A round-up of match reports involving the clubs of North and Mid Wales.
Llangefni 2nds 38 v Benllech 12 - match report
Following report kindly supplied by Llangefni RFC.
In this keenly contested local derby, the visitors remained competitive to the end, but the hosts held most of the aces in attack.
Intense home pressure led to an early score for prop Huw Jones. Then, after Benllech had missed a kickable penalty, Cefni started to move the ball well into the open spaces with Paul Magee and Morris Whalley to the fore. Cefni were stopped on the line twice, and lacked the composure and patience to go through the phases. Iwan Davies gathered a loose kick near half way and proceeded to outflank the defence and get within 5 metres.
Finally, after man of the match Alun Roberts had carried to within 5 metres, Sior Grieves was able to dummy and stroll over under the posts . He added the extras for a 12-0 lead on the half hour mark. Benllech threatened a try just before the break when their industrious 9, Alex Rees-Jones, just failed to minor his kick ahead.
Cefni started the 2nd period in dominant mood, and after Tomos Owen had been stopped just short, he got a 2nd chance minutes later after a clear line break by Sior Grieves allowed him an easy run in. Grieves`kick made it 19-0. Benllech were stung into action and after some strong carries by their forwards, 2nd row Paul Williams was able to crash over. Dyfed Roberts added the extras for 19-7.
When Cefni upped the tempo again, Benllech conceded several penalties: from a tap penalty 15 metres out Alun Roberts bullocked his way through tackles and stretched for the line, Sior Grieves ensured another 7 pointer for a 26-7 scoreline. Cefni`s 5th try was a superb team effort from their own 22. It involved good offloading , another break by Alun Roberts and quick ruck ball which allowed Iwan Davies to feed Morris Whalley who was able to squeeze over near the corner, 31-7.
The visitors were not finished, and when a penalty allowed them to kick to the corner, they took full advantage as no.8 Rob Cole was able to race onto a pass at the front of the line and crash over at the flag : 31-12. Cefni made sure they had the last word, when another surging run from Paul Magee led to afew rucks on the Benllech line, which allowed Owen Evans to cross under the posts. Sior Grieves added the extras for a personal tally of 13 points, and a 38-12 home win.
Llandudno 50 v Maesteg Celtic 5 - match report
Following report kindly supplied by Llandudno RFC.
The Goats winning season continued with a masterful performance of support rugby by backs and forwards, of which the visitors were unable to deal with.
Within twelve minutes of play they were twelve points up, when from such play they had breached the visitors defence with tries by Nick Dundee and Captain Dave Davies, one of which Nick Dundee also converted.
On the twenty minute mark they had commanded a comfortable lead with tries by Kelvin Davies and Dan O"Sullivan, with the latter scoring the final first half try before the break which Nick Dundee also converted.
The visitors only points came during this first half with a try by Jonathan Davies.
The Goats forwards and backs in the second half began to combine as a unit, and support play of the ball carrier was a prominent feature. A movement created from within their own half saw Byron Davies take a try scoring pass from his cousin Kelvin Davies, and this was followed up by another try shortly afterwards when Oscar Lennon raced from within his own half out pacing the visitors defence to touch for an unconverted try.
The forwards now began to take more control of proceedings winning many of the opposition line out ball, and this gave the backs more attacking opportunities which they used and this was to cement this plate win with Lloyd Evans from a following support movement touching down for their final try of the match with Nick Dundee completing the scoring with the conversion.
The Goats have no match next week, next one is home to Bala on Saturday 10th Nov.
Match Report by Howie Odd Socks.
Player Report. Ryan Pike who sustained a broken jaw in the match against Nant, has had an operation with a metal plate being fitted, the club and members wish him well and a speedy recovery .
Shotton Steel 41 v Menai Bridge 5 - match report
Following report kindly supplied by Menai Bridge RFC.
Bridge suffered a heavy away defeat at Shotton, with the home side putting the visitors to the sword. The full strength of the Bridge squad was tested, due to a number of absences. This was always going to be a testing fixture as Shotton gained promotion to Division 1 last year, but found themselves in Division 3 after declining promotion.
Shotton enjoyed the majority of the early posession and scored first through number 8 Sargeant who latched onto a loose ball from a defnsive Bridge scrum. The next try came from an attacking 5m scrum, flanker Kemp driving to the line. The final try of the half came to the third member of Shotton's back row , Richard Smith who capped a great period of attacking phases to take a pass and dot down in the corner.
It was 15 to nil at half time and Bridge were hoping for an early score after the restart to get back into the match. It was Shotton that started the second half with a bang. Steve Garret took a close pass on a straight run and powered over.
The next try resulted from a calamitous mix up by the Bridge wings in defence. A loose pass under pressure was snaffled up by Smith for his second try. Garett then extended Shotton's lead with another great direct angle run for a try. Things were not going well for Bridge and another defensive mix up reulted in a loose pass that Billy Foster gathered for Shotton's 7th try.
To their credit Bridge continued to compete and made several breaks in the match that breached the home defensive line. Unfortunately the final pass never quite came off. There was some consolation when Bridge's first real period of pressure resulted in a try for Adam Goodwin, who stretched over from close range for the last score of the game.
Rhymney 29 v Dolgellau 36
Following report kindly supplied by Dolgellau RFC.
Dolgellau first team and a contingent of travelling supporters made the trip south this weekend to face Rhymney RFC in the third round of the WRU Bowl. Rhymney, who play in the League 1 East Central have enjoyed a good run of recent wins and Dolgellau knew they would face a tough test if they were to progress to round four of the national competition.
Dolgellau made a great start with less that three minutes on the clock, when early pressure within the home sides 22 saw the ball spread wide. Centre Gareth Hughes came off his left foot to straighten the attacking line and fix a scramble Rhymney defence before some crisp passing gave left wing Jake Hinge one man to beat to score the game’s first try in the corner. A second try only four minutes later came off quality lineout ball as inside centre Henri Roberts burst through two tackles, before combining with centre partner Hughes who threw a lovely floating pass out wide for Hinge to cross for his second, which went unconverted.
Dolgellau were ten points to the good and Rhymney were looking a little shell shocked during the early period however they gained their composure and started to make inroads deep into Dolgellau territory. The home team’s pressure paid dividends after a quickly taken penalty on the Dolgellau five metre line with the second row picking up and scoring off their hooker, who was felled just short of the line. Rhymney failed to convert resulting in a 5:10 score line in favour of Dolgellau with 15 minutes of the first period gone. Rhymney then took only two more minutes from the restart to cross for their second try, which was converted to put the home team into a 12:10 lead.
Dolgellau were reduced to fourteen after Hughes received a yellow card for not using arms in a tackle, but the home team were unable to convert the advantage into further points. The remainder of the first period saw both teams jostle for dominance with no further sores. Dolgellau came closest at the death of the half when Prop Greg Smithies was adjudged not to cross the line off a driving maul off lineout ball. Half time score 12:10
Dolgellau made early inroads into Rhymney territory from the restart and were unlucky not to regain the lead when a Roberts penalty kick from out wide bounced back into play off the upright. Rhymney regathered and cleared their line. Indiscipline by Dolgellau gifted Rhymney position and a line out deep in the visitors 22. The lineout was taken well and after two phases of play, resulted in a further unconverted try for the home team. Score 17:10 to Rhymney with only four minutes of the second half played.
On the twelve-minute mark, Standoff Eban Pugh Jones read a loose pass by the Rhymney ten and intercepted on the half way line to cross under the posts, Roberts added the conversion to put both sides on a equal seventeen points. Dolgellau regained the lead ten minutes later following a period of sustained pressure deep in the Rhymney 22. On form number eight Dewi Thomas picked up off the base of a five-metre scrum to feed nine Lewis Jones, who was stopped just short of the line. Thomas was on hand to pick up and cross in the right corner. Score 17:22 to Dolgellau.
True to form Rhymney hit back almost immediately pressurising the Dolgellau line off the restart. The visitors were up to the challenge and their defence stayed strong for the next ten minutes before the home team crossed on the far right off a short ball from the base of ruck. The score went unconverted tie the game at 22 points. Eight minutes later Rhymney moved the ball quickly right off a ruck on the half way line and found a chink in the Dolgellau defence resulting in a converted try. Score 29:22 to Rhymney.
With time running out for the visitors, Dolgellau dug deep to pressurise the home team from the restart. Dolgellau front eight were making gain line with every carry. When a high tackle to Jones at nine resulted in a lineout just outside the home five metre line. Thomas won quality lineout ball setting up prop Smithies to crash over to put Dolgellau back in the game. Two points were added by Roberts to square the contest at twenty-nine each at the end of the normal time.
Two periods of ten minutes were required to separate the sides, but it was Dolgellau who broke down the home defence in the first period. A line out from a penalty on the home team five metre line with Iwan Pugh gathering a Celt Lewis throw to the front. One phase by Marius Jones moved the play infield just enough to allow Celt Lewis to slip the ball to the narrow side and allow Hinge to cross in the corner for his hattrick. Roberts converted from the touchline to put Dolgellau a full score in front at 29:36. Despite a spirited second period of additional time, Rhymney were unable to break down their visitors and the game ended with a win for Dolgellau.
Man of the match Henri Roberts.
Dolgellau are very grateful for the warm welcome received from Rhymney and wish them well for their league and local cup campaigns.
Glamorgan Wanderers 54 v Dinbych 7
Following report kindly supplied by Dinbych RFC.
The scoreline does not reflect the general play in an excellent National Plate Second Round tie with Dinbych more than holding their own for much of the match against their high flying opponents who are aiming to regain their position in the top tier of community rugby.
The forwards more than held their own against much heavier opponents in the scrum whilst lock Gareth Beach and skipper and No 8 Narmer El Lamie battled hard against loftier opposition at the line out. The Dinbych backs were a constant threat throughout with their handling and running skills bringing out the best in the Wanderers defence. Where the Wanderers had the upper hand were using their bulk to good effect in their driving mauls and their ability to come away with points in positions near the Dinbych line.
Glamorgan Wanderers started strongly and opened the scoring after only 7 minutes with a try by lock Anthony Cox after a driving maul generated by their powerful forwards from a line out inside the Dinbych 22. They added a second from the restart kick with good combined support by forwards and backs taking play from their own 22 to the Dinbych line with Cox again finishing it by touching down for his second try . Outside half Luke Fish converted both to leave Dinbych with an uphill task from the start.
For the remainder of the half however there was very little between the sides with Dinbych's makeshift pack especially the front row of props Peter Shoosmith and Joe Davies with hooker Ben Jackson excelling in the scrums against their bulkier opponents. The half back combination of scrum half Jordan Wynne and outside half Garin Roberts initiated numerous attacking moves as Dinbych went through many phases of play from the quality recycled possession through the likes of flankers Dafydd Jones and Robin Williams. This allowed centres Tom Seddon and Ethan Morris despite being heavily marked to probe for openings and both wings Aidyn Jones and Kieran Bonar were able to take advantage to worry the hosts using their speed to make long breaks upfield whilst full back Gruff Roberts was a constant threat with his elusive open play running.
Despite Dinbych's efforts the Wanderers increased their lead after 35 minutes when wing Will Adam Jones crossed for a try following a quickly taken tap penalty 15 metres out from the Dinbych line with Fish again adding the conversion points. Dinbych then got some reward for their positive attacking play just before the interval as they attacked down the right from a scrum just inside the Wanderers half with good handling by the midfield backs releasing man of the match Gruff Roberts to slice through for a try converted by Garin Roberts.
Trailing by 21points to 7 at the interval Dinbych then suffered two blows early in the second half . First they conceded a try as they tried to attack from deep inside their 22 but were pressurised into handling errors which allowed Wil Adam Jones to go over for his second try. Then the Wanders won a line out near the Dinbych line before moving the ball wide for flanker Josh Sheehan to power his way over for a try.
Despite these set backs Dinbych continued to provide determined opposition with Adyn Jones, Gruff Roberts and Tom Seddon only denied scoring chances by determined Wanderers tackling. Former Conaught and Wales Under 20's International scrum half James Loxton then broke away from a scrum inside his own 22 on a long run upfield and good support play ended with flanker Max Wootton scoring a try. Luke Fish again added the conversion points to all three tries.
With skipper Narmer El Lamie forced to leave the field with a leg injury replacement Brychan ap Geraint brought the number of props in the Dinbych pack to five as stalwart Osian Williams was also playing out of position as a lock whilst flanker Dafydd Jones normally operated as a hooker. The Wanderers took advantage of their line out options with two tries from short range set pieces in the closing minutes through flanker Josh Sheehan and wing Phil Parivo with replacement outside half Rob Evans converting one.
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