WRU DIVISION 3A EAST CENTRAL

Gwernyfed 81 Llandaff North 8WHILST it is always good to record a win – and there was no doubt as to the quality of Gwernyfed’s performance here – the opposition’s weakness, symbolic of the problems seen in many former rugby strongholds in Wales, took the gloss off a 13-try romp by the green, white and blacks, writes Pete Weavers.

Arriving with a bare 15 players and unable to field a front row capable of competitive scrummaging, the visitors were in disarray from the start.

Passive scrums serve only to devalue the game as a spectacle. Gwernyfed’s robust pack was frustrated by the absence of a battle up front and maybe that spurred the home side to throw caution to the wind and play an expansive game in spite of the heavy ground conditions.

First on the scoresheet was Dan Draper, back from university for the Easter break and showing what Gwernyfed sacrifice for the benefit of academia. To cement the lead in the early minutes the pack used its trademark rolling maul to propel David Roberts over the line and establish a lead that allowed the luxury of a little adventure as the match opened up.

Lewys Cooke has had a very good season and showed both insight and speed when spotting a gap in his own half to run in under the posts from 50 metres.

Zac Skyrme is another player with a good season under his belt and the centre, unstoppable from short distance, ploughed over for the fourth try. Draper made it a brace when the beneficiary of a beautifully timed pass by skipper Andy Hill and to wind up the scoring before half-time James Brute, frustrated by the passive battle in the scrum, added try-scoring to his repertoire.

With Gerwyn Williams converting five of the six tries a 40-point lead at the break could have seen Gwernyfed rest on their laurels but that prospect was firmly discounted within two minutes of the re-start when Jordan Curran joined the scoring bonanza with a strong run. Next came a well-deserved try by Matt Meredith benefitting from a Cooke cross-kick to outfox the defence.

To their credit the brave fifteen from Llandaff North never shirked their duties and they were rewarded by first a penalty and then a converted try that their fortitude deserved. However, inevitably the pounding took its toll and as injuries ensued and with no subs in sight the visitors were gradually weakened to the extent that by the end they were down to eleven upright players.

Further tries by Cooke, Craig Fuller, in this case founded upon the impressive work of Matthew Meredith who is showing what a valuable player he can be, and Gethin Williams who came off the bench for his first senior start and whose eagerness and strength bodes well for the future.

Fittingly skipper Hill, who has lead his side admirably through a successful season, finished the scoring with a pair of tries, one courtesy of an outrageous dummy and subsequent dream pass from substitute prop Will Nicholls. The referee put an end to the torture a little early but there were certainly no complaints from the home support, rather an eerie silence to recognise that this game was as much a commentary on the state of grass roots rugby in Cardiff as it was a celebration of a huge victory.

Next weekend will see a much more competitive game at The Brian Jones Memorial Field when the visitors are second placed Taff’s Well, taking on a Gwernyfed side sitting one spot behind after this win.