GWERNYFED Athletic returned to the top of Division One of the Pontypool, Newport and Gwent League when they recorded an emphatic 41-5 victory at Chepstow.

With the weather wreaking havoc across South Wales, Gwernyfed were somewhat fortunate that the game went ahead while their only rivals for the title and league winners for the last five years, Risca Athletic, saw their game cancelled.

This allowed Gwernyfed to open up a five point lead although, with games in hand, the men from Gwent are still favourites to notch up another League championship.

Winning the toss, Gwernyfed elected to play with the elements, as a strong wind blew directly down the pitch, adjacent to the Severn Bridge with its 30 mph speed restriction.

This allowed for early ascendancy and the visitors secured two converted tries in the first quarter of an hour, Mykel Jones crossing first followed by Owen Humphries, both a result of a series of mauls on the Chepstow line.

A penalty increased the lead to 17 points and, in a crucial period of play either side of the half time break, scrum half Gareth East crossed over for another seven point score just before the break while, in the first minute of the second half, his half back partner, Gareth Dodd, added another try which he duly converted.

While Chepstow came back strongly after that, they were never likely to overturn a thirty one point lead and, on the hour, an Anthony Workman try increased this by a further five points.

Good driving play by their forwards saw the home team score a fine try but Gwernyfed immediately responded when James Brute secured the kick off and passed the ball to Gareth Dodd who galloped in for his second. However, both of these remained unconverted against the strong wind.

This was a good workmanlike performance from the Gwernyfed team. Halfbacks Gareth East and Gareth Dodd controlled things well, with the later scoring 19 points, while, in an excellent forward display, the newly slim line Anthony Workman, second row James Evans and replacement Matthew Hargest were prominent.