Gwernyfed Youth 19 Burry Port Youth 26. Match Report from The Becon & Radnor Express.
On a grey and murky day made for scrummaging it was disappointing news when the Carmarthenshire visitors reported front row injuries and opted for uncontested scrums, neutralising one of Gwernyfed’s undoubted strengths.
Nonetheless, the other elements of the game were present in spades and a good crowd enjoyed a competitive game that saw the travelling side move on to the quarter finals.
Both sides had penalty chances early on, Burry Port getting the better of that exchange. Indeed early pressure was all upon Gwernyfed until some aggressive defence turned the ball over. A long clearance was followed up well and when the visiting winger was collared, skipper Dan Draper turned the ball over and made thirty metres to touch down. Andrew Barrell converted from wide out, establishing a lead.
The lead did not last long. The restart was spilled and the inevitable outcome of the passive restart allowed Burry Port’s scrum half space to release his inside centre who broke the defence, running a great line, to score under the posts, the conversion restoring the three point advantage.
By now both sides had adapted to the miserable conditions and the second quarter saw some fine rugby. Both sides created chances with Gwernyfed scoring an excellent try through Louis Rodell-Greenow, the culmination of a flowing move along the home back line. Burry Port fought back again and whilst their try was more prosaic, a series of mauls proving unstoppable, it was no less effective, particularly when the try was converted to open up a five point lead, a lead embellished by a penalty before the break.
The second period was nip and tuck. Gwernyfed probably had the better of the exchanges and certainly spurned a couple of decent opportunities.
However, Burry Port are a redoubtable side and were not about to sacrifice the lead. In fact scoring honours were equal in the second half, a converted Scott Pritchard try being matched by a similar score by the visitors and whilst Gwernyfed strained every sinew, the visitors proved just a little bit too resilient.
The crowd were left wondering whether scrummaging may have made a difference but that is speculation. The green, white and blacks return to league duty with a mission to maintain their position as table-toppers and Burry Port look forward to a quarter final visit to Trebanos.
