PWLLHELI’s march into round two of the Swalec Plate, with a 45-9 home success over Caernarfon, was due to a sound and well-drilled defence, supplemented by a set of pacy backs who work together as a team.

Two good sides met at Bodegroes on Saturday, but the structure of Pwllheli’s game, together with some excellent goal kicking, was enough to see off the considerable threat posed by Caernarfon.

This was a match that had created a lot of interest among the supporters of both clubs, and the attendance reflected that.

Caernarfon were unbeaten this season, and had clearly prepared for the match.

They were already changed and on the pitch an hour and a half before kick-off as their coaches got them ready for the start.

Their heavy pack took the game to Pwllheli, and some astute kicking by their half backs tested the Pwllheli back three.

After only five minutes the home side were deemed to be offside at a ruck, and fly half Guto Pierce slotted the penalty.

After struggling in the opening minutes, Pwllheli’s scrum achieved parity but line-outs did not function as well as hoped.

Caernarfon had a stream of quality possession, but their backs struggled to cross the gain line, and reverted to long, diagonal kicks to test the wingers and full back.

Fortunately for Pwllheli, right wing Osian Parry Jones had a storming game on his return to first team rugby. He was safe under the high ball and effectively used his siege gun boot to respond to the kicks.

On 20 minutes Caernarfon went further ahead with another penalty by fly half Pierce, and buoyed by their success they pummelled the Pwllheli line, but a well organised, committed defence held firm.

The Llyn side gradually came back into contention, and twice came close, but the referee was unsighted and called that the ball had been held up over the try line.

Tackle after tackle, Pwllheli were thwarted, but on 45 minutes the breakthrough finally arrived. Taking the ball in their own half Pwllheli transferred quickly to centre Robin Hughes Jones, whose size belies his strength and power, and he shrugged off several would-be tacklers to cut through and score under the posts from 30 metres.

Captain Nick Butterworth added the conversion, before the half time whistle.

After the restart, Pwllheli countered from the kick-off and took the ball left. Quick hands and a neat grubber kick made it a foot-race between the wingers, and Arwel Thomas got to the ball first.

A wonderful conversion by Osian Parry Jones suddenly put Pwllheli 14-6 ahead.

Caernarfon stormed back and earned a penalty, with Pierce cutting the deficit.

Pwllheli brought in fresh legs in the front row and Morris and Trenholme made a difference. A penalty kick hit both posts and bounced back into the field of play, but Parry Jones soon atoned for his miss when he crashed over the line for a try, that he also converted for a 21-9 lead.

Caernarfon were under the cosh, and Kalim Kelemete broke through from 40 metres to score, and Parry Jones majored.

Robin Hughes Jones then beat the cover, and a successful kick made the score 35-9.

When Pwllheli were awarded a penalty almost 50 metres out, Parry Jones did what the All Blacks would do and successfully kicked at goal, to further turn the screw.

Second row Huw Williams was replaced by Ifan Roberts, and Roberts rewarded the team with a late 40m dash which cut open the cover. He also slotted the conversion.

Rookie referee Ed Brown then blew the whistle for full time. In only his second match as a senior referee, he did well and coped with the constant stream of advice provided by both sets of supporters.

• In their four junior matches against neighbours Caernarfon, Pwllheli’s Under 13s and 14s won at Pwllheli while the Under 9s and 10s won matches at Y Morfa.

Pwllheli Seconds were well beaten in Nant Conwy, but Euron Jones and the lads did the Club proud by getting a team together to travel to fulfil the fixture.