WRU Division 3A East Central
PENYGRAIG 6 GWERNYFED 6
SPOILS SHARED IN EPIC BATTLE
After the highly-charged events of the previous week when the new ground was launched, Gwernyfed’s faithful were brought swiftly back to earth with a less than glamorous trip to the Penygraig in the Rhondda Valley. The hosts are a robust side, noted for the directness of their play and their commentary upon the game, so the green, white and blacks knew what to expect.
In fact the game turned out to be a triumph for the Talgarth men, not just the twenty muddied and bloodied heroes on the pitch, also for Team Manager Lee Thomas who made light of late illness calls and absences and particularly for the coaching team of Chay Billen and Danny Skyrme. The lessons offered by Billen and Skyrme were very evident in a side that took Penygraig on nose to nose and played the better rugby throughout.
The game produced very few try scoring chances. That was a function of well organised defences both around the scrum and line-out area and wide out. In the first half a couple of sorties by Rab Smith and skipper Andy Hill threatened to break the deadlock and towards the break only a knock-on thwarted a try for Sam Stephens after the visitors had stolen a line-out. In contrast, Penygraig barely got over the 22 metre line and relied only upon long range penalty attempts.
The referee found plenty not to like and penalties abounded. Few were within kicking distance but on the odd occasion that such an opportunity arose Gerwyn Williams opened up the lead and then renewed it after Owain Davies had brought the scores level for Penygraig.
Scoring was not the theme of this game. It was the application of rugby skill. In the scrum the front row of Aaron Nicholls, Craig Parry and James Brute bossed affairs. Behind them Mark Hilleard and Will Nicholls were the power house in more ways than one, carrying and tackling brilliantly. Work around the fringes was meat and drink to Craig Fuller and Sam Stephens and Ben Barrell worked himself to a standstill at number eight.
As the second half unfolded Gwernyfed’s success in thwarting the promotion-chasing hosts resulted in the home crowd becoming unusually quiet. Incisive work by Lewys Cooke, Jack Williams, Zac Skyrme and Izaak Duffy, all of whom regularly knocked their opposite numbers back, was critical in keeping the green, white and blacks on the front foot to the point where the try bonus point that the home supporters had forecast became a pipe dream.
A Davies penalty served to bring the scores level but as fresh legs in the form of Gareth East, Andrew Norris and James Holmes Powell relieved the battered heroes it was Gwernyfed who looked the more likely victors.
A final drive down the middle with Barrell, Parry, Brute and Hilleard leading the charge made good yardage and the experience of the previous 79 minutes suggested that a penalty wasn’t far away. For once it didn’t come and Gerwyn Williams was forced to attempt a drop goal from 35 metres in conditions not designed to foster accuracy. The kick went wide and the spoils were shared in what was a really entertaining game for those interested in the inner intricacies of the game.
Next week sees Vale of Glamorgan side Pontyclun visit The Brian Jones Memorial Field. They lie a couple of points above Gwernyfed and won’t be looking forward to the trip given green, white and black form of the least few weeks.