WRU Division 5 East

WRU East Central Division 3A

GWERNYFED 27 CEFN COED 3

GREEN, WHITE AND BLACKS IN CELEBRATORY MOOD

It was a special occasion. Before the game the President of the Welsh Rugby Union, Mr Dennis Gethin, WRU Directors, former Wales and British Lions star, Ryan Jones, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, Chris Davies, Leader of Powys County Council Rosemarie Harris and Mayor of Talgarth Jacqui Wilding joined hundreds assembled to celebrate the re-naming of the newly purchased playing area at Trefecca Road.

Notwithstanding the eminence of the guests listed, the most important of those in attendance were Mary Jones and her family, joining with the Gwernyfed faithful to sew the name and memory of Mary’s late husband, Brian ‘Titch’ Jones, into the very fabric of the rugby club by unveiling the board announcing that Gwernyfed RFC now play at The Brian Jones Memorial Field.

Ryan Jones, now responsible for developing rugby at grass roots rugby in Wales, paid tribute to Gwernyfed as being the epitome of what the community game should represent. ‘No Club in Wales can claim to have a closer-knit group representing all ages and both sexes – you should be very proud of everyone that has worked so hard to build a great Club’, said the star. Ryan was impressed and touched by the fact that the Club had selected its youngest registered players, Lola Howe from Bronllys and Sam Corbett from Pengenffordd, to take centre stage as the field was re-named. Chairman Robert Stephens responded by saying that the work put in over the last fifty-three years was really just creating a stage for the likes of Lola and Sam and their children and grand-children.

In a poignant commentary upon her life with Titch, Mary explained that Gwernyfed RFC had been the third person in the marriage, but a hugely welcome and enjoyable interloper. ‘Brian would have loved an occasion like this and my family and I are truly honoured that the Club has chosen to record Brian’s contribution in such a splendid manner’, said Mary to a large crowd showing little evidence of dry eyes.

The celebrations put the green, white and blacks under pressure. It would have been something of a dampener had they not been able to continue their winning run and the tension was palpable. However, Andy Hill’s men are made of stern stuff and within two minutes of the start nerves were settled when a dominant home pack drove over a rolling maul, prop James Brute getting the score with all eight taking the credit. Gerwyn Williams potted the conversion from wide out and the scene was set.

Old friends Cefn Coed brought a sizeable pack over the Brecon Beacons. There must have been at least a stone a man advantage for the Merthyr side but it mattered nothing to Gwernyfed whose front row of Brute, Craig Parry and Aaron Nicholls is carrying all before them. Scrummages were going the way of the green, white and blacks no matter the put in and Cefn Coed found little comfort in the line-out where Ben Barrell and Sam Stephens stole opposition line-outs at will.

If Gwernyfed were to be frustrated by anything it would have been the conditions and a rather particular referee. In fact, in spite of both positional and possessional advantage the home side could not increase their lead before half-time, that lead having been cut to four points by a long-range penalty from visiting centre and skipper Jason Thomas. The second half took much the same form as the first, the host pack providing plenty of good ball which Lewys Cooke used to good effect, releasing in turn Gareth Dodd, Sac Skyrme and the prodigal Izaak Duffy, all making inroads but all eventually stopped by a determined defence.

It was inevitable that the pack would offer the best scoring opportunities. After a prolonged spell of pressure well dealt by the Cefn defence, a five-metre scrum was just the platform needed. The ball was hooked and the home eight rolled forward with Ben Barrell in full control at number 8. The only way to halt progress was to collapse the scrum but the referee was wise to that and immediately awarded a penalty try.

Gerwyn Williams extended the lead with a couple of penalties with the benefit of a strong tailwind but the game as a conventional spectacle was then reduced when Cefn Coed sustained and injury that necessitated the use of passive scrums. This was the sixth time this season that the threat of Gwernyfed’s pack has been blunted in this way and while injury is most regrettable, this aspect of the game certainly needs review.

As the clock ran down Gwernyfed pushed for bonus point tries, thwarted by last-gasp defence by a brave Cefn side. One last hack forward was well under the control of defending winger as it rolled into the in-goal area but speedster Jack Williams had other ideas and launched himself at the ball as the winger dawdled. The try was a real reward for effort. The last action of the game saw Williams convert the try to cement a well- deserved win.

Given the special occasion no entrance money was charged, each spectator being given a commemorative programme and being asked to donate to two very worthy causes. Demonstrating the immense generosity of the Gwernyfed community, over £1600 was collected, this to be divided between the Brecon Beacons Mountain Rescue Team as they recover from losing their equipment in a fire and the fund set up to help the survivors of the tragic blaze in Llangammarch Wells.

The end of great day in the history of Gwernyfed Rugby Football Club culminated in the unveiling by Shan Thomas, Fund Raising Supremo, of a board commemorating all of those who ‘bought’ a square of the pitches raising well over £10000, a firework display, a fine performance by Talgarth Male Choir and celebrations late into the night that kept the ever-cheerful bar staff busy for some 14 hours!