WRU Division 3 East

NEW PANTEG 8 GWERNYFED 14   

Games between these sides have invariably been tight. This one proved to be no exception, Gwernyfed taking the spoils back to Talgarth thanks to some great defence and incisive attacking in a game that was a superb advertisement for local rugby.

Followed over the hills by a sizeable supporting contingent outnumbering the home faithful, Gwernyfed went on to the front foot from the kick off and with a maul brought down just short looked certain to open the scoring. The New Panteg defence thought otherwise and proved impenetrable until clearing to the half-way line to initiate thirty minutes of arm wrestling between the 22 metre lines.

Both defences were sound, green, white and black forwards Tom Lloyd, Lloyd Powell and Eckleys Prys and Will stepping forward whenever needed. Their example was mirrored in the backs where wrecking ball centres Rhodri Williams and Gethin Davies skittled their opposite numbers. The favour was reciprocated by the New Panteg defence which was equally uncompromising.

Scoring opportunities were few and far between and when they came either great defence, in the shape of a marvellous covering tackle by Jack Williams for Gwernyfed, or very keen refereeing frustrating opportunities for Williams and increasingly influential fly half and skipper Joe Winfield.

It was Winfield who engineered the move that broke the defensive dam. A line out 22 metres out had Tom Millington, Prys Eckley, Gethin Davies and Tom Lloyd challenging the gain line only to be repulsed by a red defensive wall. However, when Winfield was faced with the same wall twenty metres out, he feinted to the right, jinked to the left and completely foxed those facing him. The home full back loomed but Gethin Davies had tracked the run and was on hand to finish an excellent try. Winfield extended the lead with the two pointer.

New Panteg fought back and pressed the Gwernyfed defence only to find Gethin Davies and Lloyd Powell in imperious form, keeping the Pontypool outfit behind the gain line time and again. Will Pugh and Prys Eckley consistently turned over ruck ball, Winfield and full back Tyler Morris producing clearances that would have demoralised lesser outfits. However, the home team were made of stern stuff and finally reduced the arrears on the stroke of half time with a penalty from thirty metres out – the least that their effort deserved.

From the restart Gwernyfed took the game to their hosts, indeed if New Panteg had dominated the first half, it was Winfield’s men who took the honours as the game progressed.

The home side made little progress when trying to escape the stranglehold of a relentless Gwernyfed attack. Some great efforts by heroic wing Calum Fergusson, who gave his all in attack and defence, and drives with Will Pugh and Kelly Davies prominent promised to extend the lead but it took until the hour for effort to be rewarded. A break down the right ended when Geraint Powell punted forward to see the Panteg fly half fumble the ball ten metres in front of his own posts. The scrum was strong, Tom Griffiths found Winfield going right. The fly half reverse passed to Gethin Davies whose line, speed and power were all too much for the stubborn defence. Winfield added the conversion and the visiting support breathed a sigh of relief.

The last quarter was notable by virtue of the loss of indefatigable prop Prys Eckley with an ankle injury, Eckley, an ever present through the twenty-five game unbeaten league run enjoyed by Gwernyfed, was replaced by Rhys Price who underlined his versatility by successfully standing in for the prop when Price is usually seen in the back five.

As the clock ticked down, New Panteg finally got some reward for their effort when running in a try to earn a losing bonus point. However, as the conversion sailed wide the referee signalled no side, bringing a hugely impressive and enjoyable game to an end.

The win cements Gwernyfed’s position at the top of the table, a position more impressive given the day’s opposition, a team likely to be in the promotion shake up in spring 2026. There will be a lot of sore bodies looking to recover in advance of next weekend’s cup games, Gwernyfed visiting Llanelli where New Dock Stars are also unbeaten in their division this term. It should be another nail-biter.