GWERNYFED 53 - CROESYCEILIOG 15

For the second week of the league season, Gwernyfed met a side from Cwmbran as Will Eckley’s men dip their toes into life in the higher division with their first home game of the season. Croesyceiliog, like their neighbours, found the strength and speed of the Talgarth men too much, conceding nine tries in front of a sizeable crowd enjoying some good rugby in the sun.

The visitors played their part in a first half of running rugby, but the green, white and blacks were irrepressible in attack and robust in defence. From the kick-off, the hosts were on the front foot with skipper Eckley and Gethin Davies punching holes in the Croesy defence. When a clearance kick was caught by the wind to run over the dead-ball line, the resultant scrum gave Davies a platform to go close, Lloydd Powell collecting from the ruck to go closer, to be followed up by Geraint Powell, who ploughed over to open the scoring with four minutes on the clock.

It was 15 minutes before the next score, the period characterised by some great tackling from front rowers Kelly Davies, Tom Powell and Prys Eckley, always keeping the visitors on the back foot. When the second try did come, it was courtesy of a one-man show from number eight Lloydd Powell, who picked up the ball on the halfway line and bulldozed his way through a series of defenders to touch down in the right-hand corner, the try a testimony to the Hay man’s power.

The visitors produced plenty of quality play, earning a dividend by way of an excellent try by right wing Jack Taylor after 25 minutes. The arrears were reduced further when fly-half Simmons opted to take the three points after several sorties had been repulsed by the Gwernyfed defence.

With the lead narrowed to two points, Gwernyfed returned to the attack, capitalising when the visitors conceded a penalty from the restart. Fly-half Tyler Morris found touch within five metres of the corner flag, hooker Kelly Davies produced another in a series of accurate throws, allowing Geraint Powell to pluck the ball out of the air. With the ensuing maul stalling, centres Gethin Davies and Rhodri Williams added their weight to the affair and it was Williams who touched down for a try that owed more to brawn than the centre’s usual speed. Morris rewarded the effort with the conversion.

Rather than rest on their laurels with the immediate prospect of a second half with a strong wind at their back, the Talgarth side extended the lead with a superb try. Some fine midfield defence by Kelly Davies and Eli Williams-Sweet forced the visitors to throw a hopeful wide pass that was intercepted by Will Lloyd. Lloyd made headway from his own twenty-two, skipper Eckley and Geraint Powell linked to their backs. When the ball reached Gethin Davies, he spotted a misalignment in the advancing defence to take full advantage, making thirty metres before releasing left wing speedster Tom Morgan, who needed no second invitation, extending the half-time lead to fourteen points.

With both momentum and a helpful wind, Gwernyfed looked to take advantage of what was proving to be their superior fitness as Tyler the second period evolved. Within five minutes of the restart, Tyler Morris put a long clearance from his own ten-metre line into the opposition 22. Gwernyfed were quicker in both thinking and foot, Geraint Powell grabbing the ball and finding skipper Eckley with a long throw, the Glasbury farmer needing no second invitation to go over from ten metres.

Lloydd Powell scored the green, white and black’s sixth, though not without incident. An expansive move saw Jack Williams and Will Lloyd make thirty metres down the right wing before Lloyd released Powell, who looked odds on to add to his tally until losing the ball forward thanks to a last-gasp tackle. By way of recompense, the home pack pushed the defending eight off the ball in the scrum, whereupon Powell picked up at the base to go over.

Within two minutes, Rhodri Williams added to the total courtesy of a Will Eckley steal at the ruck on the halfway line to allow Calum Fergusson and Will Lloyd space for Lloyd to provide once again. The wing passed inside to Williams, who went over unaccompanied, the big centre landing his hat-trick five minutes later when adding the final touch to a movement from a penalty five metres out.

Croesyceiliog secured something of a consolation with a converted try with ten minutes to go, but the last word went to Gwernyfed when Will Lloyd turned from provider to scorer. Ball from a scrum 22 metres out on the left-hand touchline was spread by scrum-half Luke Eckley, finding replacement Dylan Skyrme coming into the line. Skyrme’s arrow-like pass found Lloyd out wide on the right and the Clyro flier sped into the corner from twenty metres to complete a nine-try victory for the Talgarth side.

Having stepped up following last season’s promotion, two games in, Gwernyfed have demonstrated that they can hold their own in higher company with two resounding wins. There will be tougher games, starting, no doubt, with Usk’s visit to Trefecca Road next weekend. Nevertheless, a great start for Eckley’s side and the coaching team at Gwernyfed.