With the senior side having stormed to their divisional championship, Jamie Coles’s Athletic side reached the semi-final of the Dragons League Bowl and entertained Garndiffaith Gorillas on an afternoon made for running rugby. The green, white and blacks took advantage of the conditions, showing fleet of foot that the visitors’ defence failed to combat, a final in Newport the reward for a twelve-try romp.

Gwernyfed Athletic 72 - Garndiffaith Gorillas 15

It didn’t take long for the blitz to begin, lock Matt Rolfe showing speed of thought and foot to pick up and run in from 30 metres. A few minutes later, a great move involving searing runs from Carl Gwynne and Will Powell gave scrum-half Harri Saunders-Jones an opening that doubled the lead, Zack Snape converting both tries.

Speed in the backs was at the root of the win. Harry Ratcliffe, lightning fast down the right wing, left the defence flat-footed and within minutes the action switched to the left where Cori Phillips made good metreage before releasing Tom Morgan, who needed no second invitation. Callum Fergusson was the beneficiary when quick thinking by Saunders-Jones taking a tap restart allowed the full-back space down the left to finish.

Flanker Alfie Thomas was always robust and regularly sucked in defenders, allowing his backs space. His relentless running was all too much for the Gwent men, who failed to stop a charge from 30 metres for the sixth try.

It was all going Gwernyfed’s way, though to their credit Garndiffaith never gave up and reaped the reward for some hefty forward charges by scoring two tries from close range just before the half-time whistle.

If anything, the second period was even more one-sided, with the fitter Gwernyfed side running the defence ragged. The seventh try was a peach: Tom Morgan collecting in his own 22, making fifty metres unchallenged to find Ieuan Thomas on his shoulder when needed. Thomas needed no second invitation.

Fergusson scored the next, courtesy of a strong run by Matt Rolfe, and then centre Will Powell went in under the posts after collecting a loose ball on the 22. Dylan Skyrme came on off the bench and immediately put his name on the scoresheet before Harry Ratcliffe bagged his second of the afternoon.

Garndiffaith got what by now was certainly a consolation try, but as time ebbed away Will Powell dotted down the final try, offering Snape a simple conversion that wrapped up an entertaining afternoon.