A round-up of reports from games involving the clubs of North and Mid Wales.
If you have a report from a game played yesterday and would like it to be added to this round-up, please email the details to gwcymru1@aol.com - many thanks
Dolgellau 78 v Rhyl 12
Following report kindly supplied by Dolgellau RFC.
Dolgellau move to top of Division 2 North West following this 12 try romp against luckless Rhyl, who arrived here without sufficient front row cover, resulting in the game being played throughout with un-contested scrums.
It took Dolgellau centre, Gareth Hughes, less than two minutes to set the tone for the afternoon, as he rounded the Rhyl cover to score their first try, expertly converted by his fellow centre, Dan Brazier to make the score 7-0. Two minutes later, Dolgellau wing, Rob Pugh weaved his way out of defence, and stand-off Jac Roberts put in winger Iwan Pugh in for the try of the game to make it 12-0.
Full back, Gerwyn Pugh, Centre Gareth Hughes, with his second try, and prop Greg Smithies barged over, in quick succession, with Brazier adding two conversions to make the score 31-0 with only fifteen minutes on the clock.
But Rhyl stedied the boat in the second quarter, and Dolgellau were restricted to two further tries, to wing Dylan Evans & second row Danny Evans, both being converted by Brazier to put Dolgellau in complete command at the interval 43-0.
Dolgellau full back Gerwyn Pugh and second row Danny Evans added their second tries of the match, both being converted by Dan Brazier to put the home side 57-0 in front, before Rhyl finally got on the score sheet with a deserved try to no.8 and skipper, Dale Blackmore, after twelve minutes.
Dolgellau wing Dylan Evans crossed for his second, and the outstanding, Danny Evans completed his tat-trick of tries, with Brazier adding both conversions to put Dolgellau 71-5 up before another spirited Rhyl period saw second row Ashley Brown crossing over with stand-off Simon Cheetham converting to make the score 71-12 on the half hour mark.
Dolgellau gave young lock, Iwan Evans and wing Jack Evans, their 1st team debuts, and the latter rounded off the scoring with two minutes left, crossing over in the right corner, with Brazier converting to complete the scoring at 78-12.
Referee : Haydn Owen
Nant Conwy 83 v Mold 7
Following report kindly supplied by Nant Conwy RFC.
Nant yn Anfaddeuol
Os oedd unrhyw un yn meddwl fod y sgôr yn erbyn Abergele yr wythnos diwethaf wedi bod yn dipyn o ffliwc, yna fe wnaeth y perfformiad yn erbyn yr Wyddgrug chwalu unrhyw amheuaeth.
O’r dechrau, Nant yn dangos ei bwriad i ymosod yn ffyrnig, gyda chwarae agored cyflym yn cadw’r ymwelwyr ar y droed ôl. Yna, o fewn chwe munud, Ifan Pyrs yn croesi’r llinell gais i sgorio y cyntaf o’i dri chais am y prynhawn, gan roi Nant ar y blaen o bump pwynt i ddim. O hyn ymlaen, dangoswyd dim maddeuant i’r ymwelwyr. Yr Wyddgrug gyda dim ateb i ymosodiau Nant yn mhob agwedd o’r gêm. Erbyn hanner amser, roedd Nant wedi sgorio pump cais, ac ar y blaen o dri deg un pwynt i saith.
Yr un stori yn yr ail hanner, os rhywbeth, fe aeth pethau o ddrwg i waeth i’r ymwelwyr gyda Nant yn sgorio wyth cais yn ychwanegol, gyda dim ymateb.
Perfformiad anhygoel gan y garfan, pob un yn haeddu clod am eu hymdrechion a’u gwaith caled, a llongyfarchiadau hefyd i Kevin a Wyn am y ffordd y maent wedi hyfforddi ‘r tîm i chwarae rygbi o’r safon uchaf i ddiddori ni, y cefnogwyr. Diolch hefyd i Becki, sy’n gweithio’n galed yn y cefndir i gadw pawb yn iach ac yn ffit.
Y sgôr terfynol: Nant Conwy 83 Yr Wyddgrug 7
Nant Show No Mercy
If there is any ‘Doubting Thomas’ concerning last week’s score and performance against Abergele, then this game certainly shattered any illusions concerning Nant’s standard of play.
From the very beginning, Nant showed their attacking intentions, playing fast, powerful rugby, which kept Mold constantly on the back foot. Within six minutes, Ifan Pyrs scored the first of his three tries for the afternoon to put Nant ahead by five points to nil. From then on, Nant were almost permanently parked in the Mold, half scoring an additional four tries to make the score at half time, Nant thirty one, Mold seven.
The same story occurred in the second half. If anything, an already bad afternoon, got even worse for the visitors as Nant scored an additional eight tries without reply.
An exceptional performance by every member of the squad who are to be congratulated for their efforts and hard work. Congratulations also of course, to the two coaches Kevin and Wyn for the way they’ve moulded this squad of players into such a formidable outfit and to Becky who works so hard and diligent behind the scenes to keep everyone so fit and healthy.
The final score: Nant Conwy 83 Mold 7
Sgorwyr NANT CONWY scorers:
Ceisiau / Tries:
Ifan Pyrs [3], Carwyn Ellis [3], Gwion Ellis-Jones [3], Cai Jones, Carwyn Roberts, Steffan Horan & Delwyn Jones.
Trosi / Conversions: Delwyn Jones [9]
[John Parry]
Following report kindly supplied by Abergele RFC.
Following the two big losses last week, both teams were looking to get their seasons back on course, both sets of supporters may have expected a dour defensive battle but neither team was having any of it as high tempo attacking rugby was the order of the day.
The scoreboard kept ticking over throughout the match with the lead changing four times. Gele took the lead from the boot of Owain Davies after absorbing early pressure although Cobra had a well worked converted try before Owain Davies again slotted a penalty.
The game ebbed and flowed with both sides probing close in and then spreading wide. Cobra again crossed the line and looked to be going in with an eight point lead only for Tomo Coathup to finish off a fifteen man move on the stroke of half time which Owain Davies converted to bring the score back to within a point.
The second half continued with both sides looking to play expansive rugby, both scrums delivered their own ball and both line outs challenged well with Chris Meyers having a dominant game.
Gele took the lead from a loose ball which was kicked ahead by Ed Davies, he won the chase to the touch down and once again Owain Davies added the extras. Going into the final quarter it was still anybody’s game but Cobra found the gaps in the Gele defence scoring 2 tries, one being converted.
Gele got a penalty to move within three points and spurned a difficult chance for a further three to go for the corner only to be held up at the final whistle. Cobra celebrated a hard fought victory whilst Gele are still looking for their first of the season.
Bethesda 26 v Llandudno 36
Following match report kindly supplied by Llandudno RFC.
In a match that was affected by very windy conditions, Llan came out on top with an excellent second half team performance.
The home side took an early lead within ten minutes of the start, with a converted try, and shortly afterwards from a intercepted pass within there own half, they raced the full length of the pitch to increase there lead with another converted try.
Llan now began to get into there pattern of play with the forwards providing quick ball from rucks and mauls, the backs used this along the three quarter line, and it was there young winger Lloyd Evans who took a try scoring pass to touch down.
They continued to pressurise the home defence in the final quarter of the first half, and from a line out, the forwards formed a driving maul which the home side were unable to contain, and the drive took them over the try line with flanker Bobbie Lee Davies getting the touch down try.
The second half saw Llan improve there play with the forwards setting a strong platform. Llan backs always looked dangerous with ball in hand, and it was full back Pat Coy who made the extra man in a following movement touching down under the posts,with Lloyd Griffith converting.
The next try came after the forwards had been firmly camped inside of the home twenty two metre area, and with a series of pick and drive that Ed Weston crossed the touch line for an unconverted try, and it was the forwards again from quick ball from a set scrum that Jonathan Stokes crashed over for a try, with two more points being added by Lloyd Griffith with the conversion.
It was from this point in the match with about fifteen minutes of play left, that Llan let the home side back into the match, when they tried to run out of defence but lost the ball in a tackle which the home side used to score an unconverted try.
Llan realised that they need to up the tempo of the game, which they did, and from the restart after the home side try, that they collected the ball, and a combination of backs and forwards took play up to the home side try line, resulting in Josh Williams touching down near the posts, giving Lloyd Griffith an easy conversion, however the home side had the final say of the match with a converted try.
Match Report by Howie.
Next Saturday at home to Nant KO 2.30.
Ruthin 12 v Caernarfon 25
Following match report kindly supplied by Ruthin RFC.
Ruthin put on a better performance than in recent games against Caernarfon on Saturday but failed to get enough points on the board to record a win.
The Blues started brightly and then defended well against a sustained Coffi attack.
Eventually Ruthin cleared their lines but only as far as the centre of the field where after a brief period of play in the middle the Blues conceded a penalty on their 10 yard line and were back for a visitors’ line out in their own 22.
Caernarfon had the ascendancy in the scrums and after winning a number of penalties from the scrum were awarded a penalty try which Guto Pierce converted. Ruthin responded immediately with a penalty goal kicked by 2nd row Deian Lloyd Williams.
The remaining 15 minutes of the first half were played out without further score but with the Blues exerting some good pressure to try and claw back further points.
After the break both sides were trying to dominate but the Blues were prone to conceding penalties in attacking position and from one such penalty the visitors ran the ball into the Blues half.
Ruthin conceded another penalty from their own scrum and the Coffis went over for an unconverted try in the corner.
Again Ruthin put together some good play to pressure the visitors but again could not convert the pressure into points and 10 minutes from the end were turned over in their own 22 releasing Caernarfon to run through their defence and score.
Within minutes the visitors had their 4th and bonus point try again running through the Blues defence.
Once more the Blues responded and after some good forwards play flanker Steffan Parry forced himself over for a try which Lloyd Williams converted.
The Coffis widened the gap again with a penalty goal from Pierce.
Although the Blues went on the attack they were still prone to losing possession in attacking positions and the game ended with Caernarfon winning 25-10.
Caernarfon’s try scorers were Carwyn Roberts, Sion Gwyn and Dominic Yau.
Harlech 22 v Menai Bridge 7
Following report kindly supplied by Menai Bridge RFC.
In an entertaining match Harlech came out on top, by converting every opportunity that came their way to score 4 tries to Bridge's 1.
Both teams looked to move the ball at every opportunity and it was Harlech who scored first after 12 minutes. Having taken the Bridge defence to one way, slick passing along an extended back line saw the home side score a try out wide on the opposite wing to give a five point lead.
Bridge responded with a try of their own when fly half Dion McGrath ghosted through the defence to jog in under the posts, converting his own score. The Bridge lead didn't last long as Harlech responded immediately. A superb passage of offloading and close support from the forwards led to a converted try, giving the home side a 12- 7 lead at half time.
With everything to play for, Bridge started the second half in determined fashion, however Harlech had other ideas and a long period of pressure eventually led to a try off the bak of a scrum for Harlech's fly half. Bridge stuck at their task but Harlech were enjoying more and more territorial and possession advantage.
In the final play of the game the ball was taken wide from a scrum to outstretch the Bridge defenders for another try in the corner.
Both teams will take many positives from the match, Harlech will be looking at a place in the leading pack when the league splits and Bridge will be looking to develop their young team over the course of the season.
There are no events to show yet.