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TONYREFAIL 16  GWERNYFED  13   

 

LAST GASP DEFEAT

 

 

New pastures beckoned as Gwernyfed travelled into the Rhondda valleys for the visit to newly promoted Tonyrefail.

 

It’s an ill wind, as they say, the home side being boosted by being coached by Wales skipper Matthew Rees, injury preventing him form going to the World Cup. Only Rees can say whether this win was compensation enough!

 

In fact on a fine day it was Gwernyfed who set the early pace with new skipper Danny Skyrme opening the affair with a drop goal from 30 metres after some good work in the ruck by Richard East and David Roberts.

 

The score was neutralised by a Lewis Crabbe penalty and shortly after what turned out to be a critical injury to young Steve Price, a promising prop made life more difficult for the travelling Talgarth men.

 

Some judicious kicking by Skyrme and full back Nathan Roberts together with fine runs by Gareth Dodd, Andy Hill and Zak Snape kept the visitors going forward, their work being rewarded by great line out takes by George Barden and Jon Davies. It was a line out that offered Mark Price the opportunity to spread the ball, finding Steve Harley standing out to canter through the home defence making Roberts’s conversion a formality.

 

The Gwernyfed scrum found itself under pressure, though young Craig Parry on in lieu of Price and the peripatetic James Handiside held their ground valiantly, allowing Price and Skyrme to prod the ball forward where Barden and Lewis Bowen scrapped for everything, their reward a penalty that Roberts potted to open up a ten point half-time lead.

 

Rees read the Riot Act to his men, no doubt targeting the scrum where the home side held sway. There was no doubting the Rhondda men’s superiority here, but Steve Harley battled manfully, picking up at the base and making hard yards. However, pressure tells and Crabbe took advantage to take three points when the ball was held for just a little too long.

 

A war of attrition ensued with the home side battering away at a sound Gwernyfed defence. Great tackling from East, Barden, Harley and Darren Roe promised to save the day but as reward for perseverance wing Chris Rand finished off an excellent move that was converted to seven points by Matthew Cook.

 

With no time left a draw looked to be the outcome and Gwernyfed were entitled to feel hard done by when after a lengthy allowance for extra time the referee awarded a penalty for offside some thirty yards from the action. Cook was cool and took the three points, his kick being the last meaningful action of what was an excellent advert for local rugby.

 

Next week sees the visit of Aberdare to Trefecca Road. Mike Eckley’s coaching team will be hoping for better luck on the injury front, but look forward with some optimism in the light of an excellent performance.