League 2 West Central

Brynaman 20 Cwmgors 16

AN EXCELLENT derby saw Brynaman hold off a spirited late effort from neighbours Cwmgors for a hard-earned victory.

Cwmgors got the game underway but from the kick-off Brynaman lost influential flanker Sion Slyman to an Achilles injury.

Good early defending by Tomos Powell who completed his first game in three years for the Greens kept the Cherries attack at bay, but the hosts had the first real opportunity only for a 15th minute to sail wide.

Brynaman’s set-piece proved superior in the first half but they failed to turn pressure into points and it was the Cherries who gained a penalty under the home posts when the ref penalised the Greens scrum.

Steff Rees’ penalty put them in front, but they were soon to be dealt a blow when prop Danny Jones who was stretchered off and conveyed to hospital.

Joel Spurway was harshly yellow carded for over vigorous rucking and when Cwmgors pressed the Greens defence it took a crunching tackle from Gareth Drewson to force veteran Jamie Bradley to knock on over the line.

Half-time arrived with try-scoring opportunities at a premium, but Cwmgors almost snatched the lead on the whistle but proved unable to find the last touch.

Brynaman brought on Craig Jones at the break and his first act was to be yellow carded with fellow fly half Steff Rees.

Rhys Williams levelled the scores with an early long-range effort before the referee again penalised the Greens front row for a scrum infringement.

The Cherries regained the upper hand with a superb halfway line penalty from the boot of scrum half Caron Jones, who had taken over the kicking duties in Rees’ absence.

From the kick off, Brynaman claimed possession and missed pass by Rhys Williams with strong running by Powell saw Osian Sullivan held up just short, but Clive Llewelyn powered over from close range to make it 8-6.

The Cherries hit back immediately, engineering a well-worked try when some excellent play from wing Chris Jones saw him beat his man before putting centre Mike Hodges in to score.

With gaps beginning to open, Steff Duggan broke a tackle and fed the rampaging Powell who was held up on the line, but from the ruck scrum-half Lee Evans powered over in the corner to make it 13-11.

But the match see-sawed back Cwmgors’ way when Steff Rees struck back with a fine opportunist’s try following a charge-down, finishing off under the posts. The conversion was charged down by Duggan in a move that was to prove decisive.

Brynaman claimed their third try with some seven minutes remaining when Craig Jones spotted a mismatch and fed young Sam Lewis who rampaged in on his home debut to score under the posts. Jones converted.

Cwmgors battered away for the remainder of the game, pressing gamely on the home line, but a stubborn green defence – despite two late yellow cards - proved too resilient.

Brynaman claimed the win but Cwm at least had the consolation of a losing bonus point.