Ystradgynlais 52 Cefneithin 10

Ystradgynlais met Cefneithin in this years West Wales plate final. The two division five sides had earned their place through out the season and travelled to Stradey with a large amount of support.

The game began with Ystrad taking control and it wasn’t long until the blues crossed for their first try through dynamic flanker Richard Lougher. The move began when dazzling full back Sean Harries picked the ball up in his 22 and ran an impressive fifty yards beating want to be defenders with ease before being hauled down. Ystrad secured possession and from the resulting ruck inspirational Hooker Christopher Thomas broke through to supply the supporting flanker with a try scoring pass. A dream start for the Blues!

It wasn’t long before the Ystrad faithful were again cheering as maverick outside half Hywel Evans made a telling brake and beat two men to score himself under the posts. He converted the try and Ystrad were leading by twelve points in as many minutes.

Cefneithin to there credit rallied back and pressed the Ystrad defence for an intense ten minute period. The Blues were equal to the challenge and coach Steve Bayliss is defiant attitude came through in the players with committed and courageous defence to prevent a Cefneithin try. Not long after sustaining the pressure Ystrad managed to brake away and place the ball in the opposition twenty-two. Cefneithin gained possession but great pressure from the boys in Blue allowed outside half Hywel Evans to charge down a kick, retrieve the ball and miraculously place it for his second try.

Ystrad were thriving on the quick pace of the game and two more tries followed for the blues before half time through full back Harries and skinny winger Justin Parson. Hywel Evans magnificently converted both and the Blues led 31 – 0 at half time.

The second half began as the first ended with Ystrad again taken control and it wasn’t long until the Blues scored again. This time the honour fell to veteran number eight David Love, via a well worked driving line out. Hywel Evans stepped up with the confidence of Daniel Carter and slotted the conversion directly through the posts.

The next Ystrad try was simply the best try ever seen at Stradey and that’s no exaggeration. It came from the kick off with the ball travelling either end of pitch with the ball being majestically passed through thirteen pairs of hands and vital support play, before being finished off under the posts by the show stopper David Love. Hywel again added the extras and Ystrad were cruising.

With the score at forty five nil at the fifty five minute mark most thought they would be witnessing a cricket score but to Cefneithin’s credit the were far to proud to allow that to happen and began a mini fight back. The next two tries belonged to them. The first try came from a well worked driving line out which saw forward Richard Evans score and the second was a spectacular team try started deep in their twenty two which was reminiscent of Japans V Wales during the World cup. The try score of the wonder try winger Iwan Price.

Ystrad needed to raise the tempo again and normal proceedings did resume in the final quarter when elusive scrum half Daniel Holsgrove took a quick penalty to score a brilliant opportunist try. Replacement Dane Clancy took over the kicking and gladly claimed the Blue two more points.

The game ended 51 – 10 in favour of the Swansea Valley side and number eight David Love was given the honour of being awarded man of the match. It was an exceptional team performance, especially from a front five who worked so hard in securing possession for their exiting back line.

The next first team game is Saturday against Swansea Uplands home at 2.30pm. Comealong and support your village.