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NELSON 25 GWERNYFED 13
THERE BUT FOR CONVICTION
Gwernyfed have not enjoyed their previous trips to Nelson and perhaps that contributed to a defeat that could have been so different had Danny Skyrme’s men had the complete courage of their convictions.
That the Talgarth men were capable of taking the spoils back to the Black Mountains
was clear from the start with good ball delivered by the pack allowing half backs
Mark Price and Skyrme plenty of space to release the potent centre partnership of
Izaak Duffy and Luke Exton. Both men made inroads and when the ball was re-
Excellent work in the pack by back row Steve Harley, George Barden and Richard East delivered consistent ball and on other days runs by both Exton and young Harry Rich could have resulted in tries. In fact Nelson covered well and replied in sizeable proportions when Matthew and Alwyn Williams combined to put the latter in for a try that Paul Emmanuelli converted for a lead that the hosts were never to relinquish.
Gwernyfed fought back but could not penetrate and as half time beckoned it was their defence that was called upon to hold the battlements, a task that tackling by youngsters Jordan Curran, Craig Parry and first time starter Ben Barrell was extremely effective until, with seconds to go, full back Clabby went over in the corner to extend the lead to nine points.
If the first half territorial advantage belonged to Gwernyfed, the visitors tended to lack belief in the second period. Whenever opportunity beckoned chances were spurned, one such when returning hero Chris O’Brien was stopped on the left only to see the home backs return the compliment with interest, centre Ryan Jones extending the lead.
Emmanuelli potted a penalty that appeared to sting the green, white and blacks into a resurgence. Several sorties into the home 22 yielded nothing but moral superiority until Skyrme prodded a penalty into the corner. Barden collected the line out, a try beckoned for Steve Harley from the resultant maul and whilst an illicit intervention prevented the Brecon fencer getting on the score sheet himself, the referee awarded a penalty try which Skyrme turned into seven points.
The chance to reclaim the initiative was cruelly snatched from the Talgarth men when influential centre Luke Exton dislocated a shoulder, an injury that not only deprived the visitors of a potent weapon but handed the upper hand back to Nelson.
Julian Marsh, coming in for the home side, scored a fourth, bonus point, try and whilst the arrears were reduced by a Skyrme penalty, Nelson held on comfortably to record a much needed win after a couple of reverses.
Gwernyfed coach Colin Rees was sanguine; ‘On another day this performance would have earned us a win. Things didn’t quite come together today, but if we are determined when St Peters visit Trefecca Road next week, I can see us upsetting the league leaders’, the Llanigon sage opined.
