Caernarfon take the spoils in North Wales derby cup fixture. Report kindly supplied by Caernarfon and pictures by Rod Davies Photography, Dolgellau
A pleasant playing surface greeted the women for this Women’s Cup fixture at Y Marian. Caernarfon started brightly but failed to capitalise. Slowly Dolgellau began gelling and their first foray into the Caernarfon half was soon rewarded when quick second phase ball was fed out wide for Lucy Berridge to score out wide and with the successful conversion it was 7-0 to the home side.
Luckily this spurred the Cofis to put a number of phases together and knowing that gaps would appear out wide Mary Atkinson broke through and her feed allowed Alaw Hughes to score out wide. Sera Bailey missed with the conversion attempt but was soon in fine kicking form top knock over a penalty from 30 meters. The Cofis were now putting together phase after phase and eventually this led to speedster Manon Williams out pacing the defence to score between the sticks which gave Bailey an easy extra 2 points.
The twelve point cushion was further improved when Dyddgu Hywel took a quick short penalty and edged the Cofis to 20-7 by half time. Caernarfon’s scrum dominance with Cenin Eifion at loosehead at her destructive best led by example, but the dominance was thwarted from turning into points by a stubborn defence. Some twenty minutes into the into the half the Cofis finally surged forward and it was Cenin Eifion who surfaced after securing her first Cofi touchdown. Bailey duly added the conversion.
To their credit Dolgellau never gave up and for the final twenty produced some of the best rugby running directly and putting pressure on the Cofis defence. A succession of thrusts led to five meter short penalty being taken by Nia Lloyd who duly scored.
The newly found enthusiasm within home ranks posed problems for the Caernarfon ladies and when no. 10 Lowri Evans squeezed through to score and convert her own effort a revival could have been on the cards. However the Cofis regrouped and hit the final nail when Manon was fed with enough space to score her second try.
Both sides will progress in cup competitions. Caernarfon into the quarter finals of the cup and Dolgellau to the plate comp. Thus ensuring more playing time for all and a North Wales presence.
Caernarfon’s next outing is to Tylorstown on Sunday, Novemeber 13th
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