A visit to Tylorstown would not have been Gwernyfed’s first choice when the numbers came out of the hat for the cup draw. However, despite travelling to hostile territory and the loss of iconic captain Sam Stephens to serious injury before the break, the green, white and blacks carried all before them with yet another 50-point performance.

Joe Winfield was instrumental in the win, the fly-half recording 22 points from the kicking tee and always choosing the right option to get the best out of an impressive three-quarter line. When heft was needed up front, Lloyd Powell, Jordan Curran and Tom Lloyd were just three of the eight holding up their hands for work, offering a platform for half backs Tom Griffiths and Winfield in an impressive showing.

It all started so badly. Within a minute the ring-rustiness caused by the five-week Christmas/weather break allowed the home backs to waltz in under the posts unattended. Worse was to come in the seventh minute; the lead extended to 12 points when an innocuous-looking ruck out wide saw the home left wing pick up and go into the corner.

Winfield restarted with the words of skipper Stephens and the roars of the large contingent of travelling support ringing in green, white and black ears. The fly half put the ball into touch in the home 22 consistently. Tylorstown defended a couple of line-outs close in but conceded a five-metre scrum when the ever-reliable Craig Parry charged down the relieving kick. No guile was deployed and none was needed. Gethin Davies lined up to receive the ball from Tom Griffiths, had only three defenders lining up to meet him – and that is not enough from 10 metres, the Hay centre crashing over to allow Winfield a simple conversion.

A trend was established as Gwernyfed pressed forward. Inevitably the hosts had need to transgress, at this stage unaware of the deadly accuracy of Winfield’s aim. The three-pointer from distance on the half hour should have set alarm bells ringing.

The next incursion saw Lloyd Powell picking up at the base of a scrum on the halfway line. Powell rampaged forward for 30 metres, supported by scrum half Griffiths. When the move was stopped within five metres of the whitewash, quick clearance allowed Winfield to assess his options, the perfect choice being a 40-metre chip, to right wing Will Lloyd who collected under pressure to give Gwernyfed the lead. Winfield converted from the touchline.

A major blow struck from the restart when the backbone of the side, magnificent club captain and great flanker Sam Stephens went down when receiving a heavy blow while attempting to turn the ball over. The exchange happened in front of the home supporters and to their immense credit several ran on, aware that this was a serious injury, to assist. Stephens, first-time father to Wilfred only five days earlier, rarely goes down and it was no surprise at all when he had to be helped off, doctors at Prince Charles Hospital confirming physio Dani Clarke’s diagnosis of a badly dislocated shoulder.

The scoreline may suggest that the Talgarth side had it all their own way. That was far from the case, the hosts moving the ball well and never less than competitive up front. Still digesting the loss of their inspirational skipper, Gwernyfed lost the lead as Tylorstown scored tries either side of half-time. Vice captain Jack Williams reminded his men that they owed Stephens a trip to the semis – it was all downhill from there.

From a line-out on the halfway line Winfield made 20 metres and then a move involving Gethin Davies and Dylan Skyrme put Will Lloyd free. When the Clyro man was brought down, Will Eckley, Cellan Skyrme, Jordan Curran and Davies all threatened the line with the whitewash finally crossed by hooker Craig Parry, a reward for a man who has performed magnificently in green, white and black over the seasons.

Winfield opened up a three-point lead with a penalty. From the restart a line-out win after a great clearance kick by Jack Williams had Tom Griffiths making a break, Davies was on his elbow and when assailed by three defenders offloaded to Williams who went close. The ball went wide to Will Lloyd from the resultant ruck. Lloyd had much to do but is having a great season, his strength and confidence carrying him over with three defenders in attendance.

Winfield’s conversion was supplemented by another three-pointer on the hour. By now Tylorstown could see the writing on the wall, that script writ large when, within a minute of the restart, expansive moves to left and right were rewarded when Davies, having made 20 metres under fire, delivered the perfect pass to centre partner Dylan Skyrme, who needed no second invitation to outpace the defence to touch down.

Even the occasional foray into Gwernyfed’s half helped the hosts little. When winning a ruck on their 22-metre line Winfield saw Gethin Davies out wide. Winfield’s 50-metre punt was unerring and after Davies had made forty metres with only the full back to beat, he took the unselfish option, offering Skyrme a run-in, breaking Tylorstown hearts.

Winfield added a penalty to take Gwernyfed over the 50-point mark, capping a wonderful performance. By then Tylorstown had accepted defeat and while launching a couple of attacks, at the final whistle and in the Clubhouse later the hosts were generous in their welcome and in their praise for a great green, white and black performance.

Coaches Thomas, Lewis, Phillips and Dodd must take immense credit for the win and for the standards attained by both the First and Athletic sides in the season so far. However, there are no laurels upon which to rest yet. The coaching team and the men who run over the white line next Saturday face a big task when RTB Ebbw Vale visit The Brian Jones Memorial Field as league action returns to Talgarth.