A round-up of reports from games involving the clubs of North and Mid Wales.
If you would like your match report added to this round-up, please email the details to gwcymru1@aol.com - thanks
Mold 8 v Dolgellau 14
Following report kindly supplied by Dolgellau RFC.
Dolgellau eased their relegation worries and came away from high flying Mold with a huge result.
The contrast could not have been greater, 3rd placed Mold, having won their last 6 league games, 3rd from bottom Dolgellau, having lost their last 6. However Dolgellau proved that they are a match for any side in this league on their day, and duly did so in this in this frantic match, completing the double over Mold following an equally close encounter earlier in the season on the Marian.
The early kick–off did not affect the visitors, and it was Dolgellau who held the ascendancy during the opening half, although they were assisted by the elements. Their industrious forwards stamped their authority on the match from the on-set, resulting in hooker, Geraint Evans forcing his way over for two tries, his 13th and 14th of the season, making him clear top scorer.
It was Evans who scored the winning try at Ruthin in the semi-final of the North Wales cup, only two weeks ago, but if Dolgellau survive and stay up in this tough league, they will look back at his brace of tries here at Chester Road as just as important. Both scores were converted by stand-off and skipper, Gerwyn Thomas and Dolgellau ended the half 14-0 ahead.
They had to defend for their lives during the second period, as Mold piled on the pressure. A try to wing .. brought them back into the game, but Dolgellau held firm with another brave defensive effort and reduced the home side to a late penalty, that gave the hosts a losing bonus point.
So the visitors can breathe a little easier this week, as both Bro and Denbigh failed to win, and they will be in good heart to face another stern challenge at home against Ruthin next weekend, knowing that on their day they are well capable of upsetting any side.
Bro Ffestiniog 3 v Nant Conwy 24
Following report kindly supplied by Nant Conwy RFC.
Sgorwyr Nant Conwy scorers:
Ceisiau /Tries: Carwyn Ellis [2]. Rhys Jones & Ifan Jones
Trosi / Conversions: Delwyn Jones [2]
Sgoriwr Bro Ffestiniog scorer:
Cosb / Penalty: Mathew Haydn
Gyda’r gwynt yn chwythu’n bur gryf i lawr yr oledd a thîm Bro yn awyddus i wneud yn dda yn erbyn eu cymdogion, gwelwyd gêm llawn angerdd am 80 munud. Dechreuodd pac Nant yn dda gan ymosod trwy ryciau a hyrddiadau’n ystod yr 20 munud cyntaf ac ar 19 munud wedi hyrddiad arall, gwelwyd y rhif 9, Ifan Jones, yn torri’r amddiffyn yn dda i sgorio cais ger y gornel. Gwelwyd trosiad ardderchog o’r ystlys gan Delwyn Jones – un wedi mesur y gwynt yn gelfydd. Bu i Nant chwarae gyda 14 dyn am ddeng munud olaf yr hanner hwn ond ni lwyddodd Bro i fantesio ar hynny gan adael sgôr o 0 – 7 ar yr hanner.
Daeth Nant fwy i’r gêm yn yr ail hanner ac wrth i’r pac barhau i rycio’n dda’n erbyn y gwynt, cyrhaeddodd yr ail gais wrth i Ifan Jones ganfod y mewnwr, Rhys Jones, ar yr asgell dde yn dilyn hyrddiad wedi 9 munud.. Aeth Rhys dros y linnell yn bwerus am gais ond llithrodd yr ymgais am drosiad fymryn i’r chiwth o’r pyst. Cyrhaeddodd unig sgôr Bro o gic gosb o flaen y pyst wedi 13 munud trwy’r rhif 10, Mathew Haydn.
Ond, yn ôl y daeth Nant gan ennill mwy a mwy o’r sgrymiau gosod. Daeth y trydydd cais wedi 27 munud o sgrym osod ar y linnell 5 metr pan wthiwyd y pac cartref tros y linnell gais gyda’r Capten a’r rhif 8, Carwyn Ellis yn tirio’r bêl. Trosiad arall hyfryd gan Delwyn Jones yn dilyn. Yn ystod munudau olaf y gêm, gwelwyd y tîm cartref yn mynd yn fwyfwy rhwystredig a rhoddwyd cardiau melyn i ddau o’u chwaraewyr. Manteisiodd Nant, yn enwedig y blaenwyr, ar hyn a gwelwyd chwarae parhaus ger pyst amddifynnol Bro.
Wedi i’r dyfarnwr gosbi Bro bedair gwith yn y sgrymiau gosod ar eu llinnell 5 metr a phawb yn disgwyl ‘cais cosb’, penderfynodd pac Nant gymryd yr awennau i’w dwylo eu hunain gan ail adrodd y cais ‘gwthio trosodd’ [Carwyn yn sgorio] ond Delwyn yn methu trosi’r tro hwn. Pwynt bonws wrth sgorio pedwar cais felly ac ymlaen i gyfarfod Pwllheli gartref ddydd Sadwrn nesaf am y gêm nesaf yn yn gynghrair.
With the strong breeze blowing down the slope and the Bro team eager to do well against their near neighbours, a match full of commitment was evident for the entire 80 minutes.
The Nant pack began well using the ‘catch and running maul’ tactics from line outs right from the off. Bro defended well during this first 20 minutes until after 19 minutes, following another running maul, scrum half, Ifan Jones gathered the ball and squirmed his way over for a try in the corner. Delwyn Jones (no.13) showed his expertise in using the wind really well to curve the conversion through the posts from the touchline. Nant played the last 10 minutes with 14 men when one of their forwards was yellow carded.
Nant gained some ascendency during the second half as the pack rucked well against the breeze. After 9 minutes, the second try arrived when Ifan Jones found his centre, Rhys Jones following another ruck and Rhys powered his way through the home defence to touch down. The conversion attempt sailed narrowly wide of the posts.
Bro’s only score arrived after 13 minujtes when fly half, Mathew Haydn, converted a penalty in front of the posts. But back came Nant with their forwards winning more and more of the set scrums. The third try was scored after 27 minutes when a set scrum on the Bro 5 meters line was won by the visiting pack with the home eight being shoved over their own line and Captain and No. 8, Carwyn Ellis touching down for a try. Delwyn duly converted this try.
During the last few minutes of the match, the home team became frustrated which resulted in two of their players receiving yellow cards.
Nant, especially their forwards, took advantage of this with the play for this period being within touching distance of the home line. After awarding four penalties to Nant and ‘away’ supporters appealing for a ‘penalty try’, the pack took action themselves and a repeat of the third try was seen. The conversion attempt failed.
Another bonus point to Nant then for scoring four tries and thus, on to the next match which will be next Saturday when Nant will be playing at home against Pwllheli in another League encounter.
Ruthin 20 v Denbigh 13
Local derbies are always hard fought affairs but the match between Ruthin and Dinbych had an added edge as Ruthin wanted to stem their recent run of losses and Denbigh needed points to keep out of the relegation zone.
First points went to Dinbych with a penalty goal by Garin Roberts 5 minutes in and 5 minutes later the Blues fly half Deian Lloyd Williams reciprocated.
The visitors had the chance to take the lead again with another penalty goal kick but it went wide.
Dinbych were applying some pressure in Ruthin’s half but were unable to convert this into points and eventually a great kick from Lloyd Williams put the play back into the visitor’s 22.
After a Ruthin scrum, wing Josh Wilson was released and fought his way over the line for a good try. The visitors responded and for the next 10 minutes the Blues had to defend in their own 22.
Denbigh grabbed 3 more points with a penalty goal but some good Blues tackling prevented any further score. For the last 5 minutes of the 1st half Ruthin were back in the visitors 22 but there was no additional score and the whistle blew at 10-6 to Ruthin.
The first 20 minutes of the second half were played mostly in the visitor’s half but without Ruthin making much headway against a stout defence and eventually the visitors broke into the Blues 22.
The Blues conceded a penalty on their own 22 and Dinbych opted for a scrum and led by Dan Jones pushed over for a fine try converted by Roberts.
At 3 points down the Blues upped a gear and levelled the scores with a penalty goal from Lloyd Williams.
The Blues continued their pressure and after flanker Tudur Parry forced his way to within 5 metres of the visitor’s scrum half Will Mitchelmore collected and scored the Blues 2nd try which Lloyd Williams converted.
The match played out with the Blues in the ascendancy and winning 20-13.
Menai Bridge 3 v Colwyn Bay 69
It was Bridge that scored first, a penalty for fly half Dion McGrath, awarded after a sustained period of home pressure.
This was the first and only score for the home side during the whole match. The tiger's tail was well and truly tugged and the subsequent onslaught left Bridge reeling.
With their no 8 controlling the forward exchanges and their fly half orchestrating the backs, Bay were unstoppable and raced to a 3 - 36 half time lead, scoring 6 tries in the process.
The second half continued in the same vein, with a further 5 tries for Colwyn Bay.
Bridge's failure to stop Bay's attacks, due to woeful tackling was their downfall. When a poor defence meets a creative attacking team, the result is going to be one sided.
With a tough away fixture at Wrexham next Saturday, Bridge will need to work hard this week, to try and get the show back on the road.
League Division 3 East Central
CIAC 10 v Llandrindod Wells 33
This was a much improved CIAC (Cardiff International Athletic Club) who hosted Llandrindod in Cardiff from the team who travelled to Llandrindod earlier in the season and there were periods during this match when the CIAC forwards were more than a handful for Llandrindod.
Playing with the breeze and the slight slope in their favour CIAC took an early lead with
a penalty that the visitors matched soon after with a penalty of their own courtesy of Danny Davies and then a knocked down CIAC pass was intercepted by Llandrindod's Dan Oakley who sprinted and touched down in front of the posts, Davies converting.
A further Davies penalty increased Llandrindod's lead but by now they were finding the CIAC
pack a problem but managed to maintain this lead until half time.
The start of the second half was messy to say the least of it. Numerous penalties and
not a lot of structure though Llandrindod's next try was the result of a break by Davies, who literally waltzed his way around a bemused opposition, a pass to hooker Aled Davies who sprinted to the line for a try, and a Davies conversion. With the huge frame of Llandrindod's David Ramplee making almost unstoppable sorties in to the CIAC half, their next try was not long in coming. The sight of a very large man bearing down on you at speed would be enough to concern anyone but to their credit the CIAC defence did it's job and stopped one of Ramplee's forays just short of the line but a nice pass to wing Jac
Holden gave Llandrindod their third try, not converted this time.
Llandrindod's fourth and final try was Price's second, this time from a pushover & touch down. The final score of the match was for CIAC. A fast back movement and their wing was over the try line before he was bundled in to touch by what was judged to be a high tackle giving the referee little option but to award a penalty try, converted, at which point he
called time on the proceedings.
This Wednesday, Llandrindod host Llanidloes in the quarter final of the Mid Wales Cup. Kick-off 7.30 pm.
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