With their opponents looking to bounce back after being relegated last term and a few players missing due to domestic commitments, this game looked to test the depth of the Gwernyfed squad.

One of the absentees was Club Captain Joe Winfield. While Winfield left a sizeable hole, that was admirably filled by Tyler Morris who donned the 10 jersey and proceeded to run the show. The result, a second successive bonus point win in higher company.

WRU Division 3 East

Report by Peter Weavers

Caerleon barely got a look in during the first period and yet all the green, white and blacks had to show for a dominant 40 minutes were two converted tries. Early sorties by Cellan Skyrme and Rhys Price were thwarted by some stout defence and it took 15 minutes for the deadlock to be broken when an attacking scrum on the visitors’ 22 allowed Luke Eckley to release centre Gethin Davies. With only four men to beat over 25 metres it was no contest, the Hay man allowing Morris a simple conversion.

Normal service was resumed with Gwernyfed always on the front foot but not quite turning opportunity into points, not least due to an uncharacteristic series of line-out losses. However, when Morris pushed a penalty into the corner as half-time approached, the line-out did function as planned, Will Pugh collecting to feed Luke Eckley. Morris and Gethin Davies linked, the centre finding left wing Dylan Skyrme on his elbow, the speedy youngster going in under the posts to make the conversion a formality.

After 40 dominant minutes, as is often the case, the tables were turned as the second period unfolded, Caerleon mounting a series of attacks. Gwernyfed’s resistance this term has reaped the dividend offered by the arrival of local rugby stalwart Matthew Lewis as defence coach. There was no way through for the Gwent men, but the inevitable penalties for offside and slowing ruck ball down allowed replacement Owain Jones to reduce the arrears with two penalties.

Stung by the threat, Gwernyfed skipper Will Eckley rallied the troops who responded with two marvellous tries. First, after a run down the left from Dyan Skyrme was halted on the 10-metre line, replacement scrum half Tom Griffiths set Morris free to draw the defence before timing his pass to Gethin Davies to perfection. The big centre made 20 metres before returning the favour, Morris following up to receive the pass and canter over.

If Morris’s try was good, the next, from right wing and Man of the Match Will Lloyd was even better. Conceding a scrum on their own 10-metre line when a clearance kick went well beyond the home side’s dead ball line, Caerleon’s defence was shredded. Number eight Kyle Davies picked up and found irrepressible full-back Ryan Davies coming in at speed. Having made 30 metres unhindered, a covering tackler loomed, but Davies was afforded the luxury of releasing Lloyd, steaming down the wing to complete the move.

Whereas in the previous game at The Brian Jones Field the visiting defence rather gave up in the face of a welter of attacks, Caerleon were made of sterner stuff and pressed to reduce the arrears. Once again, the home defence was sound and when the ferocity of the tackling forced the ball to go lose 10 metres short of the try line, flanker Will Pugh picked up, pinned his ears back and went the length of field to the cheers of a sizeable crowd.

Morris converted the try with only a few minutes left on the clock and if anyone looked likely to alter the scoreline it looked to be Gwernyfed, indeed one glorious opportunity was missed when a desperate tackle caused Jack Williams to drop the ball forward. In fact it was the visitors who had the last word when a maul from a line-out close in produced a collapse over the line which the referee adjudged to be worthy of a penalty try - a score that was no more than a determined Caerleon side deserved.

Two games, two resounding wins, but next week offers a real challenge when the green, white and blacks travel to the fortress that is Fleur de Lys RFC. The coaching team will be working hard in mid-week as, while the scorelines have been impressive, there is little doubt that the lads are capable of more than has been on display in these early exchanges where ring rustiness is to be expected.