds remaining on the clock they chose to tap the penalty to eat the clock. Two phases later, substitute scrum half Luke Eckley kicked the ball to touch to give the men from Talgarth a hard fought, but well-deserved win.

Next week they travel away to the undefeated and newly crowned division 4 cup winners, Newport Saracens. 

Meanwhile, Gwernyfed Athletic played a hastily arranged game at Llandrindod, following the home team’s League opposition, Whitchurch, declining to travel from the capital city to Mid Wales. Gwernyfed, however, failed to repeat its defeat of Llandrindod at Trefecca Road earlier in the season.

Throughout the first half, the home outside half used the strong wind behind his back to pin Gwernyfed in their 22 with some astute kicking. This allowed the experienced Llandrindod pack to dominate against their young opponents, with five tries leading to a half time score of 31-0. The second half, however, gave the advantage of the strong wind to the visitors, with the game becoming a more equal contest, as the Gwernyfed outside half copied his opposite number’s earlier kicking strategy. This allowed Gwernyfed to come more into the game, and a try apiece led to a final score of 36-7.

Despite the scoreline, this was a very valuable exercise for the visitors, allowing its contingent of young players an opportunity to gain experience of senior rugby as they seek to step up from Youth rugby.