A round-up of match reports which have kindly been supplied by clubs.
If you have a match report you would like added to this round-up, please email the details to gwcymru1@aol.com - many thanks
Ruthin 36 v Bethesda 22
Following report and picture kindly supplied by Ruthin RFC.
Bethesda and Rhuthun served up a thrilling game of rugby at Cae Ddol on Saturday with a combination of dogged defence and open attacking rugby from both teams.
Centre Dafydd Lloyd put the Blues ahead within 5 minutes of the start with a try beneath the posts which fly half Nathan Jones converted.
Pesda responded and Rhuthun had to defend well against a fast running visitor attack before they reduced the arrears with a penalty goal after 10 minutes play from Fly half Rhys Jones and.
Bethesda missed a chance to narrow the gap further when a penalty kick went wide and eventually the Blues cleared their lines.
It was now the visitors turn to defend.
The Blues were scrummaging well and on 40 minutes play after a scrum midway in Pesda’s half wing Josh Wilson darted over for a try between the posts with Nathan converting and the whistle blew with Rhuthun 14-3 ahead.
Straight after the break Blues full back Jamie Jones forced his way through the visitors’ defence and over the whitewash with Nathan converting and within 2 minutes Rhuthun got their bonus point try when Wilson ran from his own 22 and scored.
At 26-3 up after 50 minutes play one might have thought that the game was over but the visitors were having none of it and after a short period of Pesda pressure Rhys Jones bagged a try which he converted.
The Blues responded and although Pesda defended well for 10 minutes or so eventually Lloyd got through with his second try again converted by Jones.
Pesda went back on the attack and on 70 and 79 minutes of play Rhys Jones and Ellis Jones scored two good tries both with runs from near halfway, one of which was converted.
The whistle blew with final score at 36-22 and reflected a game which was a credit to both sides.
Llanelli 31 v RGC 48
RGC put in a sparkling 1st half performance that blew Llanelli away to pick up a bonus point win at Parc Y Scarlets.
Llanelli missed a penalty opportunity in the opening minutes, but the hosts opened up the scoring when winger Ryan Conbeer went over for the try and Williams converted.
That sparked RGC into life, and scrum-half Alex Schwarz was rewarded with a try after some good work from a line-out, to put down under the posts. Botica added the simple conversion.
Llanelli suffered a couple of injuries, including Wales U20s winger Ryan Conbeer who was the danger man for the home-side. Afon Bagshaw and Tom Hughes made some good inroads to the Llanelli half, lighting the blue touch paper with some impressive runs before RGC took the lead with a Botica penalty.
RGC were looking to attack at every opportunity and Tom Hughes made another run before knocking on. They were attacking from deep in their own half broke tackles with ease on numerous occasions.
Bagshaw extended the Gogs lead with a try in the corner, the winger was proving hot to handle when he rocketed down the line to race over. Botica fizzed the ball over for the extras.
The RGC fly-half was successful with another penalty in the 27th minute of the game.
3 minutes later it was try number 3 for RGC, and it was an opportunist score. Bagshaw kicked ahead from his own half, and as Llanelli full-back looked to shepherd the ball out but Dion Jones caught him unaware and grabbed the ball to run the ball in. Botica kicked to conversion.
The quick hands and clever offloading from Bagshaw, Hughes, Schwarz and Jones nearly resulted in one of the most breath-taking tries but the fullbacks pass couldn’t find winger Harri Evans.
If much of the play was about gainline breaks and impressive backline attacks, the bonus point try came from some patient build up. After some pressure on the Llanelli line, RGC kept the ball before Tim Grey crashed over. The boot of Botica was on form with the conversion.
Just before half time the home side kept the game alive when Ollie Ryland scored and Williams converted.
The Gogs had a bright start to the 2nd half when Harri Evans ran in try number 5 and again Botica was successful with the kick.
That was as good as it got for much of the 2nd half for the Gogs, with the intensity and attacking ebbing away as the temperature dropped. Head Coach Mark Jones rang the changes and brought on the replacements which seemed to take the edge from the RGC game.
Llanelli took full advantage and Craig Thomas got the try with Williams converting. The homeside sensed a bonus point and were going for the fourth try.
Substitute Jordan Scott was given a yellow card, and the extra man sparked Llanelli into another gear. They piled the pressure on the Gogs line and as much as RGC held them back, the try came when Ioan Nicholas broke the defence. With the score at 26-41 kicker Williams missed the conversion.
RGC were not controlling the ball and it was giving Llanelli the opportunity to build some attacks, and the tackle count for the visitors was racking up. Dion Jones was making some important tackles as the last line of defence.
The homeside had to take some risks to move the ball, and in the 74th minute Bagshaw capitalised and broke from the halfway line before passing to Hughes who ran in for the 6th try. Bagshaw hit the conversion.
The try-fest wasn’t over yet, as the final score went to Llanelli’s Nathan Hart to end a hugely entertaining 80 minutes of rugby.
Head Coach Mark Jones felt his side lost some spark in the 2nd half after a good opening 40 minutes.
“It was an opportunity to have a look at the bench when we were 34-14 up, and I felt we weren’t as hungry when we rotated the side. You expect a lack of energy when players have played 60 minutes, not when they have come on really.”
“We will have to work on some aspects, but we played some good rugby in the 1st half and it was pleasing to see some of the set piece work from training being rewarded on the field. We asked the players to attack from deep when they had the opportunity and we picked up a couple of tries as result.”
“It our second BP win of the season against a good Llanelli side that have been on a decent run, so we move on to next week and look to push on again.”
Llandudno 19 v Nant Conwy 38 - the Nant match report
Following report kindly supplied by Nant Conwy RFC.
Llandudno – 17 v NANT CONWY - 38
[Adran 1 y Gogledd/ Division 1 North]
Trefn y sgorio a'r sgorwyr / Scoring Sequence and scorers:
13m: 3 - 0 RYAN PIKE, 17m: 3 – 3 ARTHUR LENNON, 19m: 8 – 3 LLOYD EVANS & 10 – 3 RYAN PIKE 27m: 10 - 6 ARTHUR LENNON, 42m: 10 – 11 SION PRINGLE
41m: 10 – 16 SION PRINGLE & 10 – 18 ARTHUR LENNON, 43m: 10 – 23 CARWYN ap MYRDDIN, 49m: 10 – 26 ARTHUR LENNON, 53m: 10 – 31 SION PRINGLE, 60m: 10 – 36 ARTHUR LENNON & 10 – 38 ARTHUR LENNON, 82m: 15 – 38 KELVIN DAVIES & 17 – 38 RYAN PIKE
Dyfarnwr / Referee: Mr Ceirion Parry, Ynys Môn
Ar brynhawn braf ond gyda gwynt cryf yn chwythu i gyfeiriad y môr, dechreuodd tîm cryf a gweithgar Llandudno gyda phwrpas. Roedd eu hymosoiadau cryf yn haeddu sgôr ond cymrodd 13 munud iddynt fynd ar y blaen gyda chic gosb. Daeth Arthur â’r gêm yn gyfartal mewn ychydig gyda chic gosb ei hun. Yna, bron i chwarter ffordd trwy’r hanner, gwelwyd Lloyd [rhif 10] yn bylchu’r amddiffyn i dirio o dan y pyst. Ychwanegodd Ryan y ddeubwynt. O hyn ymlaen, daeth Nant i mewn i’r gêm a lleihaodd Arthur y fantais drwy gic gosb arall. Daeth trobwynt y gêm pan ddyfarnwyd cerdyn melyn yn erbyn un o’r chwaraewyr cartref a bu i gyflymder Sion orchfygu’r amddiffyn fymryn cyn yr hanner ac ennill cais ar y chwith gan roi sgôr o 10 – 11 ar y chwiban hanner.
Yn unionsyth ar ddechrau’r ail gyfnod, gyda Llandudno’n parhau gyda 14 dyn, dangosodd Sion ei sgiliau unwaith eto gan redeg heibio 4 ymgais i daclo. Trosodd Arthur y cais yn un gwerth seithbwynt. Dau funud wedyn, gwelwyd, o bosibl, symuniad pasio gorau’r gêm a orffenwyd gyda Carwyn ap yn sgorio cais yn y gornel dde. Cic gosb arall gan Arthur wedyn cyn i’r pwynt bonws am sgorio pedwar cais gyrraedd trwy i Sion unwaith eto ddangos ei gyflwymder i sgorio’i drydydd cais o’r dydd. Cyrhaeddodd sgôr olaf Nant yn union dri chwarter ffordd pan fu i Arthur wneud yr union yr un symudiad ag a welwyd gyda chais cyntaf Llandudno wrth dirio o dan y pyst. Trosodd ei gais ei hun wedyn. Ymlaciodd Nant rhywfaint yn awr a daeth y tîm cartref fwy i mewn i’r gêm. Ar 80 munud, aeth Nant i lawr i 14 dyn ac o’r gic gosb tros y ffin, llwyddodd Llandudno i ennill y bêl a gwthio trosodd am gais yn erbyn y postyn gyda Kelvin yn codi’n fuddugoliaethus. Lleihaodd Ryan y gwahaniaeth yn y sgôr gyda throsiad a roddodd sgôr derfynol o 17 – 38.
On a sunny afternoon but bitterly cold, llandudno took advantage of playing with the strong breeze and began with real purpose. Indeed, they deserved a score but it took 13 minutes for them to gain the lead by means of Ryan’s successful penalty. Iarthur levelled the score soon after with his own successful penalty. Nearly three quarters of the way through the match, the first try arrived when Lloyd [No. 10] breached the defensive line to touch down underneath the posts. Ryan made the try worth 7 points with his successful conversion.
It was only then that nant began to exert some authority and Arthur further reduced the arrears on 27 minutes with another penalty. Arguably, the turning point of the match arrived just begore half time when a Llandudno player was sin-binned. From the resulting penalty, the ball was passed out to Full Back, Sion, who out sprinted everyone to touch down for a try in the left hand corner. This gave a 10 – 11 half time score.
The second half was only afew seconds old when Nant gained the ball from the kick off and Sion, once again out sprinted everyone and evaded four tackles to score a try by the posts – one which was duly converted by Arthur. Two minutes later, possibly the best passing movement of the match ended when right winger, Carwyn ap completed the move with a try on the right hand side.
Nant went further ahead with another penalty off Arthur before the ‘bonus point’ try arrived when Sion, once more, completed his hat-trick of tries for the day with another fast and splendid run. Three quarters way through the match, Nant’s final score of the day arrived when Arthur completed a very similar move to the one that Llandudno scored in the 1st half. He brushed himself down to convert his own try.
Nant relaxed somewhat then and brought on all their substitutes. As a result, Llandudno came more into the match. On 80 minutes a Nant player was sin-binned and from the resulting touchline kick, the home team won the line out and the forwards rumbled towards the centre of the pitch and eventually, Kelvin emerged from a ruck having scored a try against the upright. Ryan completed the scoring with the last play of the match.
Final score: Llandudno 17 v Nant Conwy 38.
Machynlleth 24 v Menai Bridge 13
Following report kindly supplied by Menai Bridge RFC.
The hosts enjoyed an early breakthrough from a fine attacking move off the back of a scrum. A pickup by the number eight was shifted on to full back Cameron Sandys who carved up the napping defence for a fine try.
After the early setback Bridge settled into the game and forced a penalty for infringement at the ruck, which was converted by Dion McGrath. Both teams enjoyed plenty of possession with neither dominating the play, as defences held fast. An interception broke the deadlock and Mach's James Owen raced for the line to stretch the lead to 10 - 3.
Machynlleth were dominating play and secured a 5 metre lineout. The home forwards executed a text book catch and drive for hooker Hedd Griffiths to touch down. With a conversion from Iwan Jones the score at the half was 17 - 3.
The second half continued in similar fashion as Mach threatened to run away with the game. A break down the left wing and some slick passing opened up the field for fly half Steffan Price to touch down under the posts. Jones converted to take the score to 24-3.
With the bonus point secured Mach were hoping to stretch the lead, however Bridge had other ideas and rallied strongly.
The referee lost patience with the the home sides persistent infringing at the ruck and two yellow cards reduced Mach to 13 players. With the numerical advantage Bridge managed a sweeping move that number 8 Sam Williams fiinished with a try.
Williams then scored a further try from a series of forward drives to take the final score to 24-13.
Bridge must now regroup for next week's home derby against old rivals Benllech
Llandudno 17 v Nant Conwy 38 - the Dudno match report
Following report kindly supplied by Llandudno RFC.
Nant proved to be to strong in the second half period of play. Up to half time Llan gave as good as they got, and at this stage it looked as if this encounter would be a close one right up to the final whistle.
However Nant produced a match winning second half performance with a superior team performance.
Llan took an early lead after just fifteen minutes of play with a converted penalty by Ryan Pike, but Nant came back with an early response with a converted penalty.
Llan continued to press forward,and and found a gap in the Nant defence with Lloyd Evans touching down near the posts giving Ryan Pike an easy conversion. The match at this stage was evenly contested with but it was Nant who went into the half time break with an unconverted try, giving them a one point lead.
Superior team work by Nant in the second half saw them race into match winning spree with four tries, two conversions, and a penalty, with Llan only scoring a try by Kelvin Davies in the final minutes of play, which Ryan Pike converted.
Next Saturday away v Dolgellau.
Llangollen 25 v Bangor 32
Following report kindly supplied by Llangollen RFC.
Llangollen returned to league action with a home fixture vs Bangor.
The hosts started the game brightly and after some good phases of this play a nice offload from Gwyndaf Davies saw Danny Griffiths sprint in from 30m to score, centre Iestyn Hughes added the extras , but immediately from the kick off Llangollen switched off which saw Bangor reply with a try of their own to level the scores , the visitors were buoyed with their try and quickly added a second to put them 7 points up , Hughes replied with 2 pens to close the gap to 1 , with the Home pack getting on top saw llan get good field position and flanker Griffiths crosses for his 2nd try , Hughes added the extras .
With the 1st half coming to the end a great break from full back James Claybrook saw llan get 5m out but knocked the ball on at a crucial time and that mistake proved costly as Bangor worked their way upfield to score a try on the stroke of half time to make the score 20-19 .
2nd half started well for Llangollen with a well worked try from a lineout a good bust from man of the match Danny Griffiths saw hands down the back line for winger Harry Paton to score in the corner , but unfortunately Llangollen couldn’t push on and with some poor tackling saw Bangor score 2 unconverted tries and as the Home side pushed for 4th try their over playing resulted in giving a lockable penalty to the visitors and then managed to see out the remaining final minutes to head home with the spoils .
Captain Ashley Wilson said “ we had more than enough possession to win today , we made poor decisions at crucial times , and in the final 10 mins we fell off to many tackles , but it’s another hard earned point today “
Llangefni 25 v Bro Ffestiniog 24
Following report kindly supplied by Llangefni RFC.
This game provided one of the most dramatic finales witnessed at Cae Smyrna for several seasons. Trailing 24-18 in stoppage time and pegged back deep in their half, Cefni launched a last ditch attack. Ieuan Evans made the break on the wide outside, before giving Gethin Andrews a clear run for the line from the 22. The latter in his excitement forgot to go behind the posts, leaving Rhys Hughes a tricky kick to win the game. Hughes was up to the task and Cefni stole the spoils at the death.
Cefni took an early lead when some forceful running in the Bro 22 led to 3points from Hughes the boot. Bro`s riposte was immediate, after Cefni`s poor exit strategy allowed Bro`s hefty carriers to makeground: they interpassed well on the blind side and hooker Tom James flew over near the flag, 3-5. Bro crossed the home line again minutes later, but it was disallowed for crossing. However, Bro kept up the pressure, and Aaron Roberts crashed over after a driving maul, 3-10. When Cefni had an attacking line out they failed to profit, however when Bro had the same chance in the home 22 , their line out functioned well and their effective driving maul led to a 2ndtry for Tom James. This time Gareth Davies added the extras and Bro were out to 17-3.
Cefni then stopped on the gas, went through the phases and centre Rich Foulkes was able to squeeze over in the corner. Hughes` superb kick made it 10-17. Cefni enjoyed a good spell of possession which was rewarded by another Rhys Hughes 3 pointer, 13-17. With half time approaching, Cefni allowed Bro the field position and possession from a lost line out, which brought Bro their 4th try , scored by Dylan Jones, after another foray down the blind side. Gareth Davies successful kick was the last action of the 1st half.
Cefni, knowing that they had to score next, started to throw the kitchen sink at the Bro defence. That it took at least 25 minutes before that elusive 2ndtry was scored speaks volumes for the tenacity of the Bro defence, and Cefni`s attacking defencies. Cefni had control of possession, but struggled to provide quick ruck ball, and no 9 Aled Jones was caught at the base too often. When John Hughes was carded, Bro may have hoped for a respite, but that was not the case as the Cefni pack with Dion Oliver and Will Bown more and more to the fore, continued to pound the home defence in their 22. One attack took them to within 5 metres, only to be penalised at the ensuing ruck. Greg Horsman was held up in mid field, leading to a vital turn over.
Cefni finally crackedthe Bro defence when after attacking on both flanks , Aled Jones found Ieuan Evans in space with a scoring pass. At 18-24 with about 12 minutes to go Cefni had a chance. The Cefni bench was making an impact in loose play, with Ieuan Evans putting in a superb shift. Cefni persisted in using the blind side, and with such a glut of possession it is hardtop explain why they did not put more width on their game consistently. When, finally some good ball was moved right, Greg Horsman was guilty of not releasing his outside runners and the attack petered out. Cefni fans may have thought their chance had been blown, but fortunately there was that final dramatic play which delivered the precious 4 points.
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