Some great match reports from games played around the North and Mid Wales region.
If you have a match report you would like to be added to this round-up, please email the details to gwcymru1@aol.com - many thanks
Mold 22 v Dolgellau 16
Following report kindly supplied by Dolgellau RFC.
Mold and Dolgellau served up a cracking contest between two sides who did their utmost to play an expansive game in good conditions on a firm pitch, with the home side securing the points despite a spirited Dolgellau fight-back in the last quarter. Mold move up to fifth whilst Dolgellau settle for a fifth consecutive losing bonus point.
Dolgellau withstood an initial Mold onslaught, and took the lead after fifteen minutes, when stand-off, Gerwyn Thomas, slotted over a penalty after the home eight were penalised at a scrum on the Mold 22. A Thomas’ cover tackle saved a certain Mold score, but after twenty minutes Mold went ahead. From a forward drive scrum half James Kirby finding stand-off Nick Hughes to barge over. Fullback Tom Davies converted to ease them to a 7-3 lead.
Full-back Rob Pugh and wing Rhys Lewis almost carved an opening down the left touchline for the visitors, Lewis also halting a certain Mold breakaway in the last minute of the half.
7-3 to Mold at half time.
Dolgellau’s Gerwyn Thomas reduced the deficit to a single point six minutes into the second half with his second penalty, but straight from the kick-off, Mold centre Richard Hopkins carved an opening for flanker Rowan Whalley to cross the whitewash in the right corner to put Mold 12-6 ahead.
Ten minutes later, centre Hopkins was at it again, with a scything break to sprint home for Mold’s third try. Full-back Tom Davies put over the conversion to give Mold a 19-6 lead.
However Dolgellau responded magnificently and going in to the last quarter, following a storming run by replacement second row, Marius Jones who was hauled down just short, the ball switched left for stand-off Thomas to find centre Carwyn Puw to cross for a great try, and put the visitors right back in the contest at 19-11.
Mold responded again, and put Dolgellau under severe pressure, but could only muster a penalty to full-back Tom Davies to extend their lead to 22-11. But Dolgellau were in control by now and with five minutes remaining, Dolgellau second row, Bryn Jones started and finished off a driving run to give Dolgellau hope. Thomas’ conversion rebounding off the left post leaving the score at 22-16.
However it was Mold who finished stronger, and elected to run a kickable penalty in their search for a fourth bonus point try deep into injury time but Dolgellau held firm and there was no further scoring.
Referee : Mr Simon Dignam
Blaenavon 15 v Nant Conwy 25
Following report kindly supplied by Nant Conwy RFC.
Trefn y sgorio a'r sgorwyr / Scoring Sequence and scorers:
4m: 0 – 5 CARWYN ap MYRDDIN, 22m: 0 – 8 ARTHUR LENNON, 30m: 0 – 13 IFAN HUGHES
Amser ychwanegol yr hanner cyntaf / 1st half extra time = 8m
49m: 5 – 13 James Graham, 53m: 5 – 18 SION PRINGLE & 5 – 20 ARTHUR LENNON, 64m:
5 – 25 CARWYN ELLIS, 77m: 10 – 25 James Selway, 86m: 15 – 25 Luke Meredith
Dyfarnwr / Referee: Mr Ben Breakspear, Abercynon
Fortunately, the weather was dry but the pitch was really heavy after, apparently, an Youth Soccer match had been played on it a few hours earlier in the day. Nant began excitingly and carwy ap crossed over for the first try after 4 minutes play as he completed a move across the entire back line. But, the sticky surface made it difficult to have the ball out to the back line and 22 minutes had elapsed before Arthur put Nant further ahead as he converted a penalty.. After half an hour, the home team were again penalised and this time, Arthur punted the ball over the touch line.
From the resulting line-out, Carwyn ‘Coch’ [elected the Man of the Match by the Blaenavon players afterwards] sored high in the air and passed the ball back to Ifan, the Hooker who plunged over the try line in the corner. This gave a 0 -13 scoreline at half time.
According to the home supporters there is an 11 foot drop between both left hand corners of the pitch at Blaenavon. The home team wgilst playing down the slope came more into the match during the second period and after 9 minutes it was no real surprise when their first score arrived off Left Winger james, who received a short pass from the base of a ruck. Nant immediately upped their game and retaliated on 13 minutes when Sion competed a fine movement that had seen the ball passes between the backs twice in succession. Arthur converted this try to give a score of 5 – 20 at this stage.
By now, Nant had the ‘bit between their teeth’ and pressed forward again. Blaenavon were conceding penalties galore by now and from one penalty set scrum a ruck developed and the ball was passed out to Carwyn [Ellis] to score another try. The scrums became uncontested at this time as a Blaenavon Front Row forward was yellow carded. Only three minutes of the official time remained when Nant went down to 13 men after receiving two yellow cards in rapid succesion – one for an unintentional ‘high tackle’ and one for the team for strayin ‘offside’ too often. Blaenavon scored two tries on 77 and 86 minutes through James Selway and Luke Meredith.
Another well deserved away win for Nant and on now to the Quarter Finals that will be played in early March
Yn ffodus, roedd y tywydd yn sych ond yn cae yn hynod drwm gyda gêm bel-droed Ieuenctid wedi’i chwarae arno’n gynharach yn y dydd mae’n debyg. Ond dechreuodd Nant ar dan gan fynd ar y blaen wedi 4 munud wrth i Carwyn ap gwblhau symudiad ar draws y maes. Roedd r wyneb gludiog yn ei gwneud yn anodd cael y bêl allan i’r cefnwyr ond, ar 22 munud, rhoddodd Arthur yr ymwelwyr ymhellach ar y blaen trwy drosi cic gosb am gam ochri. Wedi hanner awr, cosbwyd y tîm cartref unwaith yn rhagor a bu i Arthur gicio’r gic tros y linell ochr. O’r tafliad i mewn, enillodd Carwyn ‘Coch’ [chwaraewr y gêm yn ôl y chwaraewyr cartref] a’i phasio’n gelfydd i Ifan, y bachwr dirio’n y gornel chwith. Sgôr o 0 – 13 ar yr hanner felly.
Yn ôl y cefnogwyr cartref mae, goledd o 11 troedfedd rhwng dwy gornel chwith y maes. Ar ddechrau’r ail hanner, gwelwyd pac trwm Blaenafon yn manteisio ar y llethr ac nid oedd yn syndod i’r asgellwr chwith James, blymio trosodd wedi pas fer o ryc wedi 9 munud. Ymatebodd Nant trwy ymosod yn syth gan ddefnyddio’r cefnwyr yn llawn ac wedi dwy gyfres o basio ar draws y cae, gorffenwyd yr ail symudiad gan Sion wrth iddo dderbyn y bêl ar gyflymder a gwibio heibio pawb i dirio ger y pyst. Trosodd Arthur y cais ar 13 munud. Cosbwyd y tîm cartref yn bur aml yn yr ail hanner ac o sgrym gosod wedi 24 munud llwyddodd Carwyn [Ellis] i ennill pêl o fôn ryc arall a phlymio trosodd am gais arall.
Ar y pwynt yma, aeth y sgrymiau gosod yn rhai meddal wedi i un o reng flaen Blaenafon dderbyn cerdyn melyn. Tri munud o’r amser swyddogol oedd yn weddill pan aeth Nant i lawriI 13 dyn – cerdyn melyn am dacl uchel honedig a cherdyn I’r tîm wrth lithro i gam ochri’n rhy aml. Am yr holl amser a chwarewyd tan y chwiban olaf [9 munud] bu’n rhiad I Nant amddiffyn a sgoriodd Blaenafon ddau gais [77 ag 86 munud] gan James Selway a Luke Meredith.
Buddugoliaeth dda arall ar eu taith i Nant ac ymlaen yn awr i’r rownd go-gyn-derfynol ddechrau Mawrth fel un o’r wyth tîm sydd yn weddill yn y gystadleuaeth y tymor hwn.
Llangefni 12 v Llandudno 24 - the Llandudno match report
Following report kindly supplied by Llandudno RFC.
Llan took an early lead against the home side after five minutes of play, when from a line out quick ball was used at pace with Owain Stacey crossing for there first try, gaining seven points in total from the conversion by Ryan Pike.
They continued to take play into the home side half, with counter attacking rugby from within there own half, and such a movement brought its rewards, with Cameron Davies scoring a try, with Pike adding two more points from the conversion.
The next try came, when they had Gefni pinned down within there twenty two area, and a clearance kick was charged down by Cameron Davies who then picked up the loose ball and crashed over the try line for his second try,with Pike adding a further two points from the conversion.
They finished this first half with a comfortable lead of twenty one points to nil. The second half saw Llan reduced to fourteen when a yellow card was issued to Cameron Davies, and they were further reduced to thirteen when Owain Stacey had to leave the field due to an injury having used all of there replacements, however Ryan Pike managed to increase there lead with three points from a converted penalty.
They now struggled to put there game together with only thirteen players, and it was during this period that the home side took advantage of there extra numbers, scoring two tries one of which was converted.
Llan now had to hold firm during the final quarter of play, which they did securing this away win, and moving them one up the league table.
Llangefni 12 v Llandudno 24 - the Cefni match report
Following report kindly supplied by Llangefni RFC.
Cefni`s 5 match winning streak came to an end on a muddy Cae Smyrna against opponents who proved to be moreclinical in the red zone. Cefni easily won the battle oftime spent in opponents`22, but were beaten 3-2 on the try count! However, the seasiders were surely glad that Cameron Davies, the RGC scrum half and ex Wales under 20 squad member, was available for this game, because he scored 2 tries and made the other one.
Tudno started brightly and a clever kick into the 22 forced Greg Horsman to clear to touch. After the ensuing line outCefni were penalised 15 metres out. Cameron Davies, although playing in the back row, took the fastest of tap penalties to feed the on rushing Owen Tracey who slid over unopposed. Ryan Pike`s extras made it 7-0.
Although Tudno used the breeze at their backs to good effect, Cefni had the upper hand at scrum time. A scrum penalty , gave Cefni a foothold near the away 10 metre line. A fine take by Paul Magee led to a 20 metre driving maul and another penalty, which left them pounding the away line . After countless phases, Cefni got penalised and a huge chance was lost.
Will Bown was making a lot of ground running off a dominant scrum, ably aided by Tom Owen and Declan Griffiths. After a high tackle Rhys Hughes went close from 40 metres into the strong breeze. Afteranother Cefni incursion into the Tudno 22 went unrewarded, the visitors broke upto the home 22, whereByron Davies found his brother Cameron with a fast flat pass. The lattersteppedthe defensive line and sprinted over from 20 metres. Ryan Pike was accurate with the boot and Tudno were 14-0 up.
Minutes later Cefni were punished for some sloppy play in their own half: the ball was moved ponderously right and Richrd Foulkes got man and ball. Tudno took full advantage when the ball went loose as Cameron Davies showcased his football skills to hackthrough for his second try. Pike made it 21-0 and Cefni had a mountain to climb. Tudno almost got a 4th just before the break, but astrong defensive scrum saved the day !!
Cefni used the elements in the 2nd half to set upcamp in the Tudno 22 for long periods. The pack did a huge amount of carrying before they got their just rewards, when Tom Owen went over wide out on the left. No extras, so 5-21. When Cefni failed to exit their half from the restart, they were grateful to Greg Horsman`s speed as he collected a Tudno kick deep in the 22. A fine Mark Gray kick up to half way, gave Cefni an attacking platform, but indecisiveness in midfield led to another turn over.
In a game of many penalties, Cefni were able to use theirs to pummel the Tudno defence in their 22. However , Cefni were guilty of being one dimensional as the outside backs were consistently neglected. The home scrum had become even more dominant sincethe introduction of Jordan Scott at half time. After Tudno had been twice shunted backwards at the rate of knots, Tudno decided that one of their props was unfit to carry on. Since they had no front row cover, the scrums went uncontested !! Cefni continued their onslaught, leading eventually to that inevitable 2nd try, scored by Declan Griffiths and converted by Rhys Hughes, for a 12-21 scoreline.
Cefni again mismanaged the restart, leading to a Ryan Pike penalty and that final score of 12-24. Cefni got themselves back on to the Tudno line, but Mark Gray`s snipe for the whitewash led to a turnover and the end of Cefni`s hopes for a bonus point ! Next Saturday Cefni travel to basement side Colwyn Bay, hoping to return to winning ways !!
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