A round up of reports from games involving the clubs of North and Mid Wales.
Dolgellau 24 v Bryncethin 7
Following report kindly supplied by Dolgellau RFC.
Dolgellau are through to the 5th round draw of the WRU Bowl, the only North Wales side to do so, following this stern challenge from a very competent visiting XV, overcoming a rocky 30 minute period each side of the break, where it looked as if the visitors might overcome a slim, three point advantage Dolgellau had, to deservedly book their place in the last 16.
Dolgellau elected to play into a very strong breeze, and torrential rain as the match got underway. Their forwards got the upper hand immediately, and hooker Celt Lewis created a scoring opportunity for prop Greg Smithies to be driven over for the try after only three minutes. Bryncethin stand-off, Lloyd Bradley then spurned two kickable penalty attempts, before Dolgellau went further ahead after twenty three minutes. A clean catch by No.8, Dewi Thomas at a line-out resulted in a 20 metre drive, scrum half, Lewis Jones, spotted a gap in the visiting defence to dart over from 5 metres out to make it 10-0.
However straight from the re-start, the ball squirted loose towards Dolgellau’s left hand corner flag, the scrambling try saving cover from Dolgellau stand-off, Jac Roberts, was hounded by the visiting pack and ultimately penalised for not releasing, and duly yellow carded. From the resulting penalty Bryncethin scrum half, Cai Bradley, lofted a perfect cross field kick, which was pounced upon by full-back, Shane Howells o score on the right. Stand-off, Lloyd Bradley converted to make it 10-7.
Dolgellau lost both flankers Iwan Pugh and Dylan Llewelyn and centre Carwyn Pugh to injuries, as the youthful visitors were growing in confidence, which they carried over to the second period. With the wind in their favour Dolgellau were unable to build on their slender lead, despite Marius Jones, and wing Rhys Lewis being hauled down on the try line. Wing James Owen’s interception after ten minutes saw him trip only yard short of the line.
When Dolgellau centre, Henri Roberts, saw yellow for a loose tackle fifteen minutes in, the visitors’ backs and forwards were combining well in the blustery conditions, as Lloyd Bradley came close to scoring. However Dolgellau weathered the storm and thirty five, nervous, second half minutes had elapsed when, Dolgellau scrum half, Lewis Jones, broke from a five metre scrum, their forwards combining to put skipper, Rhys Roberts in for the try, that Henri Roberts converted to give the home side some breathing space at 17-7.
Dolgellau had come good, and scored a deserved fourth try five minutes into injury time, but not before losing replacement flanker, Cellan Evans, to a shoulder injury. Scrum half, Lewis Jones, the creator again, and no.8 Dewi Thomas’ perfect timed pass to Rhys Roberts to barge over for his second try of the game. Henri Roberts added the extra points to seal a great win for the Meirionnydd side.
Referee : Mark Butcher [Cross Keys]
Dolgellau :1.Dewi Pugh, 2.Celt Lewis, 3.Greg Smithies [Huw Jones], 4.Rhys Roberts [cap], 5.Marius Jones, 6.Dylan Llewelyn [Tim Jones], 7. Iwan Pugh [Cellan Evans], 8.Dewi Thomas, 9.Lewis Jones, 10.Jac Roberts, 11.Rhys Lewis, 12.Carwyn Pugh [Dafydd Ellis], 13.Henri Roberts, 14.James Owen, 15.Rob Pugh. Reserves Jake Hinge
Bryncethin : Darian James,Ellis Andrews,Ieuan Davies, James Woods, Leon Sylvester, Nathan Morgan, Ryan Morgan, Sam Jarvis, Steven James, Will Thomas, Aled James, Cai Bradley, Dafydd Jones, Dan Howells, Dan Lockyer, Gavin Parsons, Gruff Davies, Josh Evans, Liam Morgan, Lloyd Bradley, Ryan James, Shane Howells.
Llandudno 23 v Blaenavon 6
Following report kindly supplied by Llandudno RFC.
The Goats secured their place in the last sixteen, with a comfortable winning margin on the all weather pitch at Parc Eirias, due to Maesdu Road having surface water. Weather conditions affected play during the first half, and it took the Goats until the second period to settle into a pattern of play, with a strong defence once again being a main feature. The visitors were the first to be on the score sheet just on five minutes of play, with a converted penalty by Darren Pearce.
It was from a line out on nineteen minutes that quick ball was used along the back division, with Dan O"Sullivan taking the try scoring pass with Arthur Lennon making it a seven point try with the conversion. This first half was badly effected by adverse weather conditions of heavy driving rain,with no side being able put their game together, and it came to an end on the thirty nine minute mark with a converted penalty for the visitors by Darren Pearce.
Weather conditions improved during the second half of play, and this allowed the Goats to now settle into their usual pattern of play. After putting some pressure on the visitors defence, they were awarded a penalty just inside of the twenty two metre area on forty five minutes that Arthur Lennon increased their lead with a penalty conversion. The visitors enjoyed a short period of play at this stage, but were unable to penetrate a well
organised Goats defensive wall.
The match now reached the final quarter of play, and it was during this period that they secured the win. From deep inside of their own half they took play up field, and on the sixty eight minutes that Lloyd Evans broke through there defence to touch down with two more points being added to the score line with the conversion by Arthur Lennon.
The Goats now gained control of proceedings causing problems for the visitors with the
pace of their backs, and this resulted in them giving away a number of penalties within their own half, which Arthur Lennon made them pay for with two being converted in the final eight minutes of play securing their place in the next round of the plate.
Match Report by Howie.
Next Saturday 15th Dec at home to Mold KO 2.30.
Ruthin 29 v Dinbych 10 - match report
Following report kindly supplied by Ruthin RFC.
A good crowd turned out to see the first Rhuthun v Dinbych league derby for three seasons and despite wet conditions were treated to an exciting display of rugby from both sides.
The Blues started the strongest and were two converted tries up after 6 minutes with prop Zack Roberts getting the first as the pack drove over the line from a lineout.
The second was the result of an inspired bit of play combining backs and forwards with final touch down coming from hooker Liam Davies.
Centre Nathan Jones converted both tries. Rhuthun kept up the pressure and after 20 minutes of play wing Josh Wilson got their third.
At 19-0 up it looked as though it would be only a matter of time before the bonus point try came along but the visitors showed considerable grit and determination for the remainder of the half and there was no further score.
Dinbych came out fighting in the second half and within 5 minutes of the restart full back Gruff Roberts ran from midfield through the Blues defence and scored. Within another 5 minutes wing Aidyn Jones scored the visitors’ second try and at 19-10 and 30 minutes to go the contest was back on.
The Blues resisted further Dinbych forays and after going down to 14 men with a sin bin gradually returned to their form of the 1st quarter.
The visitors still looked dangerous but with 5 minutes to go after a period of home side pressure Josh Wilson went over for the bonus point try which Nathan converted.
Nathan kicked a penalty goal a few minutes later and the whistle blew with Rhuthun winning 29-10.
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