A round-up of reports from games involving the clubs of North and Mid Wales.
COBRA 15 v Llandudno 13 - match report
Following report kindly supplied by Dolgellau RFC.
Derby matches between these two local rivals are normally tight uncompromising contests, and this bruising encounter was no exception. The hosts just about edged it curtesy of a second half performance that took full advantage of the breeze in their favour and Dolgellau’s mounting injury list during a torrid 2nd half for the visitors.
It was the hosts that drew first blood with stand-off Will Worthington slotting over a penalty after four minutes. The hosts were working the tight channels well and Dolgellau’s young halfbacks had to cope with the pressure, but eventually stand-off Dafydd Roberts had to leave the field with a dislocated shoulder after quarter of an hour, replaced by Carwyn Puw with Jac Roberts moving to no.10
A sniping run by Dolgellau’s Lewis Jones ended with a penalty that wing Gareth Hughes put over to tie the score at 3-3 after twenty-five minutes. Dolgellau enjoyed the territorial advantage throughout the half, but could not break down a resolute home defence, but only a minute form the break, a lapse in concentration between the home back three saw Dolgellau flanker, Guto Jones pounce on a loose ball to scurry under the posts for an opportunist try. Hughes skewed the conversion wide form in front of the posts, leaving the half time score 3-8.
Ten minutes into the second period, as Cobra were beginning to make some serious in-roads into Dolgellau territory, flanker Lee Hughes came close to scoring, but prop Nico Williams finished off in style near the posts, and with Will Worthington’s conversion, the hosts led 10-8.
Dolgellau lost Marios Jones, try scorer, Guto Jones, Dylan Llewelyn and Eon Williams with injuries, and the pressure mounted, but to their credit they gallantly held on, but with ten minutes remaining a Dolgellau clearance failed to find touch, and Cobra left winger Ieuan Williams broke through two tackles to score a fine individual try out on the left to make it 15-8.
With less than a minute remaining Dolgellau wing Gareth Hughes broke into cobra territory, he was hauled down illegally, and from resulting penalty line-out, cleanly won by youngster Arron Jones, skipper Rhys Roberts was driven over to bring Dolgellau within two points. However Hughes’ conversion with the last action of the match was way off the target, much to the relief and joy of the home fifteen.
Referee: Gwion Davies
Ruthin 18 v Llandudno 29 - match report
Following report kindly supplied by Ruthin RFC.
Llandudno showed much more urgency than the Blues in the first half of this WRU Plate 1st Round match at Cae Ddol and were 24-6 up by halftime.
First points went to Tudno’s Ryan Pike with a penalty goal after 5 minutes play. Ruthin equalised from the boot of full back Dyfan Humphreys after a further 5 minutes but within a few minutes Tudno were back in the lead after Lewis Jones avoided a tackle and went over the whitewash in the corner.
Tudno were moving the ball around effectively and Ruthin were conceding penalties in defence which Pike was kicking for goal. He kicked a further 3 penalty goals before the break with Humphreys getting one back and with the home side looking rather ragged converted a try by Bob Davies just on half time.
Within minutes of the restart Tudno’s Dan Sully grabbed another try and at 29-6 up with virtually a whole half to go it looked as though a big score might be on the cards. However something clicked with Ruthin and they started playing with more urgency and aggression than they had in the whole match.
Humphreys calm and accurate kicking was putting players in good positions in Llandudno’s half and after some good play replacement Jack Wilson went over for a try which Humphreys converted.
The last 20 minutes saw repeated Ruthin forays in the visitors’ half which Tudno defended well until wing Josh Wilson sped over the line for the Blues 2nd try. That was the final score and the game finished with Llandudno winning 29-18.
Bro Ffestiniog 19 v Nant Conwy 25 - match report
Following reports kindly supplied by Nant Conwy RFC.
BRO FFESTINIOG – 19 V NANT CONWY – 25
[Plât SWALEC Plate: R. 1]
Trefn y sgorio a'r sgorwyr / Scoring Sequence and scorers:
20m: 0 – 5 IFAN JONES, 32m: 0 – 10 JOEL STIRLING, 34m: 0 – 15 GETHIN ROBERTS &
0 – 17 STEFFAN HORAN, 40m: 5 – 17 Aaron Roberts & 7 – 17 Gareth Davies, 43m: 7 – 20 STEFFAN HORAN
48m: 7 – 25 GETHIN VAUGHAN, 64m: 12 - 25 Daniel P Jones, 87m: 17 – 25 Edwin Roberts & 19 – 25 Edwin Roberts
Dyfarnwr / Referee: Mr Simon Digman, Bethesda
Prynhawn braf â’r cymdogion agos yn cyfarfod am yr eilwaith yn ystod mis Medi. Gwelwyd cryn dipyn o newidiadau o’r gêm gyntaf gan y ddwy ochr gyda’r pac cartref yn feistri a chefnwyr yr ymwelwyr yn rhagori. Y Capten profiadol, Ifan, dorrodd trwy’r amddiffyn gyntaf ond bu i’r awel gref wthio ymgais Steffan am drosiad fymryn i’r chwith o’r pyst. Wedi ychydig tros hanner awr o chwarae, gwelwyd y cefnwr newydd, Joel, yn defnyddio’i gyflymdra i sgorio’i gais cyntaf erioed tros Nant. Dau funud yn ddiweddarach, cafodd Joel ei daclo fel yr oedd yn mynd trosodd ond, roedd yr asgellwr ifanc, Gethin, gerllaw i gipio’r bêl a sgorio’i bedwerydd cais o’r mis. Gyda diwedd yr amser syddogol am yr hanner cyntaf yn cyrraedd, sgoriwyd cais cyntaf y tîm cartref gan Aaron – un a droswyd gan Gareth. Ond nid dyna ddiwedd y sgorio am yr hanner. Tri munud i’r amser ychwanegol, sgoriwyd unig gic gosb y gêm i roi Nant ar y blaen 7 – 20 ar yr hanner.
Yn wir, aeth Nant tros y linell ddwyawaith ar ddechrau’r ail hanner ond tynwyd hwy’n ôl am ryw dramgwyddiad yn y chwarae blaenorol. Ond, wedi wyth munud o’r hanner, rhedodd Gethin V, a oedd yn chwarae’n yr ail reng heddiw, yn gryf i gael cais yn y gornel chwith. O hynny ymlaen, aeth Bro ati’n gryfach i lawr y llethr a bu iddynt sgorio cais haeddiannol wedi 24 munud trwy’r blaenwr Daniel. Parhaodd y chwarae heb fawr dim tebygrwydd o sgorio gan y naill ochr na’r llall tan, reit ar y diwedd, wedi wyth munud o amser ychwanegol, gwelwyd Edwin yn llwyddo i dirio’r bêl a chymryd cic adlam er mwyn trosi’i gais ei hun. Sgôr derfynol o 19 – 25 felly gyda Nant eto’n edrych ymlaen i weld pwy fydd eu gwrthwynebwyr yn y rownd nesaf.
Pwllheli gartref fydd y gwrthwynebwyr yr wythnos nesaf yn Adran 1 y Gogledd
On a sunny afternoon the ‘near neighbours’ met for the second time within a month. There were several changes from the first match by both sides and it became evident early on that the home pack would be dominant whilst the visiting backs could out-run their opponents. It was Captain and Centre,Ifan, who broke through the defence first but the fairly strong breeze shoved Steffan’s conversion attempt wide of the posts. After just over half an hour play, it was the turn of Nant’s new Full Back, Joel, to use his speed to score his first ever try for Nant. Two minutes later, Joel was tackled as he was diving for the line but, right winger Gethin, was on hand immediately to pick up the loose ball and dive over for his fourth try of this month. With the end of the official half approaching, the homesters first try was scored by Aaron and converted by Gareth. But, that was not the end of the scoring during the half as Steffan split the post with a penalty to give a scoreline of 7 – 20 at the break.
Indeed, Nant went over the try line twice in as many minutes early in the second half but were called back for infringments in play prior to grounding the ball on both occasions. But, the fourth try arrived after 8 minutes play when Lock, Gethin V. ran strongly to touch down in the corner. From then on, Bro whilst playing down the slope became more prominent and they scored a deserved try after 24 minutes through Lock, Daniel. It did not appear that any of the sides would score again until, that is, the final play of the match, after 48 minutes play when Edwin squirmed his way over for a try and converted the try by means of a drop kick. Thus, a final score of 19 – 25 leaving Nant wondering who their opponents will be in the next round.
Next week, it will be Pwllheli who will visit Nant Conwy in a Division 1 North League match.
Canlyniadau eraill: / Other results:
TEIRW NANT - 0 v Wrexham - 20
(Adran 2 y Gogledd / Division 2 North)
Ieuenctid NANT CONWY Youth - 43 v Ieuenctid Pwllheli Youth – 5
Sgorwyr Ieuenctid NANT CONWY Youth scorers:
Ceisiau / Tries: GWYDION ELLIS-JONES, GWION ROBERTS, YNYR ROBERTS, SAM DUNCALFE, JOSH WILLIAMS & ELGAN ROBERTS [2]
Trosi / Conversions: JAC ELLIS [4]
(Cwpan Ieuenctid Cymru / Welsh Youth Cup)
Llangefni 31 v Caernarfon 33 - match report
Following report kindly supplied by Caernarfon RFC.
This WRU Plate, 1st Round match, provided more than its fair share of thrills and spills as two young, evenly matched and relatively inexperienced sides provided their loyal band of supporters with an exciting brand of all out attack. Both sides had phases of dominance but all too often the initiative gained was surrendered due to inexperience at pivotal moments.
It was the Cofis with the wind at their backs that had the better of the opening exchanges with centre Dafydd Lloyd Williams constantly on the charge. Two penalty efforts came Caernarfon's way with stand off Aled Jones opening the scoring with his second effort after eight minutes. However Llangefni responded with an excellent try when stand off Sior Grieves deceived and wrong footed the defence to bring centre Greg Horsman onto the ball at pace, together with a clear path to the line. Richard Foulkes duly added the conversion.
The arrears were again reduced by another Aled Jones penalty on the half hour but from the restart constant pressure by the home pack saw them approach the red zone and with good ball retention they created the space required for Grieves to waltz through and score and afford Foulkes the added extras once again. Some uncertainty in execution saw some opportunities lost but eventually a neat chip through by scrum half Gareth Patchett was well anticipated by wing Tomos Huw and he duly won the chase to ground successfully.
Jones's conversion drew the Cofis to within a point once again. However, as had happened on numerous occasions previously, a lack of concentration granted Llangefni yet another foothold deep in Cofi territory, ending with Dion Oliver crashing over to become their third converted try of the half with Foulkes's contribution.
Once again, with half time looming, the Cofis conjured up a reply when a Dafydd Lloyd Williams charge from former lineout possession saw him take numerous defenders with him to ground over the line with Jones's boot again adding the extras.
The second half followed the same pattern with fresh legs being added early by the Cofis. Prop Pedr Jones, on his first team debut, showed a desire and experience beyond his years with fellow front rower Shaun Owen also effective in the loose.
The issuing of two yellow cards created more space in general with a Carwyn Roberts break from within his own half being continued by Mac Jones from the half way line. His deceptive pace left a trail of would be tacklers in his wake as he ran in to score a fine individual try after some sixty minutes to grant the Cofis a lead that they had not held since the eighth minute.
Again the cushion could not be protected, for a series of errors from the restart gave Cefni the initiative and their onward rush did not stop until flanker Eifion Roberts had duly crossed the try line. Richard Foulkes again converted and it appeared that he could have secured a home victory when he slotted an additional penalty with ten minutes to play.
Many had given a good account of themselves but the work ethic of both openside flankers, Eifion Roberts and Michael Downey deserved special praise. The Cofis then sensed a chance when a clever Roberts chip to the corner created pressure followed by another yellow card reducing Cefni to fourteen for tackling within ten meters following a quick tap and go. Soon Patchett's repeat quick tap routine found the safe hands of Armando Morgan who deftly offloaded to Mac Jones who once again had the pace and strength to squeeze over.
With time running out Cefni were caught in possession and from the resultant scrum wing Dylan Gwyn gained sufficient yardage to bring his side to within striking distance. One further offside transgression finally gave the Cofis the opportunity to snatch victory and Aled Jones once again came to his sides rescue as he slotted the all important tie winning penalty.
Ruthin 18 v Llandudno 29 - the Llandudno Report
The Goats took a complete and strong herd away for this first round plate encounter, and came away with a win against a good home side. Once again it was their Talisman Ryan Pike who opened the scoring just on the five minute mark with a penalty conversion.
However the home side responded with a penalty conversion by Dylan Humphreys minutes after the restart.
The match was one of each side counter attacking, and it was the Goats who put the pressure on the home defence with prop Lewis Jones touching down for the first try of the match.
A telling break by Andy Wynne took play well into the home side half, and a number of passes were exchanged which saw Bob Davies crossing and touching down for their second try, Ryan Pike added two more points from the conversion, and it was that man Pike again who completed the Goats first half scoring again with a penalty conversion.
The Goats seamed to switch off at the start of the second period of play losing some of there attacking momentum, this allowed the home side to breach their defence with a try by Jack Wilson.
However the Goats pack re gathered and another following attack from the halfway line saw Dan O'Sullivan split the defence for a touch down for their final match points. It was Ruthin in the final minutes of play that finished this first round plate competition with a converted try by Josh Wilson.
Match Report by Howie.
Next Saturday away at Denbigh 2.30 KO.
There are no events to show yet.