A round up of reports from games involving the North and Mid Wales clubs.
If you have a report and would like it included in this round-up, please email it to gwcymru1@aol.com - many thanks
Dinbych 12 v Nant Conwy 26
Following report kindly supplied by Nant Conwy RFC.
Trefn y sgorio a'r sgorwyr / Scoring Sequence and scorers:
5m: 5 – 0 TOM SEDDON, 10m: 10 – 0 HAYDN JONES & 12 – 0 GARY ôr o ROBERTS, 12m: 12 – 5 GUTO DAFYDD & 12 – 7 STEFFAN HORAN, 40m 12 – 12 JACK MORIARTY & 12 – 14 STEFFAN HORAN.
63m: 12 – 19 JACK MORIARTY, 75m: 12 – 26 TOM OLIVER & 12 – 26 STEFFAN HORAN.
Dyfarnwr / Referee: Mr Dylan Davies, Bethesda
Wedi glaw y bore, roedd cae Dinbych mewn cyflwr pur dda ond roedd y bêl yn bur lithrig gyda sawl pas ar y ddwy ochr yn llithro o’r dwylo. Dechreuodd Dinbych ar dân gan fynd 12 – 0 ar y blaen mewn 10 munud trwy geisiadau gan y Canolwr, Tom Seddon a’r Bachwr, Haydn Jones; yr ail yn cael ei drosi gan yr hannerwr, Gary Roberts. Teimlid fod Nant allan o lwc ond newidiodd hynny ar 12 munud pan giciwyd cic amddifynnol i lawr â’r rhif 9, Guto Dafydd yn ymateb gyntaf i dirio gyda Steffan Horan (rhif 13 yn trosi). Yn araf bach, roedd Nant yn dod i fwy i mewn i’r gêm ac, ar hanner amser wedi pum munud da o bwyso ger y llinell, bu i’r asgellwr chwith, Jack Moriarty, dorri’n glir o’r amddiffyn i sgorio cais o dan y pyst ac a drowyd yn werth seithbwynt gan Steffan Horan.
Nant ar y blaen ar yr hanner felly.
Bu tipyn o newidiadau i’r ddau dîm yn yr ail hanner ond dri chwarter ffordd drwy’r gêm, wedi cyfnod o amddiffyn, wele Nant yn dechrau troi’r sgriw fel petae a sgoriodd Jack Moriarty ei ail gais o’r gêm trwy redeg y tu allan i’r amddiffyn i’r gornel. Daeth pac Nant i reoli erbyn y munudau olaf ac nid oedd yn syndod gweld y pac yn gwthio’r prop, Tom Oliver trosodd am gais a sicrhaodd bwynt bonws arall. Trosodd Steffan Horan y cais i roi sgôr derfynol o 12 – 26.
Sadwrn nesaf, bydd Nant yn croesawu’r Wyddgrug i Bant Carw mewn gêm Adran 1 y Gogledd.
After the morning rain, Denbigh’s pitch was in quite a good condition but the ball was extremely slippery with several passes on both sides going astray as a result of mishandling. Denbigh were on fire during the first 10 minutes or so and, indeed were 12 points to the good during that period. Centre Tom Seddon scored the first try followed quickly by another try by Hooker, Haydn Jones – a try that was converted by Fly Half, Gary Roberts. Nant felt that they were out of luck at that point but, as so often happens in any match, their luck changed two minutes later when a defending kick was charged down and Scrum Half, Guto Dafydd was the first to react and touch down for a try. Centre Steffan Horan turned the try into a 7 pointer.
Slowly but surely Nant were becoming more prominent and on the stroke of half time, after 5 minutes or so of relentless pressure on the home line, Left Winger Jack Moriarty broke through the defence to touch down benaeth the posts and let Steffan Horan have a fairly simple task of converting. Nant thus scraping ahead on the half time break.
Both sides made several changes during the second Half but, three quarters way through the match after having to defend for a while, Nant began to ‘turn the screw’ as it were and Jack Moriarty scored his second try of the match as he out-witted the defence on the left wing to touch down in the corner. By the end the Nant pack were in control and it was not a surprise when Prop Tom Oliver was pushed over for the fourth and ‘bonus point’ try by the rest of the forwards. Steffan Horan stepped up to convert and complete the scoring with a final score of 12 – 26.
Next week, Nant will welcome Mold to Pant Carw in a Division 1 North match.
Canlyniadau eraill / Other results:
DRENEWYDD / NEWTOWN –17 v TEIRW NANT – 14
(Adran 2 y Gogledd / Division 2 North)
Sgorwyr TEIRW NANT scorers:
Ceisiau / Tries: GRUFF FÔN & MORGAN DAFYDD
Trosi / Conversions: EUROS JONES (2)
Ieuenctid Treforus / Morriston Youth – 7 v Ieuenctid NANT CONWY Youth – 0
[Chwarteri Cwpan Ieuenctid Cymru / Welsh Youth Cup – Quarter Finals]
[Ifor Glyn]
Bala 5 v Caernarfon 18
Following report kindly supplied by Caernarfon RFC.
This North Wales League and Conwy Land Rover North Wales Cup double header was a tense affair from start to finish with the tenacious Bala outfit fully deserving of their thirteen point margin of victory. Caernarfon could claim to have had the ascendancy as regards possession and territory but only on one solitary occasion did the visiting defence yield, having gained superiority at scrum time and at the breakdown area.
Bala opened brightly, keeping possession well and the pressure told when after ten minutes Owain Aled slotted over a penalty after the scrum had been wheeled. Iolo Hughes and Adam Thomas responded on behalf of the Cofis but the defence could not be breached. Prop Thomas Gwynfaes also led the impressive tackling count during this early period.
Bala centre Ilan Jones then showed a terrific turn of pace on two occasions to bemuse the home defence, the second break leading to the field position whereby slick passing by second row Robin Owen led to prop Alwyn Dylan plough over in the corner to record his first ever Bala senior team try after twenty minutes.
The Cofis were given something to cheer when Dafydd Lloyd Williams broke through midfield and was able to feed wing Iolo Hughes who scarpered clear to score out wide just before the half hour mark. The remaining minutes saw both sides strive for ascendancy but play became scrappy with little composure evident, although Bala could probably have secured a confident cushion had not a crossing call denied them a try near the posts. They did however gain three points from the boot of Owain Aled when a ball was adjudged to have been kicked from a ruck and held on manfully when Iolo Hughes again attempted to force his way over at the last play of the first period.
The Cofis were facing the slope in the second forty and their task became more difficult as Bala pressed forward from the off. Constant pressure finally brought reward when a good offload brought fullback Miall Roberts onto the ball at pace and at an angle that split the static defence to score a fine individual try that was duly converted by Owain Aled to form a not insurmountable thirteen point cushion.
The Cofis rose to the challenge for a brief period following the setback but were met by very stubborn resistance in both tight and open play. Liam Leung carried well and others attempted manfully to cross the gain line. Seeing Bala stalwart Ilan Rowlands leave the field could well have raised Cofi hopes but the likes of Iestyn Dylan immediately stepped up to the mark to help form a watertight rearguard. When the Cofis finally crossed the try line the melee that then ensued prevented grounding and any hopes of a Cofi revival was duly extinguished.
A number of players could have been presented with the Conwy Land Rover man of the match accolade, but for the most creative and impressive gain line breaks and metres gained during the match, it was rightly handed to Bala centre Ilan Jones.
Benllech 40 v Mold 2nds 8
Following report kindly supplied by Benllech RFC.
Benllech were up against the wall on the run up to this weeks bottom of the table clash against Mold 2nds. With a mid week meeting to ask more from everyone involved as the 40 year old village side have struggled to get any points so far this season.
The players response was good and the build up to the game was well planned by the coaching staff led by Mark Ward (PM Williams and Sons Joinery) .
Mold playing downhill were the strongest out of the block, putting good pressure on the gulls, keeping the ball in their opponents 22 for much of the first 10 minutes. Mold however could not hold on to much of their own scrums and this made things extremely hard for the visitors. In the end they opted for 3 points to make the first score of the game.
A panicked Benllech side composed themselves and started running good phases and building pressure and it wasn't long before scrum half Alex Reese (Rhifau Rhos Accounting) threw a magical dummy and slip under the mold defense and under the posts to make an easy conversion for Dyfed Roberts. The dominant Benllech pack that has performed consistently through the season were too much for Mold and with scrum after scrum being turned and collapsed by the visiting side, it wasn't long before number 8 Terry Hughes (Safe Hands) went over for a converted try.
Good play from the Benllech backs saw the ball moved wide with powerful runs from Gwyndaf Williams (Rich Wills Fitness) and wing Chris Ford. With good position being gained, it wasn't too long before Terry Hughes (Safe Hands) grabbed his second try taking the gull tally to 19-3.
The second half saw Benllech going down hill. They continued on form and went through great forward phases from young prop Jake Owen (Nick Blakely Electrical), Liam Morton (Nyth Clyd) and veteran beast Bill Billington. With good, continued pressure Alex Reese (Rhifau Rhos Accounting) soon found enough space to dart in for his second try and a well earned and long awaited bonus point. Mold continued to fight through making good breaks but the Benllech defence was well drilled and any chances Mold took were soon snubbed out.
More pressure saw Paul Williams (QB Locksmith) go over the line to take the score to 33-3 after the conversion. A Mold injury neat saw the came called off due to a shoulder injury but just in time as light was getting dim Mold decided to move the player to the side so the game could continue. With 20 minutes to go both teams tried to get back into the game after the long break, but it was Benllech to cross the line with another pick and go from second row Paul Williams (QB Locksmith) and Dyfed Roberts to convert taking his personal tally to 5 from 6.
Mold were still firing and played to their own strengths, catching lazy Benllech rucking off guard and firing over to steal ball in several areas of the pitch. 5 minutes from the end they stole one more in the Benllech 22 and shipped it out to their wing for an easy run in consallation try.
Benllech will try to build on this as they travel to Rhos next week.
Bethesda 20 v Ruthin 22
Following report kindly supplied by Ruthin RFC.
This was another ‘cliff hanger’ match between two well matched and well drilled sides with the result in doubt until the final minute.
Rhuthun started well and were awarded a try after 5 minutes, scored by 2nd row Cameron Lumsden, as the pack pushed over the Bethesda whitewash.
The home side responded immediately and after 5 minutes of pressure on the Blues defence scrum half Carwyn Williams scored putting the sides even. Both sides were playing good rugby but finding it difficult to get past strong defences.
After 20 minutes Blues centre Nathan Jones kicked a penalty goal and within a further 10 minutes Bethesda had evened up the scores again with a penalty goal from fly half Gerwyn Thomas.
Just on half time Pesda Centre Steffan Owain got through the visitors’ defence and scored with Thomas converting putting the score at half time 15-8 to Bethesda.
The match continued in the same vein after the break – Rhuthun had to defend well against a concerted Pesda attack for the first 10 minutes or so of the half and did well to eventually clear their lines without going further behind. Back in the home side’s half the Blues were awarded a penalty, kicked for touch, and then drove over Bethesda’s line with No 8 Arwyn Davies getting the try and Nathan converting and scores were equal again at 15-15.
Again Bethesda responded and 15 minutes from full time Ellis Ogwen put them back in the lead with an unconverted try. In the closing minutes of the match the visitors mounted a ferocious attack, repeatedly launching themselves at the Bethesda defence, and on the 80th minute the ball was passed to full back Iestyn Davies who scored between the posts and Nathan kicked the conversion and the Blues won 22-20.
Machynlleth 36 v Menai Bridge 12
Following report kindly supplied by Menai Bridge RFC.
Despite playing with the elements on a wet and windy day at Machynlleth, Menai Bridge failed to take advantage in the first half. The home side threatened constantly with strong forward surges bringing their talented backline into the game. Mach opened the scoring with a try for full back Ryan Blackley. Bridge had penalty opportunities but squandered the chance to pull ahead, failing to find the mark with two shots at goal.
Mach scored through Cai Lewis, who topped off a great team try, forwards driving for the line and the backs taking advantage of the space created. With only a few minutes left in the first half Mach created another try, through identical team work, this time Kameron Simmons-Sandy was the scorer. To their credit Bridge rallied and pressed the home try line. The final play of the first half saw Bridge number 8 Chris Roberts failing to ground the ball for what would have been a deserved try.
At half time Machynlleth were 17 to nil up and looked forward to playing with the wind in the second half. Mach started well and were soon on the score sheet as Stefan Price powered over for a try. This was soon followed by a try for prop Gareth Thomas who troubled the visitors all afternoon with his strong carries.
At 29 to nil down, things looked bleak for Bridge. However their scrum was holding up well and the forwards were enjoying more posession. They were rewarded with a try for Chris Roberts that came from scrum pressure. Mach rallied and Simmons- Sandy scored his second try topping off a great afternoon's work. Bridge were not content with a single consolation try and pressed hard. Mach were guilty of conceding penalties and finally as Pat Roberts was denied a touch down The referee gave a penalty try for persistent offending.
Mach progressed up the table, while Bridge will look to build on a positive display and attempt to improve their game management.
Dinbych 12 v Nant Conwy 26 - the Dinbych match report
Nant Conwy were forced to work hard in a keenly contested encounter for this bonus point victory which cemented their third place in Division 1 North. Despite languishing third from the bottom of the table Dinbych gave a spirited performance based on a strong scrummaging pack of forwards, a resolute defence and strong running by a back division with Tom Seddon, Gruff Roberts and Aidyn Jones in particular threatening whenever they had possession.
Dinbych could not have had a better start as they opened the scoring in the fifth minute when they broke through in midfield following a line out just inside the Nant half for centre Tom Seddon to go over for an unconverted try.
They increased the lead five minutes later with a try by right wing Aidyn Jones who went over in the corner after latching on to a pin point cross kick by outside half Garin Roberts who converted with an excellent kick from the touchline.
Nant replied immediately when they charged down a relieving kick following the restart with scrum half Guto Dafydd winning the race to touch down for a try converted by centre Steffan Horan. Nant now began to dominate territory and possession as they pressed deep in the Dinbych half but were thwarted by a strong Dinbych defensive effort led by the back row of Tom Eden, Gavin Rizzi and No 8 John Winning.
With half time approaching Dinbych were forced to concede a number of penalties close to their line eventually leading to Gavin Rizzi being dispatched to the sin bin. Nant eventually took advantage and from the last of a number of scrums near the Dinbych line when despite a tremendous scrummaging effort led by the front row of Joe Davies, Dafydd Jones and Peter Shoosmith, Nant broke through for centre Jack Moriarty to cross for a try with co-centre Steffan Horan adding the conversion which gave them a narrow lead by 14 points to 12 at half time.
Dinbych continued to threaten early in the second half with chances on both flanks but a combination of taking the wrong options and excellent Nant defence denied Dinbych especially on the left where Tom Seddon triggered two try scoring opportunities with a couple of long breaks.
Nant however again began to dominate thanks to their aggressive work at the breakdown and their excellent support play as they attacked at every opportunity. As the half progressed former youth players Lewys Eden and Andrew Deakin making their league debuts were introduced by Dinbych together with lock Max Sharples reappearing after a long absence.
It was not until the final quarter that Nant were able to extend their lead with a second try by Jack Moriarty after Nant had generated a driving maul from a short range line out. They then secured their bonus point try and at the same time denied Dinbych a deserved losing bonus point in the closing minutes when prop Tom Oliver forced his was over for a try converted by Steffan Horan.
Dinbych Seconds 11 v Flint 13
Dinbych Seconds lost narrowly to Flint in a Division 3 North game that they could and should have won. The forwards dominated the scrums forcing Flint to retreat throughout the match whilst No 8 Dave Roberts gave a man of the match performance as he turned over possession on a dozen of occasions. Unfortunately Dinbych conceded too much possession and territory with penalties awarded for ill discipline which undid much of their good work and allowed Flint off the hook.
Playing down the Graig slope in the first half Flint built up a lead through two penalties and a converted try. Dinbych managed to keep in touch thanks to two penalties by centre Ben Reed which left them trailing by 13 points to 6 at the interval.
Dinbych claimed the only score of the second half with a Ben Reed try in the corner after a long break by wing Finlay Jenkins. Unfortunately Red's conversion attempt from the touchline drifted just wide which denied them even a draw.
Llandudno 52 v Llangefni 0
Following report kindly supplied by Llandudno RFC.
The Maesdu Goats notched up fifty two points without reply from the visitors Gefni, and this was due to attacking flair, and a resolute defence. They opened the scoring after just four minutes of play with a try by Morgan Owen, after a combination of players took play over the Gefni try line, with an extra two points being added from the conversion by Nick Dundee. They continued relentlessly to press for more points, and they came from a movement deep within their own half that on the twelve minute mark Lloyd Evans crossed the try line touching down.
The forward platform was solid providing good ball for their backs who at pace put the visitors defence under pressure, and it was from such a surge that they gained ground well into the opposition area with Bob Davies scoring the first of his tries which Nick Dundee converted. The onslaught continued and further tries came before the half time whistle from Dan OSullivan and Bob Davies giving them a substantial lead without any response from Gefni.
The Goats continued to dominate overall in the second half and it was from a telling break by Ed Weston that support play was at hand with Lloyd Evans scoring the next try on fifty five minutes which was converted by Nick Dundee.
The Goats now started to run from within their own half, and another telling break saw Rhys Henderson touch down on sixty eight minutes, converted by Nick Dundee. The final match points of this very impressive home win came from a try by Bob Davies after seventy five minutes of play with Oscar Lennon adding two more with the conversion.
Man of the Match Bob Davies.
Next Saturday at home in the third round of the WRU Plate against Blaenavon 2pm KO.
Match Report by Howie.
Mold 0 v Pwllheli 24
Following report kindly supplied by Pwllheli RFC.
Travelling to Mold on Saturday without a number of their senior players, Pwllheli established their superiority in the first half of the match
but the home side defended stoutly and without mercy. Having won all fourteen league games between the two sides since 2010, the travelling team were expected to win but were not over confident at the start of the match.
Pwllheli camped in their opponents' half of the field for most of the first half but it was winger Robin Hughes Jones who broke the defensive line and scampered along the touchline for the first try in the corner after eight minutes. He was followed twelve minutes later by No8 Tom Parry who touched down after much slick passing by the Llyn side despite the strong home defensive tackling. The second try was successfully converted by outside half Danial Glyn for a 12 v 0 lead to the visiting team.
Further pressure on the home defenders during the second quarter yielded many penalties and the visitors were thwarted on many occasions by aggressive tackling. It was not a surprise when the Mold loosehead prop transgressed whilst saving a certain try and was yellow carded. The resultant penalty kick taken passed through several pairs of hands before reaching centre Ianto Pari who forced his way over the line for try No 3.
The second half was played much in the same vein with the Llyn side doing the attacking and the home team defending. The Pwllheli bench was fully utilised, giving young inexperienced players opportunity to show their abilities. The fourth and bonus scoring try was a long time coming but it was Ianto Pari again who broke free to score. Osian Parry Jones converted for a 24 v 0 score.
Next week will be an exceptional weekend at Bodegroes with two WRU Trophy games on home soil. The First team will play Division One East Central Mountain Ash, an old established club in the Rhondda Cynon district in the WRU Plate and the Second team will play Division 3 East B club Llanhilleth from the Abertillery area in the WRU Bowl competition.
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