A round up of reports from games this weekend involving the clubs of North and Mid Wales.
If you have a report which you would like to share, please email the details to gwcymru1@aol.com and it will be added with pleasure
Ruthin 85 v Colwyn Bay 0
Following report kindly supplied by Ruthin RFC.
Despite being a player short and the game starting with uncontested scrums Colwyn Bay matched Ruthin for the first 15 minutes or so of this game moving the ball around effectively.
Both sides were testing each other’s defence but there was no score until Ruthin’s winger Arfon Thomas was fed the ball from a scrum 5yds from the visitors’ line and he nipped over for a try converted by fly half Nathan Jones. After that the Blues took control and wing Josh Wilson went over for 2 tries in quick succession.
Colwyn Bay went up to 15 men and the scrums became contested but Ruthin’s try scoring continued with another 4 being scored before half time by prop Tom Crawford, 2nd row Sion Roberts and two more from Josh Wilson. With Nathan converting 5 of the 7 1st half tries the score at half time was 45-0 to Ruthin.
After the break there were two quick Ruthin tries from Nathan Jones and Josh Wilson both converted by Nathan and then the visitors went down to 14 men again with an injury. Although the visitors never gave up and played valiantly to the end they were no match for Ruthin’s scoring power and the Blues went over the whitewash a further 4 times before the final whistle with tries from No 8 Alex Pope and three more from Josh Wilson with Nathan converting 5 of them.
The final score was 85-0 to Ruthin who now look forward to a testing encounter away at Ystrad Rhondda in the 4th Round of the WRU plate.
Dolgellau 13 v Bala 19
Following report kindly supplied by Dolgellau RFC.
Dolgellau and Bala fought out another nail-biting derby encounter, that could have gone either way, on a cold but dry afternoon, on a heavy Marian surface. Bala, just about edged it, and scraped home, moving up to second position in the League, whilst Dolgellau secure a fourth successive losing bonus point for another commendable effort against their high flying neighbours.
Bala went ahead after seven minutes with a penalty to stand-off, Owain Aled, when Dolgellau were penalised at a scrum 30 metres out. However after a period where Dolgellau enjoyed possession and territory they levelled matters after twenty minutes. The Bala backs strayed off-side just inside the Dolgellau half and Dolgellau centre Henri Roberts calmly put over a monster kick from two metres inside his own half to make it 3-3.
Bala fought back immediately and were pressing, and following a couple of penalties worked forward from a five metre line-out and hooker Endaf Jones surged over for the try to make it 3-8. Five minutes later, from a quickly taken penalty from half way, wing Chris Roberts chipped ahead down the right touchline and won the race for their second try and stretch the visitors lead to 3-13.
However Dolgellau responded strongly towards the end of the half, and with two minutes remaining their reward finally came. Prop Greg Smithies and skipper Rhys Roberts made hard yardage deep into Bala red zone, stand-off, Gerwyn Thomas’ miss-pass found wing Rhys Lewis who squeezed over for the score. Henry Roberts made no mistake with the extra points and the half ended evenly poised at 10-13.
Bala kept Dolgellau under constant pressure during the third quarter, and Owain Aled eased them to a nine point lead with two penalties on fourteen and twenty five minutes. The second infringement saw Dolgellau no.8, Rob Lewis, harshly Yellow carded for handling at a ruck.
Despite being down to 14 men, a tense last ten minutes was guaranteed when Dolgellau stand-off Gerwyn Thomas slotted over a penalty to narrow the gap to six points after Bala were penalised whilst running form their own 22. But it was Bala who finished stronger, and several forward drives were repelled by a determined Dolgellau defence, and a dart up the left touchline by Dolgellau centre Henri Roberts, in the last minute, was snuffed out by the visitors’ swarming defence to hold on for the win.
Referee: Stephen Buncombe
Caernarfon 6 v Llangefni 13
Following report kindly supplied by Caernarfon RFC.
The fact that only three points were scored during the second forty minutes of this league encounter would rightly suggest that both teams were more than adept at nullifying any threat that each possessed.
Llangefni were however worthy winners for after they established their ten point cushion they were far more tactically astute and disciplined in their approach.
The opening exchanges saw everyone involved, being a logical tactic in view of the bitterly cold breeze. However it was the Cofis who probably had the better of the opening exchanges with the vision of stand off Carwyn Roberts nearly freeing wing Dylan Gwyn.
Llangefni got their noses in front when Greg Horsman was able to slot over a penalty from 20 meters with twelve minutes played but Aled Jones reciprocated for the Cofis within three minutes from a similar distance.
Adam Thomas found a gap in the Cefni defence but a possible promising break once again came to nothing due to poor handling skills, a trait that was sadly far too often apparent during the afternoon.
Horsman once again nudged Llangefni ahead from the tee mid way through the half and from that point onwards the islanders dominated territory and possession until the break.
Second row Dion Oliver impressed with ball in hand and centre Richard Foulkes was gaining greater influence by entering the line at pace and from acute angles. Wing Geth Andrews also appeared to have the beating of his opposite number but the ball didn't come his way that often. The Cofis on the other hand were thankful for the high work rate and excellent enveloping tackles of Mike Downey during this particular spell.
With Caernarfon hoping to hold on until half time, they were eventually outdone through their own error when a dropped pass in midfield was collected by Iwan Humphreys who then had Foulkes in support to run in from twenty metres. Horsman stepped up to slot the easiest of conversions to give Llangefni a ten point cushion at the break.
The Cofis started the second half brightly enough and got back into contention within seven minutes when Aled Jones was able to slot over his second penalty of the day. The Cofi faithful were hoping that this would lead to further pressure being applied but a lack of cohesion and structure all too often led to moves being far too predictable, thus making it easy for Llangefni to defend and nullify the possible threat.
The presence of stalwart William Boun did much to galvanise the Cefni forwards, who when in possession were able to smother the ball effectively for phase upon phase. Such a tactic starved the Cofis of possession and forced them to attack from deep. On this occasion they failed to find the key that was needed to unlock the stranglehold imposed upon them and therefore had to settle for the bonus point secured as a result of wrestling themselves back to within seven points.
Nant Conwy 71 v Mold 15
Following report kindly supplied by Nant Conwy RFC.
Trefn y sgorio a'r sgorwyr / Scoring Sequence and scorers:
9m: 5 – 0 SION PRINGLE, 11m: 10 – 0 CARWYN ap MYRDDIN & 12 – 0 ARTHUR LENNON, 14m: 17 – 0 ARTHUR LENNON & 19 -0 ARTHUR LENNON, 17m: 24 – 0 JACK MORIARTY & 26 – 0 ARTHUR LENNON, 23m: 31 – 0 SION PRINGLE & 33 – 0 ARTHUR LENNON, 26m: 33 – 5 Jacko Oosterhuyzen, 29m: 38 – 5 CAI JONES, 32m: 38 – 10 Kenny Williams, 36m: 43 – 10 CARWYN DAVIES & 45 – 0 ARTHUR LENNON, 42m: 50 – 10 JACK MORIARTY
59m: 55 – 10 CARON DAVIES & 57 – 10 ARTHUR LENNON, 65m: 57 – 15 Nicky Hughes, 72m: 62 – 15 SION PRINGLE & 64 – 15 ARTHUR LENNON, 74m: 69m 69 – 15 CARWYN ap MYRDDIN & 71 – 5 ARTHUR LENNON.
Dyfarnwr / Referee: Mr Gwion Davies, Ynys Môn
Nant yn dechrau’r Flwyddyn Newydd yn yr un modd ag y gorffenwyd 2017
Ar bapur, roedd yr ornest yma yn edrych fel y gallai fod yn un anodd i Nant. Yr Wyddgrug yn wastad yn dîm galluog gyda chwaraewyr rheng flaen trwm a nerthol. Nant ar y llaw arall, gyda blaenwyr ysgafn, cryf a chyflym. Ac os yr oedd yna wers i’w dysgu o’r gêm yma, fe brofwyd nad yw nerth a thrymder ddim yn golygu llwyddiant ar y cae rygbi y dyddiau yma.
Nant yn meistroli’r gêm o’r chwiban gyntaf i’r olaf. Er holl ymdrechion yr ymwelwyr, roeddent yn wastad yn ei chael hi’n anodd i ennill tir a symud ymlaen. Y cais cyntaf yn dod i Nant o fewn naw munud o chwarae, trwy law Sion Pringle. Dilynwyd hyn gan saith cais arall cyn yr hanner amser, a dau gais i’r Wyddgrug mewn ymateb, i wneud y sgôr ar yr egwyl yn Hanner Can pwynt i Nant a deg pwynt i’r ymwelwyr. Nid oedd gan yr ymwelwyr ddim ymateb i ymosodiau sydyn, medrus a nerthol Nant Conwy.
Nifer o newidiadau yn yr ail hanner i’r ddau dîm mewn chwaraewyr a tactegau, ac er fod Yr Wyddgrug yn ymosod yn galed yn hanner Nant o’r cae am gyfnodau, amddiffyn Nant yn meistroli’r sefyllfa yn eithaf hawdd a pan ddaeth y cyfle i wrthymosod, roeddant yn anfaddeuol. Fe groesant y linell cais deirgwaith yn ychwanegol gyda symudiadau sydyn a medrus. Mewn ymateb, fe lwyddodd yr ymwelwyr i sgorio un cais ychwanegol, ac er ei holl ymdrechion i gael y pwynt bonws, amddiffyn Nant a enillodd y dydd.
Y sgôr terfynol, Nant Conwy 71, Yr Wyddgrug 5.
Nant start the New Year in the same manner as they finished the last.
On paper, this match looked as if it could be a tricky one for Nant. Traditionally, Mold teams have always had big powerful and heavy packs. Nant Conwy on the other hand have a mobile, skilful and strong pack. If there is one lesson to be learnt from this game, it is that big heavy packs do not guarantee success in the modern game.
Nant were the dominant team from the first to the final whistle. Despite all of Mold’s efforts, and they were considerable, they were not able to make any substansive headway beyond the gain-line in either half. The first Nant try came within nine minutes through the hands of Sion Pringle. Seven additional tries followed for Nant before half time with Mold scoring two in reply, making the score at half time, fifty points to ten in Nant’s favour. Mold could not thwart the fast free flowing skilful rugby played by their hosts.
Despite a number of changes to personnel and tactics being made in the second half and Mold pressing hard in the Nant half , they were not able to make any meaningful incursion, the home team’s defence being very much in the ascendency. When opportunities arose, Nant Conwy’s counter attacks were merciless in their efficiency resulting in three magnificent tries. In response, Mold scored their third try of the match and as hard as they tried to get a fourth try and hence a ‘4 try’ bonus point, they were thwarted by the magnificent Nant Conwy defence.
The final score, Nant Conwy 71 v Mold 15
[John Parry]
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