PWLLHELI 7 DOLGELLAU 9
THREE penalties from the boot of stand-off Gwion Jones eased Dolgellau into the quarter-finals of the Rybrook Land Rover Conwy North Wales Cup, whilst also lifting his side up to ninth position in a close double-header at sunny Bodegroes.
Dolgellau were magnificent. They came with all the odds stacked against them, and from the off they kept the ball from the hosts for the first 10 minutes of play.
Second row Marius Jones seemed to have put wing, Dafydd Ellis, over for the opening score, but a magnificent tackle in the in-goal area prevented the Dolgellau man from touching touchdown. Dolgellau prop Greg Smithies was held up in same manner after only six minutes’ play.
Dolgellau were soon back on the offensive, however, and were putting prolonged forward thrusts together, only to be denied by some stout home defending.
Dolgellau centre Gareth Hughes’ replacement Geraint Owen came closest to touching down, but clear-cut chances were few, and Dolgellau had to rely on a penalty after 30 minutes of play from youngster Gwion Jones to put themselves on the scoreboard at 7-3 at the end of a very entertaining first forty minutes.
Despite the territory and possession that Dolgellau enjoyed, Pwllheli were more clinical when they could get their hands on the ball. Wing Rhys Lewis thwarted the progress of home wing Gwilym Jones, and full-back Rob Pugh had to save the day on a few home attacks.
Twelve minutes in, Dolgellau hooker Celt Lewis and prop Eon Williams made ground, and Pwllheli were penalised for a high tackle. Gwion Jones coolly slotted over the penalty to bring the visiting side back to within a single point at 7-6.
The pressure was mounting on the home defence, and second row Geraint Parry had to leave the field with a yellow for continued infringements at the breakdown, with Gwion Jones putting over his third penalty to edge Dolgellau ahead after 26 minutes of the second half at 7-9.
Dolgellau’s defence held firm in a tense last quarter to the game, and with time up, Dolgellau scrum half and Rybrook Man of the Match, Jac Roberts hoisted the ball high into the home stand, immediately followed by referee Ceiron Parry’s final whistle - to start jubilant scenes from the visiting contingent, following this richly deserved away victory.
CAERNARFON 15 BRO FFESTINIOG 12
A SOLITARY losing bonus point was all that Bro Ffestiniog took from their Division One North encounter away at Caernarfon, with both sides having been struggling for any real form this season.
This first try came on four minutes when Cofis fly half Aled Jones gathered a poor clearance kick. His run created space for centre Carwyn Roberts to exploit some missed tackles before offloading to scrum half Rhodri Jones to score.
The try was unconverted, and a missed penalty by Aled Jones should have put his side further ahead, but he pulled the kick wide from 40 metres. The hosts went close once more through a driving maul, but Bro won the turnover and cleared.
Bro started to get back into the match, and playing with the slope at Y Morfa they should have gained more territory. As ever, Bro’s back row pairing of Dewi James and Huw Parry gained momentum, with Parry going close, but Caernarfon won turnover ball and cleared.
A strong run by left wing Ioan Evans took him deep into the hosts’ 22, but a high tackle by centre Robert saw him sin-binned. Bro should have done more with the extra man, but the Cofis held firm.
Hooker Tom James combined well with prop Dylan Jones to power over for Bro, but the referee ruled that the ball was held up, and to the visitors’ frustration it was still all to play at 5-0 at half-time.
Playing downhill from the re-start Caernarfon soon doubled their lead. A break at pace by wing Adam Thomas took him deep into Bro’s half, and with excellent support again at pace from Sion Owen and Gareth Pritchard, the latter offloaded to Thomas for an unconverted try.
After a bout of penalties from both sides and some handbags between Bro’s Ioan Evans and the Cofis’ Owain Williams saw both players get 10 minutes to cool down.
Bro were awarded the penalty and kicked for touch, and from the lineout they went through seven phases before creating a gap for centre Jordan Meredith to cross over. Fly half Mathew Hayden, however, failed to add the extras.
This spurred on the visitors and they went close again from a lineout, and then a turnover, but the Cofis’ defence frustrated them, and the chances were lost.
With Bro working upfield through numerous rucks and mauls, a turnover on their own 10m line by Caernarfon put Aled Jones through the tightest of gaps to run 40 metres unopposed to score - but once more a fine try went unconverted.
Bro continued to work their way back up field, and a lot of energy was put in as they rucked and mauled, and were rewarded with a try for prop Alan Jones, with Hayden adding the conversion.
BALA 15 LLANDUDNO 17
BALA made Division One North title favourites Llandudno battle all the way for their 17-15 win at Maes Gwyniad, to secure their 12th successive league victory.
The visitors played their usual expansive game, with some strong runs by Rhys Henderson, but Bala withstood this pressure to score the first points of the day. Dion Atherton pounced on a loose ball in the dead ball area for the opening try of the game, against the run of the play.
Llandudno hit back strongly, with full back Arthur Lennon leaving several defenders in his wake down the right wing to touch down for a try in the corner.
Soon after the restart, they took the lead as Rhys Henderson was tackled, but he was well supported by his forwards and flanker Bobby Davies crossed for a try under the goal posts, converted by Lennon.
Bala’s Luis Prieto kicked a penalty to reduce the gap to four points at the break, and the second half began with the home side showing a lot more purpose and keeping possession in the opposition 22.
The pressure told after an hour when, following a catch and drive from a five-metre line-out, Garen Davies crossed for a try, which was converted by Prieto.
This gave Bala a 15-12 lead, but some indiscipline from the home side awarded Llandudno a penalty from the restart. When Lennon kicked it to touch, the visitors won the ball from the lineout and after a number of phases, Rhys Henderson’s try regained the lead for Llandudno.
There were no opportunities for Bala in the remainder of the contest and they had to be satisfied with a losing bonus point.