Gwernyfed 12 Abvercynon 29
GWERNYFED have battled all season with little luck and plenty of commitment. The results have gone against the green, white and blacks and the trend continued when the visit of Abercynon was the proverbial ‘must win’ game.
On a day made for running rugby both sides showed enterprise with home full back Lewis Cooke proving to be particularly elusive, embarking upon a number of mazy runs.
Several efforts by the home pack were repulsed and though Gwernyfed looked to be favourites to open the scoring it was the visitors who turned the tables with a great break down the left wing, Keith Williams touching down for Bowcott to convert.
Flushed with success the visitors extended their lead with a Bowkett penalty only to be pegged back when the home pack propelled hooker Craig Fuller over for a well deserved try.
Just before the break Abercynon played Gwernyfed at their own game, mauling over after a five metre line out, Rhys Roberts getting the final touch. Bowkett added the two points, leaving Sam Stephens’ side with a mountain to climb in the second period.
For the first twenty minutes of the second half Gwernyfed played some of their best rugby of the season. Lewis Cooke was always involved in three-quarter moves with both wings, Jack Williams and Matt Tucker making ground and Zak Snape in particular proving to be a handful.
The effort was rewarded by a superb try from 40 metres out involving most of the backs, Snape eventually touching down under the posts to make the conversion a formality.
Unfortunately for the large home crowd the score proved to be the end of the resurgence and tries by Hudson and Rogers, one converted by Bowcott put the nail in Gwernyfed’s coffin for the day, a result that casts a long shadow over the chances of staving off relegation.
This week’s trip to Llantrisant doesn’t sound like a banker win but a young team shows plenty of promise and if the worse comes to the worst they will bounce back very quickly.