Bedwellty may not be the most glamorous setting for a championship win, but that mattered little to the green, white and black supporters who poured into the Sirhowy Valley to watch their unbeaten side clinch the league title with another display of thrilling running rugby.

The hosts offered a warm welcome and were generous in their praise, but notwithstanding their real effort, the home side were no match for a rampant Gwernyfed.

While the backs have grabbed a lot of the glory this term, they wouldn’t have a platform without a reliable pack. On this occasion the boys up front opened the scoring by way of lock Tom Lloyd. Lloyd and his second-row partner Ollie Rose featured prominently, fielding the 13 restarts impeccably and offering a sound base from which to mount the many attacks.

Number eight Lloyd Powell has been a stand-out player throughout the campaign and he didn’t disappoint on this occasion, making bulldozing runs, winning turnover ball at will and tackling ferociously. His labour was rewarded with a try, the same plaudits going to blindside flanker Kyle Davies who ploughed over in the second half to round off an impressive performance.

The front row claimed its share of the cheers from the side, ever-reliable Prys Eckley and Craig Parry excelling in tight and loose encounters and prop Cellan Skyrme, an ever-present this season, showcasing some delightful skills with lengthy runs, great ball handling – and even a conversion.

The main event was to see club captain Sam Stephens lead out his men again after serious injury. Sam has led the club on the field by example and it is fitting that he returns to join in the celebration of what is an achievement built in significant part over many seasons upon the Talgarth farmer’s broad shoulders. No doubt the skipper enjoyed his birthday!

Of course, the league title has been secured courtesy of some wonderful play behind the pack. The backs scored 10 tries themselves, many from distance, including one Ryan Davies firecracker that saw him collect the ball behind his own try line and proceed through the defence to touch down under the posts.

Joe Winfield scored a stunner as well as controlling affairs in his normal collected fashion, Dylan Skyrme scored a brace, both from the half-way line, Ryan Davies finished with five tries, Will Lloyd touched down a singleton and second birthday boy Gethin Davies added the final try after another hugely impressive game.

Massive credit goes to so many for a great campaign, but it would be hard to imagine that the season would have gone as well without the commitment and dedication of the coaching team, Lee Thomas, Alun ‘Big Al’ Phillips, ageless Gareth Dodd, and backs maestro Tomi Lewis. Marshalled by director of rugby Ceri Morgan and wonderfully supported by an exciting Athletic XV led by Jamie Coles with Andrew Torrance and Gethin ‘Shaddy’ Evans coaching, this has been a league campaign to remember in Gwernyfed’s 60th season.

Back to the coalface on Saturday when Crickhowell visit the Brian Jones Memorial Field prior to the final game on Wednesday evening, again at home, when Crumlin visit and the WRU attend to present the league trophy to Sam Stephens.