WRU Division 3 East

Chepstow RFC 28 Gwernyfed 33

CHEPSTOW pushed unbeaten division leaders Gwernyfed all the way in their first meeting in 19 years, but the Talgarth table toppers just denied them,.

With the benefit of the wind from the Severn Estuary, Gwernyfed tore into Chepstow’s defence, releasing their right wing to dance over in the corner after eight minutes.

But Chepstow’s back row hit back, picking up from a retreating maul to sneak around the blindside to level the score.

Gwernyfed’s No 8 then came in at pace crashing over for a try, converted from out wide.

But Chepstow were nothing if not dogged and by half-time had added a try and penalty to sneak into a one-point lead and threaten to wrest Gwernyfed’s 100 per cent record away.

Ten minutes into the second period a long kick forced errors though, resulting in scrums near the home side’s line.

Chepstow’s cover defence, impressive throughout, thwarted the winger, but the ball was popped up to Gwernyfed’s full-back to score, with the try converted from wide out.

A siege then ensued on the Chepstow line, with runs from theTalgarth side’s big men needing some heroic tackles to stop them.

But a ruck five metres in front of the posts saw a scrum-half snipe for the try, successfully converted.

The hosts hit back though with a try from a series of forward drives when the Green, White and Blacks were penalised from the restart.

But that score was neutralised and more when, with ten minutes to go, Gwenyfed’s prop took four defenders over with him, with the conversion opening up a 15-point gap.

Never-say-die Chepstow rallied though, and scored two tries in the final minutes in an exciting endgame.

Elsewhere, Usk also went close losing 27-20 to Pill Harriers in East 2.

Chepstow visit New Panteg on Saturday (November 8), while Usk visit Croesyceiliog.