A round-up of match reports from games involving the clubs of North and Mid Wales
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Pwllheli 28 v Bethesda 8
Following report kindly supplied by Pwllheli RFC.
An excellent first win of the season for champions Pwllheli but they were held until the last quarter before they imposed their superiority playing a determined Bethesda XV.
The first half was even with both teams attacking and defending with ability and determination despite the number of errors, mainly due to the new ruck and maul rules, play was as expected between these two teams - fast and furious, with the few opportunities thwarted by stout defending from the hosts and visitors alike.
Osian Parry Jones opened the scoring after only two minutes for the Llyn side but Rhys Jones of Bethesda equalise on 10 minutes for another offside decision.
In the second quarter, flanker Tom Parry broke free and completed his run behind the posts, giving Jones an easy opportunity to convert for the extras but with five minutes to go to the interval, Danial Ogwen’s run down the wing beat the home defenders to score in the left hand corner and give a half time score of 10-8 in favour of the hosts.
Pwllheli dominated the second half but there was no scoring until Nic Butterworth went over for his try twenty minutes into the half. Jones failed with the conversion but increased the lead with a penalty ten minutes later. There was a final flurry of try scoring through full back Danial Glyn and a bonus winning fourth from winger Robin Hughes Jones before the final whistle and a score of 28-8.
Pwllheli 2nds struggled initially with their first ever game in Division Three North but overcame FLINT in the second half to win handsomly 48-0. Seven tries were scored – through Alan Roberts (2) and Elgan Jones (2) and one each from Berwyn Jones, Huw Owen and Deio Brunelli, with outside half Alan Roberts completing the scoring with five conversions and one penalty.
Next week, the First Team play in Caernarfon and the 2nds are away v Rhosllanerchrugog.
Llangollen 6 v Abergele 11
Following report kindly supplied by Abergele RFC.
Both teams showed new season rustiness early on, Llan’s big pack dominating the set piece while Gele tackled well and showed enterprise with the ball in hand.
The hosts took an early lead from a penalty and whilst Gele threatened the line the final pass didn’t quite make it. Llan dominated early on at the scrum but Gele harassed well at the break down and won a number of turn over balls to keep the hosts pinned in their own half, no further points were added in the first half.
Another needless penalty early in the second half allowed Llan to extend their lead to 6-0.
Gele stuck to their plan and rewarded with a try when Rich Medlicott broke the line and was dragged down close to the line in the corner, scrum half Owain Miller let the ball go quickly and it was spread wide to Chris Meyers who beat a couple of tackles to cross the line, the conversion drifted wide.
Gele started taking the game to Llan and slowly but surely the forwards started taking control at the scrum, great work at the breakdown and pin point kicking put Gele on the front foot, from the pressure Rich Medlicott kicked 2 penalties to take and then extend the lead and disciplined defence and strong first up tackling saw Gele take the first four points of the season.
Next Saturday, 9th September, Gele host Rhyl at Pentre Mawr with a 2.30pm kick off.
RGC 25 v Llangelli 22
Following report kindly supplied by RGC News.
RGC left it late to claim the 1st win of the season against Llanelli.
The home crowd were treated to a seven try game, with a penalty from Jacob Botica sealing the points near the end.
RGC started the game with some intent as they ran the ball well. Tom Hughes scored the opening try with Botica hitting the conversion.
It was all RGC in regards to possession and territory in the opening 10 minutes, with Dion Jones and Tom Hughes making some good runs with ball in hand.
The game turned after Llanelli claimed a try from winger Rogers, and from that the away side grew in confidence and played some heads up rugby. Soon after they took the lead when winger Conbeer went over in the corner.
As much as Llanelli attacked well, RGC would have been disappointed with some of the missed tackles which gave the opportunities to the visitors.
It was RGC’s turn to get a try next, and it was all down to the pack. The pack worked hard at the scrum to earn a penalty and from the resulting kick to touch and line-out a driving maul was formed and the drove on. Henri Williams came up with the ball and the try. Botica added the extras.
The crowd were on their feet after Harri Evans made a run down the wing but was stopped in his tracks. RGC then were on the attack again after a good steal from Tiann Loots and the centre raced down the field.
Llanelli would have been the happier of the 2 sided in the dressing room, as they looked the better in attack as the half wore on.
The 2nd half started positively for RGC when Evan Yardley picked up the ball at the back of the maul and went over for the try.
Aron Evan put on the burners and raced down the line but it ended with a knock on. Llanelli were reduced to 14 men when Tom Phillips was sent to the sin bin.
The extra man didn’t work in RGC’s advantage as Flanagan scored after the home sides defence was split open. The visitors went close again but Dion Jones put in a big tackle.
RGC were working some good positions and running some clean lines, but that penetration just wasn’t happening in the backline.
Botica increased RGC’s lead to 22-15 with a penalty.
That lead was nullified when Simpson got Llanelli’s 4th try and Hart hit the conversion.
With the game all square with the clock ticking down RGC controlled the ball and worked some good phases. It was the home-sides best spell in the match, and under some pressure they kept the ball well. Botica hit a great touch finder that rolled over the visitors 15m line. That boot of Botica won the game with 2 minutes to go with a penalty under the posts.
Llanelli still had time to muster one final attack, and credit to the RGC defence how made some big tackles to not give the visitors any opportunity to break through.
Mark Jones said his side has learnt some lessons from last season after they close win “It was a very nip and tuck game, Llanelli impressed me today both in attack and defence, which caused us problems. Looking at the game we did better in the 2nd half and credit to the players who reacted to what was happening in front of them. As a group we want them to learn to make decisions on the field, and today they did that, we stayed in the game and when it was needed we controlled the ball and got that penalty. That said the result today won’t mean anything unless we back it up next week at Neath”
Llangefni 34 v Dolgellau 11
Following report kindly supplied by Dolgellau RFC.
Llangefni’s domination of the set pieces in the first half and their efficiency in slowing down Dolgellau possession at the breakdown was more than enough to earn the islanders a deserved opening bonus point win between these two promoted sides.
They went ahead after only five minutes. A dominant scrum saw no.8 Declan Griffiths release wing Gethyn Andrews in at the corner. Dolgellau could not penetrate a cast iron defence but centre Henri Roberts put the visitors on the score sheet with a penalty to make it 5-3 after quarter of an hour.
Llangefni No.8 Griffiths grabbed a push over try five minutes later which wing Rhys Hughes converted to make the score 12-3. Dolgellau were under severe pressure in the set pieces and following a period of several penalty scrums, Llangefni wing Rhys Hughes crossed out wide for their third try, which he duly converted to stretch their lead to 19-3.
Llangefni frustrated the visitors at the breakdown, and all Dolgellau could muster for their effort was a second penalty from centre Henri Roberts to make the score 19-6 at the interval.
Two minutes into the second period Llangefni counter attacked with pace resulting in tries to wing Greg Horsman, a penalty to Rhys Hughes and the winger capped a fine day at the office with his second try of the day, adding the conversion to put Llangefni in a commanding 34-6 lead with half an hour still to play.
Dolgellau made changes to their creaking set piece, and to their credit, as Llangefni’s discipline cost them two yellow cards, dominated the remainder of the game. However all they could muster was a consolation try to replacement scrum half, Owain Thomas, who crashed over after centre Henri Roberts was hauled down on the try line.
Dolgellau will have plenty of work to do before next weeks’ home game against local rivals Bro Ffestiniog, and a trip to Bala the following week.
Mold 2nds 13 v Menai Bridge 29
Following report kindly supplied by Menai Bridge RFC.
This was a perfect league start for Bridge, bagging a bonus point away win to open the season.
There were seven debutants in the side and with positional changes for established players, it was a new look team taking the park. The early exchanges favoured the home side who probed Bridge's defence which held firm. When Bridge eventually managed to gain some possession, scrum half Gareth Parry capitalised on the forwards work by barging over on the wing from a scrum.
Bridge continued their forward driving pattern of play and developed an overlap on the left wing where prop Adam Goodwin grabbed the try, using his many years of experience on the wing to finish off the move perfectly. At 10 nil down Mold upped their game and enjoyed a long period of possession, with both forwards and backs combined well through multiple phases. The reward was an overlap on the right wing and a well taken try. A penalty closed the gap to 8 - 10 at the half.
With all to play for in the second half, it was a question of which team could control the game; the answer was Bridge. Gareth Parry scored another close range try from the back of his scrum. Sam Williams, playing at eight powered into the corner shortly afterwards, with McGrath's conversion taking the score to 8 - 22.
Just when Bridge thought they were seeing daylight with the bonus point in the bag, Mold struck back; the right wing read a telegraphed pass and raced in from 40 metres to score. Bridge stuck to their guns and were eventually able to take the game away from Mold. Sam Williams ran the ball in under the posts, despite the best efforts of several Mold tacklers and Dion McGrath converted for the final score of the match.
Welshpool 0 v Dinbych 78
Following report kindly supplied by Dinbych RFC.
Dinbych opened their Division 2 North campaign in emphatic style with a twelve try bonus point victory to spoil the celebrations of Welshpool who were marking their fiftieth anniversary. Although Welshpool competed well in the set pieces Dinbych had the upper hand in the loose and through the excellent support play of the forwards whilst the incisive back division carved openings which they finished with clinical efficiency. Full back Gruff Roberts took the try scoring honours with a hat trick of high quality tries whilst centres Tom Seddon and Owain Davies each scored a brace. Others were scored by wings Aidyn Jones and Jordan Wynne and from replacement hooker Dafydd Jones and half backs Garin Roberts and Dan O'Sullivan who also converted nine.
Welshpool dominated the opening ten minutes as they laid siege deep in the Dinbych 22 and hammered away at the line through driving mauls and pick and drives by the forwards, Dinbych weathered the storm as a result of their watertight defence and gradually worked their way upfield. Taking play into the Welshpool 22 they recycled the ball several times before Gruff Roberts sliced through down the left for the opening try.
Dinbych were now getting into their stride and after skipper Narmer el Lamie and Dan O'Sullivan were both just held out short of the line the ball was spun out for left wing Jordan Wynne to cross for a try in the corner. Dan O'Sullivan converted both tries with excellent kicks from wide out.
Dinbych then launched an attack from a line out just outside the Welshpool 22 with Gruff Roberts overlapping on the left and despite an attempted high tackle he cut inside evading several defenders with elusive running to score a high grade try converted by Dan O'Sullivan. Dinbych closed the first half scoring from a long distance counter attack initiated by Jordan Wynne deep in his own 22 linking with opposite wing Aidyn Jones who then broke down the touchline into the Welshpool half. He then cleverly swapped passes with Tom Seddon for the centre to cross for a try again converted by Dan O'Sullivan.
Leading by twenty eight points to nil at the interval Dinbych soon increased their lead early in the second half when Gruff Roberts went over for his hat trick after an attack from a short range scrum. Centre Owain Davies then added Dinbych's sixth try as he took advantage of Dan O'Sullivan squirming out of several defender's tackles as he broke through in midfield. Flanker Tom Eden then turned the ball over in contact near half way for Tom Seddon to break deep into the Welshpool half before putting Owain Davies over for his second try. Dan o'Sullivan added the conversion points for both tries.
Tries were now coming at a rapid rate with Tom Seddon going over for his second after taking an inside pass from replacement wing Jordan Hetherington. Scrum half Garin Roberts then went over for a try converted by Dan O'Sullivan after good work by Dafydd Jones
Aidyn Jones then ran in a solo try from half way after picking up a loose ball with Dan O'Sullivan again converting. Excellent support play by the forwards was rewarded when replacement hooker Dafydd Jones took an inside pass from Narmer el Lamie to cross for an unconverted try. Dan O'Sullivan closed the scoring with an exceptional solo effort from near his own line , breaking upfield and although partly halted by half tackles managed to outpace the covering defence in a length of the field run to cross for a try which he then converted.
Despite this deluge of scores a tiring Welshpool side continued to battle for everything and it was only strong defence by Dinbych which kept them out as the attacked close to the line as the game finished.
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