A round up of match reports from the weekend involving the clubs of North and Mid Wales.
Caernarfon 24 v Llandudno 20 - the Dudno match report
Following report kindly supplied by Llandudno RFC.
A match which the Goats allowed to slip from there grasp in the second half of play, when they missed scoring points due to wrong options being taken.
The Goats opened the scoring just on twelve minutes of play with a penalty conversion by Byron Davies, and it was another of the Davies clan that increased their lead, when from a line out near the home try line that Alan Davies was driven over for an unconverted try on the thirty minute mark giving them the lead on the half time whistle.
They opened the second half of play, still having the edge over the hosts, and it was a well placed kick by Lloyd Evans out of defence which was followed up by support players, with Lewis Jones getting the touch down.
It was at this stage of play that the home side began to put their game together with a burst of tries, and missed tackles by the Goats cost them the match, the first of the tries was scored by Dom Yau who also added the conversion, and with minutes they had crossed the try line again with Dilwyn Gwyn touching down.
Mistakes now had its effect on the Goats defence allowing, Iolo Hughes to score their final try and points. The Goats rallied in the final ten minutes of play, and kept themselves in the match with converted try by Byron Davies, but it was the home side that hung on to clinch a home win. Both sides meet again on Sunday 13th May in the North Wales Plate Final, at Nant Conwy ground KO 2.30.
Next Saturday away at Dolgellau KO 2.30. and on the following Wednesday they play there final evening league match at Nant Conwy kick off TBA.
Match Report by Howie.
Shotton Steel 13 v Dinbych 20
Following report kindly supplied by Dinbych RFC.
Dinbych gained a hard earned victory over their nearest challengers Shotton Steel in a fiercely contested top of the table clash ,showing great character to overturn a half time deficit after Shotton had dominated the first half play. They also made light of losing three key players through injury all of which needed long breaks in play which disrupted the flow of the game. Fortunately all three replacements Gavin Rizzi, Jamie Winning and Dafydd Jones were to make significant contributions to the second half reversal of fortunes.
Playing with the breeze in their favour a highly charged Shotton side dominated both territory and possession throughout the first half with their forwards making ground with powerful drives and winning the breakdown battle whilst their backs posed a constant problem mainly through the probing play of their centres. However they were met with a resolute defensive performance by Dinbych typified by the crunching crash tackle by prop Joe Davies which unfortunately earned him a yellow card in the eleventh minute.
Shotton opened the scoring shortly afterwards following a scrum 30 metres out for centre Dan Lynskey to go over for an unconverted try after taking an inside pass and wrong-footing the Dinbych defence. There was then a long break in play when lock Gareth Beach was treated following a wheeled scrum which collapsed. When play was resumed after a long break Dinbych continued to withstand Shotton's intense pressure in their 22 with a tremendous tackling display, with centre Tom Seddon a steadying influence marshalling the backs and Chris Forshaw producing another outstanding display at No 8 raising the siege with powerful runs from the base of the scrum.
Shotton eventually increased their lead well into the extended first half injury time with a penalty from 45 metres by outside half Steve Elson.
Trailing by eight points to nil at the interval Dinbych then lost right wing Kieran Bonar early in the second half with a leg injury but this failed to halt their revival as they now gained parity of possession with a solid base in the scrums and with Gavin Rizzi a valuable source at the line out. They reduced the deficit when centre Owain Davies kicked a penalty from 30 metres before the influential Chris Forshaw became Dinbych's third casualty to leave the field .
They then used the breeze well when outside half Garin Roberts kicked a penalty into the Shotton corner on the right. From this the forwards generated a powerful driving maul with hooker Geraint Madoc Jones touching down for an equalising try which went unconverted as Owain Davies' kick rebounded from an upright. The momentum in the game was now turning in Dinbych's favour when Garin Roberts again kicked a penalty into the corner with the same result with flanker Dan Lawrence claiming the touch down for an unconverted try after another driving maul from the short range line out.
Dinbych's backs were now causing problems with Jamie Winning and full back Gruff Roberts going close after long runs . Replacement front row Dafydd Jones then surprised the Shotton defence with a strong surge from half way before putting Tom Seddon over wide out for a try converted by Owain Davies.
Shotton were now trailing by two scores but managed to respond with an intense period of pressure close to the Dinbych line in the closing minutes when once again a strong defence by the visitors withstood a series of short range drives before the hosts finally produced an overlap for replacement full back Mat Jones to go over for an unconverted try which gave the hosts a losing bonus point.
Caernarfon 24 v Llandudno 20 - the Cofi match report
Following report kindly supplied by Caernarfon RFC.
It would appear that apart from the top three teams in Division 1 North the following group of seven are very much on a par as this encounter most certainly proved.
Caernarfon, eight points adrift at the midway point, facing the slope and having very few 50/50 decisions going in their favour succeeded to surprise their most ardent supporters and most certainly the whole Llandudno contingent by rallying courageously to score four unanswered tries and then hold on for the final twenty minutes to gain a fully deserved victory.
The Cofis attempted to exert pressure from the off with wing Dylan Gwyn going close following one touch line run, soon accompanied by a charge down that Tudno did well to repel. Prop Rhobat John also carved an opening that could have resulted in points had the final pass been more assured.
After the opening ten minutes Llandudno themselves began to retain possession more effectively with their heavier forwards setting a good attacking platform. The pressure led to an offside call that saw scrum half Byron Davies dispatch confidently from the tee to open the scoring.
Caernarfon youngsters Owain Williams and Sion Owen contributed effectively and stand off Carwyn Roberts gained good distance with numerous touch finders, however the Tudno defence appeared to be coping more than admirably with any threat and on the half hour mark extended their lead following a driving lineout move that saw flanker Alan Davies shielded until he crossed the whitewash.
The Cofis tried desperately to record points during the first forty and it appeared to be on the cards when Iolo Hughes broke free with only the full back to beat, however the final pass faltered and it therefore appeared that the Cofis would be faced with an uphill challenge during the second half.
Llandudno consolidated their period of supremacy when good inter passing on the blind side saw prop Lewis Jones at hand to take the final pass and crash over after four minutes of the restart.
The notion that a lead of less than two scores is often insufficient, bore fruit here, Caernarfon, with nothing to lose, began to throw the ball around freely and felt aggrieved that a hack on and consequent grounding was not granted. However the adventurous approach was maintained and soon the inclusion of fullback Dom Yau in the three quarter line caused enough confusion allowing him to drift through unchallenged to score and add the accompanying conversion.
With fifty five minutes played, Dom Yau struck again, when a basic move from a lineout saw him lurking in midfield and when the onrushing defence went for the interception that didn't materialise, Yau again cantered in from twenty meters and coolly added the conversion.
Llandudno appeared baffled by the reversal of fortunes and before they could regroup the Cofis had maintained pressure with a chip through from Carwyn Roberts seeing Dylan Gwyn out sprint the defence to score out wide. The six point advantage soon became eleven when a sequence of excellent passing freed captain Iolo Hughes, who's chosen option of chipping over the last man worked a treat as he was then able to win the chase to score the bonus point try.
Caernarfon still had seventeen minutes to defend their lead and Tudno were close to replying almost immediately, only for Hughes's timely intervention. A sweet break by scrum half Byron Davies nearly brought reward but the final pass went astray. Soon second row Aled Meredith was only halted inches short and flanker Bobby Davies was another who ensured that the Cofis had to tackle tenaciously to the very end.
In the knowledge that the final play was imminent Caernarfon could afford to relax a little with Llandudno fighting to the very end and gaining a deserved bonus point following the endeavours of scrum half Byron Davies who wriggled over from close range and then converted his own effort as the final play.
Both league fixtures played between the two sides recently have been close affairs, but there remains what will hopefully be another fairly tasty encounter in the Plate final at Nant Conwy in a fortnight's time.
Dinbych 2nds 8 v Menai Bridge 24 - match report
Following report kindly supplied by Menai Bridge RFC.
In their last league outing of the season, Bridge managed to come away from Denbigh with a 4 try bonus point win.
Denbigh enjoyed the early posession, aided by a frantic penalty count against Bridge. Bridge's ill discipline was punished by Ben Reed, who slotted a penalty, for the first score of the game. Poor discipline prevented Bridge from getting any kind of grip on the game and they were soon reduced to 14 men, as the Referee's immense patience ran out. This seemed to galvanise the visitors to greater efforts and concerted pressure on the home try line, led to a try for scrum half Gareth Parry. Neither team were able to put a threatening attack together and as the game drifted towards half time, Gerwyn Morris stepped up to the mark with a fine scavaging try. The half closed at 3 -10.
It was twenty minutes into the second half until the next score. Foulkes in the centre for Bridge ran hard and fast to breach the defence. McGrath converted his try. Bridge were able to bring up a bonus point, when Foulkes scored his second try. Good ball from a lineout was shifted quickly to the centre and once again Foulkes's direct running found gaps in the Denbigh defence. He scored under the post and McGrath converted. Denbigh were not going to lie down. From the restart, several tackles were broken, the Bridge defence was sorely tested and eventually Roger Clayton went over for a well deserved try.
The match closed with a final score of 8 to 24.
Bridge' s season continues with an away tie at Holyhead on May 12th, where they take on Holyhead in the Gwynedd Cup semi final.
Menai Bridge Rugby Correspondent, Aisla Reng.
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