A depleted squad of Druids players journeyed to Gwernyfed for a Pontypool & District League game. The Druids were seeking to continue their 100% unbeaten record this season in this competition. Due to injuries and first team call ups the availability of players was somewhat limited which resulted in two last minute selections. Playing up the slope in the first half, the Druids showed more attacking ideas but the game generally was evenly fought. The lively Gwernyfed pack were proving difficult to control. As the half continued the Druids slowly but surely had the better of play and looked more likely to score and full back Will Davies almost put wing Sam Harding in at the corner. At the scrum particularly, the Druids had the upper hand and it was from this facet of play that they took the lead. A five yard scrum from the home line was driven hard by the Druids forwards and scrum half Rob Frost waited patiently and then dived on the ball as it crossed the Gwernyfed try line. Outside half Greg Wilding kicked the conversion to give the visitors a 7-0 half time lead. There was some expectancy in the second half that playing down the slope the Druids might dominate play. They did pound the Gwernyfed line but poor decision making and ill judged individual play worked against the visitors. Strong Gwernyfed arms coupled by a referee who seemed to have an indifferent day made life challenging for the Druids. Late in the half the Druids did score another try which was needed to ensure the victory. From the inevitable good scrimmage ball John Jeffs fed full back Will Davies, who burst through a gap in the Gwernyfed mid-field. He ran for fully 40 metres before passing to supporting wing Mattie Morgan to dive over. The conversion kick failed but gave the Druids a 12 –0 success. A hard grafting victory in which the Druids forwards, in particular, fought hard to achieve. Number eight Dion Hurinui and back row forward Gareth Rowlands played superbly whilst their dominant scrum was very important. Twelve victories with two defeats tells the story of a successful campaign so far but its now at the business end of the season and it is how we end the season that counts and not how we start it.
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