A round up of reports from games involving the clubs of North and Mid Wales.
If you would like your match report to be added to this round up, please email the details to gwcymru1@aol.com and it will be added with pleasure - many thanks
Flint 36 v Menai Bridge 22
Following report kindly supplied by Menai Bridge RFC.
The sunshine inspired both teams to throw the ball around in a thoroughly entertaining 9 try romp. Despite early Bridge pressure, Flint pounced on a loose ball in the 22 and James Bedford raced away for the opening try, which went unconverted. Flint then turned the screw on the visitors and enjoyed a 15 minute purple patch racing to a 19 nil lead.
Scrum half Jack Evans darted from a 5 metre ruck for his try and from the restart Ryan Tyrone caught, brushed off some feeble defending and ran 60 metres for his score. The home crowd's tail was up and the Bridge team eyed each other in disbelief.
Unless the visitors could claw their way back into the game, It was going to be a long afternoon. Fortunately they got their passing game going and skipper Ollie O'Brien rounded off a fine passage of support play for Bridge's opening try.
Shortly afterwards Dave Williams was put in space by number eight Chris Roberts and touched down for a fine try. The half time score was 19 -14 and the crowd sensed that the first score in the second half would probably determine the winner. Flint sored that try through Sam Parry, which brought up their bonus point. They then turned the screw with some relentless pressure, which led to a second try for James Bedford, stretching the lead to 31 -17.
Bridge then gained territory and were rewarded with a penalty. However the home pressure was relentless and despite Bridge defending for 17 phases, Flint's superb ball retention enabled Parry to score a second try, when the ball was shifted to his channel.
Bridge closed the scoring with a second try for in-form Dave Williams, whose wingers instincts spotted the smallest gap, despite the attention of numerous defenders. The conversion from the touchline narrowly edged past the post for a final score of 36 -22.
Nant Conwy 43 v Ruthin 12 - the Ruthin match report
Following report kindly supplied by Ruthin RFC.
In a torrid first half for Ruthin’s the team led by their pack battled away to try and get over the try line without any success only to see Nant’s fast running backs scoring often from their own half as soon as the opportunity arose.
At the break the home side were 31-0 up having scored 5 tries with 3 conversions. It wasn’t as though the Blues didn’t put together some good phases and challenge Nant’s line but more that the home side defended well and any mistakes perhaps exacerbated by anxiety by the visitors were pounced upon by Nant’s agile team. A
t the break it looked as though Nant would continue in their high scoring fashion but second half honours were equal at 12-12.
Three minutes into the second half Nant increased their lead with another try.
The Blues responded and got over the line but the ball was judged to be held up but they continued to contain Nant and probe their defence. Yet again a mistake in Nant’s 22 led to a penalty and Nant bagged their 6th try putting them 43-0 up.
Ruthin didn’t lose heart and in the last ten minutes their reward came first with a well worked try by 2nd row Calum Donnelly and then 5 minutes later wing Dyfan Humphreys burst through Nant’s defence and offloaded to centre Josh Wilson who scored with fly half Emyr Gwynedd converting.
This was a convincing win by Nant at 43-12 but with a few less errors on Ruthin’s side could have been a much closer contest. Nant’s try scorers were wing Jack Moriarty (2), No 8 Carwyn Ellis (2), full back Sion Pringle, fly half Arthur Lennon, prop Rob Parry with Pringle and Lennon getting the conversions.
Nant Conwy 43 v Ruthin 12 - the Nant Conwy report
Following report kindly supplied by Nant Conwy RFC.
On a sunny afternoon, we did not have to wait before the first score of the match arrived when Jack Moriarty [no.11] caught a high pass to touch down before, for a change, Full Back Sion Pringle was successful with the conversion..
A quarter way through the game, the home pack, following a ‘Scrum 5’ pushed the visiting pack over the line for no. 8, Carwyn Ellis to score a try. After 32 minutes, Sion, the Full Back used his speed and strength to by pass three opponents to touch down behind the posts. The try became worth 7 points when Arthur converted.
Just before the break, the bonus point for scoring 4 tries arrived when Carwyn Ellis completed another move full of sublime passing. This gave a 31 – 0 score at half time.
The 2nd Half had just begun when Ifan Jones, the captain, released today’s Hooker, Rob Parry to hurl over for another try. The home side was changed at regular intervals after this score and all members of the bench were used at some stage.
The next score arrived after 67 minutes when ion Pringle and Arthur Lennon combined well to release Jack Moriarty to speed around several tackles again to touch down again with Arthur converting. With the score being 43 – 0 by now and the game approaching its end, the opportunity was taken to alter the positions of several players on the pitch.
This resulted in Ruthin becoming more of an attacking force. Indeed, two deserved tries arrived for the visitors in the last few minutes of the match when Josh Wilson scored in the right hand corner and then, Callum Donnelly, a forward, scored the final try well into added time. Emyr Gwynedd converted the score as the last play of the day.
Nant do not have a match next Saturday and they next take the field at the Principality Stadium at Cardiff on Sunday, 29th April when they take on Brynmawr in the SWALEC Plate Final.
Trefn y sgorio a'r sgorwyr / Scoring Sequence and scorers:
7m 5 – 0JACK MORIARTY & 7 – 0 SION PRINGLE, 22m: 12 – 0 CARWYN ELLIS, 32m: 17 – 0 SION PRINGLE & 19 – 0 ARTHUR LENNON, 24m: 24 – 0 ARTHUR LENNON & 26 - 0 ARTHUR LENNON, 39m: 31 – 0 CARWYN ELLIS
42m: 36 – 0 ROB PARRY, 67m: 41 – 0 JACK MORIARTY & 43 – 0 ARTHUR LENNON, 76m: 43 – 5 Josh Wilson, 83m: 43 – Callum Donnelly & 43 – 12 Emyr Gwynedd.
Dyfarnwr / Referee: Mr Ed Brown, Dinbych / Denbigh
Ar brynhawn braf ni fu raid yn aros yn hir i Nant gael eu cais cyntaf pan lwyddodd Jack Moriarty [rhif 11] ddal ei afael ar bas uchel i dirio ac, am newid , daeth y Cefnwr, Sion Pringle ati i drosi’r cais yn llwyddiannus. Chwarter ffordd drwy’r gêm, gwelwyd y pac yn gwthio pac yr ymwelwyr trosodd o Sgrym 5 gyda’r rhif 8, Carwyn Ellis yn tirio. Wedi 32 munud, wele Sion, y Cefnwr yn defnyddio’i gyflymder i fynd heibio tri gwrthwynebydd er mwyn tirio tan y pyst. Trowyd y cais yn un gwerth 7 pwynt gan Arthur. Fymryn cyn yr hanner, cyrhaeddodd y pwynt bonws am sgorio 4 cais pan orffennodd Carwyn Ellis symudiad arall o basio celfydd. Sgôr o 31 – 0 ar yr hanner felly.
Newydd ddechrau oedd yr ail hanner pan fu i Ifan Jones, y Capten, ryddhau’r Bachwr am y dydd, Rob Parry i hyrddio trosodd am gais. Newidiwyd y tîm cartref ar ôl hyn gyda phob un o’r eilyddion yn dod ymlaen cyn y diwedd. Wedi 67 munud, cyrhaeddodd ail gais Jack [rhif 11] wedi i Arthur lennon a Sion Pringle ei ryddhau ar y chwith gyda phob ymgais i daclo’n methu. Trosodd Arthur y cais hwn hefyd. Gyda’r sgôr bellach yn 43 – 0 a’r gêm yn tynnu tua’r terfyn, bu i Nant newid tipyn ar safleoedd chwaraewyr ar y cae fel sesiwn ymarfer. Goblygiad hyn oedd caniatau i Rhuthun ddod fwy i mewn i’r gêm Cyrhaeddodd dau gais haeddiannol i’r ymwelwyr ym mhum munud olaf y gêm wrth i Josh Wilson fynd trosodd ar yr asgell dde ac yna’r blaenwr Callum Donnelly yn tirio wedi 83 munud. Chwarae olaf y gêm oedd trosiad Emyr Gwynedd.
Nid oes gan Nant gêm y Sadwrn nesaf a byddent yn chwarae’u gêm nesaf yn Stadiwm y Principality, Caerdydd brynhawn Sul, 29ain Ebrill 2018 yn erbyn Brynmawr yn rownd derfynol Plât SWALEC.
*****
Canlyniad arall / Another Result:
TEIRW NANT - 20 v Pwllheli (2) - 6
[Cwpan Gwynedd Cup – Rownd Cyn-defynol / Semi Final]
Dyfarnwr / Referee: Mr Paul Hughes, Bae Cinmel / Kinmel Bay
Sgorwyr TEIRW NANT scorers:
Ceisiau / Tries: DYLAN JONES & ELLIS FÔN
Trosiadau / Conversions: GWION ELLIS – JONES (2)
Cic Gosb / Penalty Kick: GWION ELLIS – JONES (2)
Wedi’r gêm hon, bu i Alwyn Jones [Cynrychiolydd Rhanbarth Gogledd Cymru ar URC] gyflwyno TEIRW NANT gyda Thlws Pencampwyr Adran 3 y Gogledd am y tymor 2017/2018.
After this match, Alwyn Jones [The North Wales Representative on the WRU] presented TEIRW NANT with the Division 3 North Champions Trophy for season 2017/2018.
[Ifor Glyn]
Llandudno 29 v Bethesda 7
Following report kindly supplied by Llandudno RFC.
The Goats scored all of there five tries by turning defence into attack, the first of these tries came just after three minutes, when they launched an attack from deep inside of there own half with Lloyd Evans making a telling break which split open the visitors defence, and with support players at hand it was Ryan Pike who latched onto the final pass to open the scoring with an unconverted try.
The visitors found it difficult to deal with the pace of the Goats three quarters, and from such a movement from there own twenty metre area that they out paced the visitors defence yet again with Ryan Pike touching down for his second try, which he also converted.
The Goats assault continued, and just before the half time whistle Jack Hughes scored there final try of this first half, and it was at the end of this half that they lost Kelvin Davies from the field of play, when he was given a red card.
Almost from the start of the second half, the Goats again with Lloyd Evans being the instigator with another telling break from his own half, gate crashed the visitors defence, and with support players at hand, that Bobby Davies crossed the try line for a touch down.
The feature of this match was the strong defence that the Goats put up when under pressure, which they turned into attack with points being scored, and it was yet again that they scored there bonus points try from within there own half, when from a solid defence that they won the ball, and ran it the length of the field right up to the visitors try line with Jonathan Stokes touching down, with Ryan Pike adding two more points with the conversion.
The visitors managed to have the final say of the match in the final moments of play, with a try by Gethin Long which he also converted.
Next Saturday will be a challenge at Maesdu Road against visitors Pwllheli, and the way they have been playing this should be the Match of the Day.
Match Report by Howie.
Bro Ffestiniog 22 v Caernarfon 31
Following report kindly supplied by Caernarfon RFC.
An interesting encounter was witnessed at Llwyn Gell between two sides who were desperately seeking league points to stave off possible relegation fears. On this occasions it was Caernarfon who remained the most composed and were consequently deserving of their 31 -22 victory.
Cofi stand off Aled Jones was a thorn in Bro's side throughout by consistently gaining valuable meters when putting boot to ball to relieve pressure and by so doing often giving the Cofis a platform to attack from. Within the first ten minutes such an acquired foothold in the danger zone led to Iolo Hughes opting to chip through and as a week previously, he won the chase to score between the sticks. Jones added the extras to add to Caernarfon's account.
Makeshift centre Marc Morris closed most midfield avenues and secured numerous valuable turnovers for Bro, one led to an offside call against the Cofis and Huw James duly slotted the penalty to claw three points back on fifteen minutes. Caernarfon however soon extended their lead when lineout ball was spread wide and wing Dylan Gwyn outfoxed numerous defenders and far too easily wriggled free to sprint in and score. Again Aled Jones slotted the conversion but on this occasion from an acute angle.
The Cofis were apt at preventing any possible breakout by Bro with flanker Michael Downey Velcro-like around the ankles of any green ball carrier. However a sixty yard Huw James touch finder towards the end of the first half lifted home spirits and when a penalty was awarded for illegally preventing a rolling maul Bro opted for a set scrum to assert further pressure. The customary solid Bro platform provided a quick pop pass to on rushing centre Marc Morris, who's angled run caused enough confusion within Cofi ranks to grant him a deserved five pointer. James added the extras to reduce the deficit to four points.
However there remained enough time for a further Bro transgression to result in the issuing of a yellow card and further punishment when Aled Jones duly dispatched the resultant penalty.
The Cofis had the aid of the slope during the second half and soon added to their tally when Number 8, Mac Jones gathered and burst through numerous tackles to free himself before sprinting clear over the final twenty meters to score. Jones again added the conversion. Before Bro had composed themselves a speculative downfield punt brought a fortuitous bounce as far as Caernarfon were concerned with the ball nestling kindly in speedster Dylan Gwyn's hands, who then ran in unchallenged and with yet another Aled Jones conversion, opened a challenging twenty one point gap for the quarrymen to try and overhaul during the final half hour.
To their credit they fought back manfully using their heavier pack to good effect. Penalties were drilled into the danger zone to make use of driving line outs that were a certain meter gaining ploy as far as Bro were concerned. One such tactic paid dividends some ten minutes later when after a series of drives, Tom James was at hand to plough over. Huw James slotted the conversion from an acute angle to raise the spirits of the home supporters. It was then that a few rash individual decisions denied Bro promising attacking platforms and allowed the Cofis to clear their lines with relative ease.
The reduction of the Cofi squad following the issue of another yellow card raised Bro's hopes and with ten minutes remaining following numerous strong runs by prop Paul Kalafusz, Tom James repeated his earlier feat by being in the right place at the rear of another rolling line out maul to touchdown on the try line. The conversion drifted narrowly wide meaning that another two scores were required. Caernarfon could be credited for their game management during the run in, kicking intelligently and defending resolutely to keep Bro within their own half for most of the final minutes and by so doing denying them a losing bonus point as well.
In retrospect in would appear now that both teams should see out the season believing that their place in Division 1 North is secure for yet another season.
Wrexham 22 v Dinbych 52 - match report
Following match report kindly supplied by Dinbych RFC.
Dinbych secured promotion with this eight try bonus point victory in a free flowing entertaining game at Wrexham. The forwards had to work hard to match the industrious home pack in both tight and loose play whilst the backs again showed their class with some well crafted tries. The hosts also played their part by scoring four tries of their own mainly through their forwards for a try bonus point.
After dominating the opening exchanges Dinbych took the lead in the eighth minute when right wing Owain Davies went over in the corner for an unconverted try after catching a well judged cross kick by outside half Dan O'Sullivan after the forwards had gone close to scoring themselves through driving play on the opposite side of the pitch.
Wrexham replied with an unconverted try of their own five minutes later when hooker Mike Moore forced his way over from a driving maul generated from a short range line out. Dinbych then went ahead again mid way through the half when full back Gruff Roberts counter attacked from half way after fielding a relieving kick for centre Tom Seddon to go over in the corner for an unconverted try. Dinbych increased their lead when a Wrexham attack broke down near half way with quick thinking by No 8 Chris Forshaw releasing scrum half Garin Roberts to run in for a try converted by Dan O'Sullivan. Dinbych closed the first half scoring when left wing Kieran Bonar went over for their bonus point try converted by Dan O'Sullivan whose break had initiated the move.
Trailing by twenty four points to five at the interval Wrexham then reduced the arrears early in the second half after a short period of pressure near the Dinbych line when flanker Mat Evans forced his way over for an unconverted try following good close range driving play by the forwards. Dinbych responded immediately when lock Gareth Beach regained possession from the restart kick to launch an attack by the backs with Gruff Roberts applying the finishing touch by running in from 40 metres for a try converted by Dan O'Sullivan.
Wrexham again hit back with prop Jamie Weston forcing his way over for a try from a short range line out with outside half Sam Rogers adding the conversion points. With play fluctuating from end to end Dinbych went further ahead with a typical counter attack from deep in their own half with Garin Roberts going over for his second try converted by Dan O'Sullivan after good approach play by Gruff Roberts and Kieran Bonar.
The topsy-turvy nature of the second half continued with Wrexham again reducing the deficit with another short range try with wing Jack Ratcliffe crossing in the corner for an unconverted try.
Dinbych then closed the scoring in the final minutes with two well worked tries , the first from a scrum on the Wrexham 22 when Kieran Bonar went over for his second try after breaking in-field and taking a clever inside pass from Dan O'Sullivan who also added the conversion points. Replacement wing Aidyn Jones then crossed for Dinbych's final try converted by Dan O' Sullivan after swift handling by the backs following good quality possession from a line out just outside the 22 by Gareth Beach.
Flint 36 v Menai Bridge 22 - the Flint report
Following report kindly supplied by Flint RFC. Picture by Bob Renshaw.
Flint kept one of their best performance of the season for their last league game against Menai Bridge, who ironically will finish 1 place above them in 4th.
An outstanding 2nd half performance gave the home side a bonus point win and proved to themselves that they are more than capable of challenging for the top spot.
Although a strong Menai Bridge started strongly a determined Flint side kept the Ynys Môn side at bay with some strong and organise defending and slightly against run of play winger James 'bezz' Beresford caught an interception pass and showed a clean pair of heels to run three quarters of the length of the pitch to score near the post for an unconverted try 5-0.
This had a deflating effect on the visitors and they soon found themselves defending their own line after some good attacking rugby and from a resulting ruck 5 metres, out young scrum half Jack Evans scored a classic snipping scrum half's try, converted by winger Sam Parry 12-0. Almost from the restart 2nd row Ryan Tyrone charged at the Menai pack, showed great strength to force his way through their defence to break free to find an open field to himself and out ran the perusing defenders to run in a glorious try from 60 metres, converted by Parry 19-0.
Then Flint sat back on their lorrals and seemed to switch off for the rest of the half, letting in Menai for two unanswered scores and putting them back in the game going into the break 19-14.
After an animated half time talk, Flint stormed back into the game as soon as the whistle blew, when winger Parry powered over the line for the first of his brace of tries and bonus point, unconverted 24-14, soon after Menai hit back with a penalty 24-17.
With the pressure being built on the islanders by the home side, tempers began to fray resulting in Flint being more dominant and playing exiting rugby for the crowd to relish, they went over for two more scores, firstly Beresford for his second and also Parry for his second to, converting one 36-17.
Flint then rang in the changes to blood some young talent Ross Andrews onto the wing and Thomas Roberts at tight head, also Jase Gibbins and Niall Casey came on as reward for some good performances playing for the Castlemen. The other change that was made when veteran Dan Goss made way for fellow veteran Phil Elder.
Menai Bridge to their credit didn't give up and scored an unconverted try out wide on the final wistle 36-22.
Man of the match was awarded to up and coming scrum half Jack Evans for a quality display.
TRIES
Sam Parry - 2
James Beresford - 2
Ryan Jones - 1
Jack Evans - 1
CONVERSIONS
Sam Parry - 3
MOM
Jack Evans
There are no events to show yet.