The first game of the new season, a local derby, saw lovely weather and a big crowd, writes Peter Weavers.

The afternoon deserved a memorable game and the two Breconshire sides certainly didn’t disappoint, delivering an eight-try thriller with the bragging rights going Gwernyfed’s way.

A lively opening had Crickhowell on the front foot, opening the scoring with a Ieuan Werrett penalty after three minutes. However, the green, white and blacks showed their intent with a series of charges into the home side’s territory, Lloyd Powell, Jordan Curran and Tom Lloyd all going close. Lethal weapon, Gethin Davies lingered behind successive rucks and when Luke Eckley found him, the Hay man was too strong for the defence, plunging over to allow Tyler Morris to convert to secure the lead.

The hosts wasted no time in re-gaining the initiative, with skipper Lewis Logan prominent in every move, his example being followed by locks Langley and Collacott to good effect. The visitors’ defence was resolute, Sam Stephens prominent as always, but pressure told in the end and when the ball went wide, Dafyd James secured the five points.

Morris and Werrett exchanged penalties, leaving the Parc Broyd men a point ahead. However, when Morris took the restart he spotted an opportunity, kicking away from the forwards to the blind side where wing Tom Morgan reacted more quickly than the covering defence, hacking on and winning the foot race to touch down.

The Talgarth side were beginning to get on top and their cause was helped materially on the half hour when indiscipline saw home side prop Gavin Norman take an early bath. Gwernyfed capitalised when Cellan Skyrme, having found his man at a five-metre line-out, joined the maul and helped the visiting eight go over, Skyrme applying the final touch. Morris converted and while there was time for another close call, thwarted only when the green, white and blacks fumbled in front of the posts, Gwernyfed turned around 11 points ahead.

Crickhowell overcame the handicap of playing with 14 men in the second period and probably had the better of the later exchanges. Their task was assisted when Werrett took three points after the Gwernyfed defence strayed offside. 

Analysis suggests that the decisive factor in this game was that Gwernyfed took their chances. That was certainly the case when replacement scrum half Tom Griffiths fed Morris, the ball passing through the hands of centres Dylan Skyrme and Gethin Davies before Calum Ferguson finished a fine move with aplomb. Once again, Morris converted from a wide angle.

A 15-point lead was reduced by three from Werrett and when the hosts returned to the attack to be met by impenetrable defence, a clever crossfield kick was well fielded by Ieuan Evans who had no difficulty crossing over. Werrett mirrored his opposite number’s success with a conversion from wide out.

Once again, Gwernyfed struck from the restart. Crickhowell cleared the kick off back to replacement Kyle Davies who, by force and guile, evaded several tackles, eventually setting up a ruck deep in the defence 22 metre area. Crickhowell’s tackling was fierce but, smelling another score, the visiting eight propelled Lloyd Powell over. Inevitably Morris converted and with a 12-point lead and 10 minutes to go the game looked secure. Logan’s men didn’t see it like that and summoned up reserves of energy to mount a series of attacks that ended with a fine try by flanker Keanu Morris. Werrett added the two points but the score was too late to affect the outcome and when excellent referee Alex Yau blew the final whistle it was Gwernyfed who celebrated, Crickhowell having the scant consolation of a losing bonus point to show for the their efforts.

This game was a great advertisement for the community game. It was notable that 11 of the Gwernyfed side followed in the footsteps of their fathers in representing the green, white and blacks. They were 11 of 40 players on both sides who gave of their all supported by a big crowd enjoying the effort and skill on show.

On the evidence of this game both sides can look forward to a good season, Gwernyfed starting the home campaign next week when Pontllanfraith visit Talgarth while Crickhowell journey to RTB Ebbw Vale.