A round-up of match reports from games involving the clubs of North and Mid Wales.
Menai Bridge 18 v Holyhead 24
Following report kindly supplied by Menai Bridge RFC.
Today's match at Llyn y Felin was like stepping back a generation in time, when these two sides battled it out for a precious win against their local rivals. Holyhead came out on top today, with an excellent away bonus point win, thanks to four top quality tries from their backs. It was the attacking play of the Holyhead backline which was the difference between the two teams.
Bridge started well with two penalties for fly half McGrath, one slotted from a couple of metres in from the half way. Holuhead responded with a try which was charecteristic of their play. A decisive break in midfleld carved up the home defence for a 6- 5 score. Another try followed, with the conversion giving the Habour men a half time lead of 12 points to 6.
In the second half Holyhead pressurised the home defence and managed to create overlaps which eventually lead to another try.
Bridge responded with a try under the posts for winger Daniel Hughes, his first of the afternoon. The try was converted to take the score to 13 - 17. Holyhead fought back and stretched their lead. Once again attacking the Bridge fringe defence and putting their pacy backs in space. With the convesion slotted, Holyhead had their bonus point and were looking to stretch their lead. Bridge however managed a final try of the match at the death. It was a well taken dash for the line for winger Daniel Hughes, who will thank fly half McGrath for his arking run, which put him in space.
Holyhead deservedly took the spoils thanks to Rhodri Parry's two tries and one each for Iwan Roberts and Owain Thomas. Whilst Bridge will be disappointed with their second defeat in two weeks, Holyhead will enjoy their win and the neutrals will be happy to see a really competitive Anglesey derby.
Abergele 10 v Bangor 24
Following report kindly supplied by Abergele RFC.
Gele need to turn pressure into points to start getting the results their enterprise deserves.
Bangor took the game to Gele in the first 10 minutes and were rewarded with an early penalty which was duly converted. Gele soaked up the pressure and worked their way down the field to spend much of the half in the Bangor half and were unfortunate to have a Nathan Lea try disallowed. Gele must be rueing not taking a couple of penalties to get themselves back into the game.
The second half saw Bangor extend their lead with a further penalty and an unconverted try before Gele opened their account with a penalty from Gareth Evans. Although the game was a bit ‘stop start’ both teams looked to spread the ball with Gele ceding any territory by giving away needless penalties.
Bangor had another penalty and try before Gele crossed following some storming runs from Al Wraight, Alun Pritchard and Chris Marsh gave skipper the opportunity to cross with Gareth Evans adding the extras.
Bangor added a third just before the final whistle to take a well deserved victory.
Next week Gele 1sts have a week off from league duties but their 2nds will entertain Rhuthin 2nds at Pentre Mawr with a 2.30pm kick off.
Nant Conwy 24 v Dolgellau 0 - match report
Following report kindly supplied by Nant Conwy RFC.
Trefn y sgorio a'r sgorwyr / Scoring Sequence and scorers:
10m: 5 – 0 SION PRINGLE, 27m: 10 – 0 IFAN HUGHES & 12 – 0 ARTHUR LENNON,
38m: 17 – 0 CARWYN DAVIES
70m: 22 – 0 ARTHUR LENNON & 24 – 0 ARTHUR LENNON
Dyfarnwr / Referee: Mr Craig Roberts, Llandrillio yn Rhos / Rhos on Sea
Mae’r sgôr derfynol yn awgrymu fod y gêm yma wedi bod yn fuddugoliaeth hawdd i Nant. Mewn gwirionedd, roedd yn rhaid i Nant weithio’n galed i sicrhau’r fuddugoliaeth yn erbyn tîm ifanc ac ystyfnig o Feirionydd.
Y ddau dîm yn y munudau cyntaf yn archwilio am wendidau ei gilydd. Yna, o fewn naw munud, gwelwyd y sgôr gyntaf yn dilyn symudiad cyflym a chreadigol gan y cefnwyr, pan groesant y linell gais ar yr asgell chwith, gan roi’r tîm cartref ar y blaen o bump pwynt i ddim.
Ugain munud bron o ymosod a gwrth ymosod i ddim pwrpas tan y gwnaeth Dolgellau wneud can gymeriad yn trio cicio’r bêl allan o’u chwarter hwy o’r cae. Cipwyd y bêl gan y blaenwyr ac yna croesi’r llinell gais yn gornel ar yr asgell dde. Trosiad o ongl anodd, yn llwyddianus, ac yn ymestyn y sgôr i ddeuddeg pwynt i ddim. Dau funud cyn yr egwyl cais arall i Nant, ar yr asgell dde y tro yma, yn gwneud y sgôr ar yr egwyl yn ddwy a’r bymtheg i ddim.
Yn yr ail hanner, gwelwyd Dolgellau yn ymosod yn gyson yn hanner Nant ac yn dod yn agos i sgorio ar nifer o adegau. Am hanner awr bron, gwelwyd Nant yn amddiffyn i rwystro ymosodiadau Dolgellau. Gyda blinder, fe agorodd yr argae gyda Nant yn croesi dros y llinell gais o dan y pyst, a throsiad hawdd yn ychwanegu at y sgôr. O hyn ymlaen, Dolgellau oedd ar y droed ôl, ac yn amddiffyn yn llwyddianus i rwystro Nant.
The final score suggests that this was a relatively easy victory for Nant Conwy. In reality, Nant had to work hard to overcome this young and energetic team from Meirionethshire.
The first few minutes saw both teams probing each other’s defences, for weaknesses. Nine minutes in, it was Nant who scored the first try in the left hand corner, following a fast, skilful and creative move by the back line, to put the home side ahead by five points to nil.
Twenty minutes of stalemate followed, with neither side being able to make the decisive break, until, a poor clearance kick by Dolgellau in their own twenty two, saw the Nant forwards combine to score the second try in the left hand corner. A successful conversion from a very difficult angle, extended the home side’s lead to twelve points. Two minutes before the interval, Nant scored the third try of the match, this time on the right wing, to make the half time score, seventeen nil.
The second half saw the visitors attacking continuously in the Nant half of the field and came close to scoring on a couple of occasions, but were thwarted by excellent defensive work. With heavy legs setting in, the game became more open and with ten minutes to the final whistle Nant scored their fourth try under the post and thus gaining the extra bonus point.
[John Parry]
Nos WENER nesaf / Next FRIDAY evening: NANT CONWY v Bro Ffestiniog
[Plât SWALEC Plate – R 1] Cic gyntaf / K.O 7.30 p.m.
Other results for Nant Conwy:
Yr Wyddgrug [2] / Mold [2] 18 v TEIRW NANT [Nant Conwy 2nds] – 41
[Adran 3 y Gogledd/ Division 3 North]
Sadwrn nesaf / Next Saturday:Flint v TEIRW NANT
Powlen SWALEC Plate – R. 2]
Y Tîm Ieuenctid / The Youth Team
Sadwrn nesaf / Next Saturday
Ieuenctid Llangefni Youth v Ieuenctid NANT CONWY Youth
[Cynghrair Ieuenctid y Gogledd Orllewin / N. Wales West Youth League]
[Ifor Glyn]
RGC 26 v Carmarthen Quins 13
Following report kindly supplied by RGC News.
Winger Harri Evans was delighted to get his first try of the season, but also pointed out the defence work from the team in the win against Carmarthen Quins “Of course it was good to get the try, and to be fair it was a pretty easy one after Dion (Jones) passed it to me on the line. To nil them in the 2nd half was also a big positive and we have worked hard in training this week.
The intensity was ramped up Monday and Tuesday, and it helped us in the game today. The pushed us back onto the line a few times but credit to all the boys as we made sure they didn’t get over. We want to create a tough atmosphere at home, and Mark Jones has spoken about it being a fortress. We want the visiting teams to look at the fixtures knowing it will be a difficult place to come to week in week out."
The 3 RGC tries were the highlight of a game that didn’t really spark into life, but once again the RGC defence worked hard.
RGC opened the score with an early penalty from Dion Jones, before the Carmarthen Quins fly-half Daniel Jones did the same for the visitors.
Quins then controlled the play for 20 minutes as the camped in the RGC half and looked to find that gap in the Gogs defence. The game was paused for a period due to an injury to Alex Taylor which didn’t help the flow of the match.
RGC then lost the ball and as a result Quins stretched the field and when winger Ford kicked ahead from halfway he sprinted past Tiaan Loots to collect the ball and dab down for the try. Jones hit the extras.
Fly-half Jones missed a penalty opportunity but minutes later booted another kick over to make it a 10 point lead.
The visitors were more than happy to slow the game down, and also pinned RGC back with some tactical kicks getting behind the RGC backline.
RGC finally made some inroads with a good attack combination from Dion Jones, Rhys Williams and Tom Hughes before the centre was bundled into touch.
It was the pack who then impressed with a 30 yard drive that didn’t stop moving and it rumbled all the way to the line before being held up. It was a statement of intent against a strong Quins set piece and resulted in a penalty that was kicked by Jones.
Dion Jones was impressing with ball in hand, and collected numerous high balls in the 1st half as well, snuffing out any Quins attacks.
RGC took control of the abll, and the picked up their first try after Andrew Williams picked up the ball from the scrum and charged downfield before Alex Schwarz set up Rhys Williams to go over in the corner.
The pace picked up and with that RGC scored another superb score. Harri Evans collected the ball and made a side-step that left the Carmarthen Quins tacklers practically in the stands and darted over the half way line before Rhys Williams opened up the defence and Loots finished the try off.
It was more of the same when the 2nd half started, and probably the loudest cheer of the day came when Harri Evans got his first try of the season. Loots and Schwarz made a huge break before the ball was shifted wide for the centre to go over.
Dion Jones added the conversion and a penalty for a successful afternoon with the boot.
For much of the second half RGC were working without the ball, and the Quins tested the whitewash on a number of occasions but the RGC line stood strong.
The Carmarthen set piece is one of the strongest in the league, but it was unable to breach the RGC line. At one point they had 10 minutes of ball and territory but the home side defended with all they had.
Tim Grey, Tiaan Loots and Dion Jones gave RGC some attacking outlets to ease the pressure, but the biggest positive was the defence work and the fact the Quins were unable to get any points in the 2nd half.
Pwllheli 37 v Ruthin 8
Following report kindly supplied by Ruthin RFC.
In their game last week against top of the table Nant Ruthin were asked questions and found answers but this game against the new table-toppers they were asked many questions and found few answers as the hosts comprehensively out-played them.
Early pressure from Ruthin forced Pwllheli to concede 2 penalties, the second in front of the posts which was duly converted by outside half Nathan Jones. The game continued between the 22s until Josh Wilson chased a kick forward and held up the opposition full back long enough for support to arrive and win the put-in at the resulting scrum. As the ball was passed out it was intercepted by centre John Pugh who raced almost the length of the field to score under the posts, converted by Osian Parry-Jones.
Ruthin had few chances in the rest of the half with Pwllheli kicking a long penalty and scoring a wide try by Dafydd Anwyl, both kicks perfectly converted by Osian Parry-Jones who kicked another penalty before the break to leave Ruthin trailing 20 points to 3.
The second half saw Ruthin make something of a comeback. After a searing break by centre Emyr Gwynedd the ball was cross-kicked to Deian Williams who had spotted an opportunity on the wing, but a cruel bounce denied him a try with the line at his mercy.
After the ensuing line out a penalty near the Pwllheli line resulted in a short-range try by Danny Miller but too near the touch line for Nathan Jones to convert.
This was to be the last real pressure that Ruthin were able to exert with Pwllheli scoring 2 more tries by Alwyn Trennon and Huw Williams, both converted by Osian Parry-Jones, to ensure their win and try bonus.
All in all Ruthin met a good team playing well and were not themselves in the same good form as against Nant the previous week. They were given lessons in decisive game management, a master-class in consistent kicking both from hand and place kicks and the application of pressure. If learned these should stand them in good stead as the season progresses and they will look forward to showing Pwllheli what has been learned in the return match in the second half of the season.
Dinbych 22 v Wrexham 19
Following report kindly supplied by Dinbych RFC.
After three high scoring victories Dinbych were given a reality check by a well drilled Wrexham side who matched them try for try and gained a losing bonus point for their efforts.
Dinbych had the larger share of both territory and possession and had opportunities to have added to their tally but were frustrated by a tight Wrexham defence. On the other hand Wrexham took their fewer chances well and were ahead at the interval by 12 points to 10 having outscored the hosts in tries .
Dinbych had the better of the opening exchanges attacking deep into the Wrexham 22 but were held out by a stubborn Wrexham defence. It was against the run of play in the ninth minute that the visitors opened the scoring from a scrum just inside their half when full back James Price kicked ahead deep into the Dinbych 22 and re-gathered the bouncing ball to cross for a try which he converted himself .
This stung Dinbych into renewed action sparked by probing runs by outside half Dan O'Sullivan and they equalised after a quarter of an hour when they counter - attacked from half way. Full back Gruff Roberts came into the line with a searing outside break to release centre Tom Seddon to go over for a try under the posts converted by Dan O'Sullivan. Both sides then cancelled each other out before Wrexham went ahead once more on the half hour mark.
The visitors took play into the corner and from the resulting short range line out generated a driving maul from which prop James Weston forced his way over for an unconverted try.
Despite Dinbych's increasingly intense attacking efforts they were only able to reduce the deficit with a Dan O'Sullivan penalty with the last kick of the first half.
Trailing by 12 points to 10 at the interval Dinbych went into the lead for the first time just eight minutes into the second half when right wing Aidyn Jones went over in the corner for an unconverted try following an attack from a scrum in midfield inside the Wrexham 22.
Dinbych went further ahead ten minutes later as they pressurised Wrexham at a number of scrums in the corner just short of the line. After conceding a number of penalties at reset scrums Wrexham thought they had weathered the storm as they drove the Dinbych scrum back. Fortunately No. 8 Liam Allsup Jones rescued the situation as he recycled possession from which centre Owain Davies took a crash ball to burst through and score under the posts leaving an easy conversion for Dan O'Sullivan.
Dinbych continued to threaten through their dangerous backs but again failed to breach the solid Wrexham defence. The visitors then had a sting in their tail as they counter- attacked from near half way with right wing Jack Ratcliff finishing the move going over in the corner then rounding to touch down under the posts for a converted try. Unfortunately for Wrexham with only minutes remaining Dinbych retained possession to shut out the visitors with only the losing bonus point to show for their efforts in a highly competitive encounter.
Dinbych Seconds lost away to Flint Firsts by 16 points to 10.
Bro Ffestiniog 3 v Llandudno 17 - the Bro match report
Following report kindly supplied by Bro Ffestiniog RFC.
This Division 1 North encounter went ahead despite the very bad conditions at Cae Dolawel following hours of heavy rain overnight, before and during the match but credit to both teams, and the referee Dylan Llyr, they still made an entertaining match of it.
Within minutes of the kick off Llandudno were awarded a penalty and kicked for touch, from the ensuing lineout they battered the home defence through 25 phases but were unable to score and Bro won turnover ball and cleared.
The first points came on 15 minutes from the boot of the visitors full back Ryan Pike as he slotted over a penalty kick from 25m.
Bro were soon penalised once more for not releasing but this time Pike pulled his kick wide of the posts.
The hosts were then awarded two penalties themselves and fly half Huw James was successful with one to bring the scores level.
A yellow card for Llandudno's number 8 Kelvin Davies gave Bro the upper hand - James kicked for touch from the penalty and from the lineout Bro piled on the pressure through numerous phases which ended only when Bro prop Dylan Jones knocked the ball on as he touched down over the try line.
The visitors were penalised soon after for an infringement in a ruck and Bro chose to kick for touch once more. A quick ball off the top and the ball was spread out one way then the other as Bro created a 3 to 1 overlap, but Llandudno's left wing Cameron Davies intercepted the try scoring pass and raced 85m up field for a fine solo try under the posts which Pike converted.
A deliberate knock on by Bro gave Pike another penalty but he failed to split the posts from out wide and the sides went into the break with the score at 3 - 10.
From the re-start Llandudno were soon awarded another penalty but Pike's attempt from 47m fell short of the crossbar.
Bro created two try scoring chances through a stunning run and side step from full back Mathew Hayden but he was bundled into touch. Then a quick tap penalty by scrum half Aron Roberts found wing Ian Roberts but he dropped the ball and that scoring chance was squandered.
With Ffestiniog still very much in the match a penalty kick seemed to be the right choice rather than kick for touch but James missed the opportunity to reduce the deficit.
Llandudno soon extinguished any hopes of a home win through their second try of the afternoon. They were awarded a penalty and chose a scrum 5 the back row took on the defence and Llandudno went through 7 phases before flanker Owain Stacey slithered through in the wet conditions to score under the posts and Pike added the extras.
Bro's match in the WRU Plate away at Nant Conwy has been re-scheduled from Saturday to Friday 6th October kick off 7:30pm.
Welshpool 2nsds 0 v Porthmadog 41
Following report kindly supplied by Porthmadog RFC.
Porthmadog got their first win of the season after two defeats in pre season friendlies.
Port took a year out last season and it showed at the beginning of the match, Welshpool using their size advantage and good tactical box kicking to pin the away team down.
As happens in games of this level, there were many ball handling errors and ruck infringements from both sides at the start which resulted in the end as a penalty to Porthmadog which Dylan Elfyn Davies converted.
The match opened up a bit more when Porthmadog managed to create an overlap for centre Kearon Thomas who used his pace to gas over half of the field to score near the posts. Davies converting.
The match was still competitive from both sides for the rest of the half but good running from Craig Roberts resulted in a brace of tries for himself before half time, with Davies converting one of them.
The visitors started the second half brightly and tried to turn the screws which even in September may be the try of the season for them, Cafan Humphreys and Ynyr Lane combining well on the right flank with some excellent offloads before finally handing the ball to Martin Williams to finish the try off. Davies converting.
The game unfortunately descended into a bit of handbags around the hour mark and after the storm calmed, the ever present Dylan Wyn Evans rounded off a good performance with a try.
Welshpool stuck at it with some good hits and turnovers but unfortunately for them they could not convert them into any real try scoring opportunities and Ynyr Lane scored the final try for the visitors, the youngster rounding the hosts down the wing, Davies converted the final try bringing his personal tally to a respectable 11 points.
It was also great to see Osian Williams and Josh Catherall playing their first game for the side.
Porthmadog would like to thank Welshpool for the match and hope to see them visit Port sometime in the New Year.
Port's next game will be 7/10/17 away at Llangefni 2nds.
Bro Ffestiniog 3 v Llandudno 17 - the Llandudno report
Following report kindly supplied by Llandudno RFC.
The match was played very difficult weather conditions, and Bro is never an easy place to come away with a win, however Llan with a number of new players strengthening the squad, they overcame a resilient home side.
Llan held most of the territorial advantage throughout the match,and held firm when they were subjected to pressure by Bro.
They denied the home side from scoring any tries with a strong tackling defence,and when in attack with forwards and backs playing as a team unit,they scored two tries by scrum half Cameron Davies, and new squad player flanker Owain Stacey gaining maximum match winning points.
Ryan Pike converted both tries and scored a penalty.
Man of the Match Owain Stacey.
Next Saturday at home in first round of Plate Competition against Mold KO 2.30.
Match report by Howie.
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