WRU Division 4 East Central

GWERNYFED 19  LLANDAFF NORTH 8

On a glorious day Gwernyfed entertained a travelling Dolgellau Youth XV in the morning in advance of an early kick-off in the league occasioned by the Wales game in Cardiff. The weather and the early kick-offs were clearly to the green, white and blacks’ liking as both sides recorded wins.

Those watching the Youth XV friendly fixture will have been impressed with the standards on show from both sides. Gwernyfed took the honours with a 15-7 win, but the performances throughout auger well for the future of the game. The senior side at Trefecca Road watched on and were no doubt encouraged to put in a really sound performance that lifted Gwernyfed well up the league table.

The Cardiff travellers had the edge in the early exchanges. Their pack in particular had scrum advantage by virtue of weight, but once the home front row of skipper James Brute, Joey Jones and man of the match Cellan Skyrme got the measure of the opposition, the home side were always on the front foot.

The opening score came courtesy of a long clearance from fly half Will Lloyd which was pursued successfully by winger Will Powell, also a strong contender for the man of the match award. Powell secured the high ball, made ground and, when tackled on the 22, produced a superb offload which was snaffled up by flying centre Tom Morgan who needed no second invitation, touching down in the corner. Gerwyn Williams nonchalantly added the two points.

The second quarter was not the most memorable period of rugby seen at The Brian Jones Memorial Ground, the referee’s whistle bringing play to a halt all too often. Both sides struggled for continuity and the only scores produced owed much to error in terms of a missed tackle and persistent offside, Llandaff North the beneficiaries on both occasions, the try and penalty taking them to the half time break with a single point lead.

The second half was all Gwernyfed as the visitors tired and the likes of Skyrme, Brute, Tom Lloyd and Sam Stephens made dents in the defensive line. The scrum was in full flight, Andrew Norris and replacement Scott Rees producing heft, and all of the action was in the visitors 22. Pressure told in the end and after a series of five metre scrums looked likely to yield a penalty try. The ref gave the defence one more chance, the outcome a pushover try with influential number eight Lewis Bowen controlling the ball and dotting down.

Further scores looked inevitable and the green, white and blacks went close on several occasions, not least when Johnny Rees touched down only to be inexplicably denied the score. However, it was not long before justice was served. A long clearance by the visitors was collected by scrum half Williams who returned the favour with a ‘50/22’ punt. The line out was secured by Tom Lloyd and from twenty metres the pack emphasised their superiority by delivering an armchair ride for Scott Rees who touched down, Williams completed his contribution by converting.

Llandaff North never gave up and defended against the fourth, bonus-point, try manfully. However, when they did enjoy a period in the home team’s half an opportunity to secure a line out on the five metre line was prevented when prop Cellan Skyrme somehow caught the ball and cleared into touch, showing that it was not only his scrummaging, tackling and robust ball carrying that secured the man of the match title.

The Autumn International games now interrupt the community game for a fortnight with Gwernyfed returning to action in early December when the seniors travel to Llandaff and the Youth XV entertain Ammanford in the last 16 of the WRU Plate.