PENTYRCH 23 v GWERNYFED 17
Gwernyfed 1st XV travelled to Pentyrch in a re-arranged League fixture on Saturday
and, being required to start the match with uncontested scrums, lost a close game
by 23 points to 17. With the set scrum being a major strength of the team’s performance
throughout this season, this clear disadvantage was compounded by the acephalous
strategy adopted by the Trefecca Road outfit, allied to an idiosyncratic performance
by the referee. He awarded three yellow cards against the Powys side, two of which
were, quite simply, baffling but Gwernyfed were guilty of allowing this to affect
their performance. With the Gwernyfed forwards having the edge against their opponents,
whose backs continually threatened, particularly in the second half, the team failed
to use their clear advantage up front, especially in the latter 40 minutes when,
with a wind and slope to their advantage, there was little attempt to play a kicking
game that would have seen an attacking platform in the Pentyrch 22. Despite matching
the home side to three tries a piece, Gwernyfed lost the game due to an excellent
goal kicking performance by the home outside half.
