Following report kindly supplied by Pwllheli RFC.
Pwllheli RFC travelled to Mold for this fixture expecting to be tested by the forward power of the opponents and their much improved play this season. Mold, fourth in the league and having won convincingly away to Colwyn Bay the previous week, and winning five of their eight starts in the league this season, expected to do well on home soil against champions Pwllheli.
The first half was intense and cagey but the hosts went ahead after five minutes with a successful Jack Pearson penalty kick for off-side at a ruck. On re-start, the visitors broke free and within seconds centre Robin Hughes Jones had touched down his first try and winger Osian Parry Jones had added the extras. Not to be out-done, the home side rounded off a fine move when centre Richard Hopkins touched down and Pearson successfully converted to give the advantage back to Mold at 10 – 7 with less than ten minutes of the game played.
Pwllheli, with a much changed team and without some of their experienced players due to injuries and unavailability, upped their effort in the second quarter and despite a lot of pressure got stronger as the game progressed. The referee gave two general warnings to the Mold forwards for various infringements before, in the fortieth minute issued a red card to flanker Chris Ellis. The visitors kept their composure and pressure on the home team and eventually Hughes Jones found a way through the defenders to touch down his second. Parry Jones again converted to give a 10 – 14 half time score.
Second half provided similar excitement and entertainment and created opportunities but the defending was clinical and firm. Ten minutes into the half, Mold winger Kenny Williams went through the gears and the Pwllheli defenders following an accurate kick ahead. He gathered the ball and touched down to put his team ahead again and with Pearson’s conversion a score of 17 – 14.
The remaining thirty minutes was played much in the same vein and whilst the visitors had to use their only substitute to replace an injured player, the hosts used their substitutes to their advantage and replace tiring players later in the game. Pwllheli decision making and handling improved as the game went on and after a lot of pressure on the home defenders for a long period in the last quarter, prop Alwyn Trenholme forced his way over the line in the fortieth minute to touch down for the visitors. Parry Jones added the conversion and three minutes later and with the score 21-17 , Pwllheli were clearly relieved to have won the match to maintain their 100% record for the season.
The next game scheduled is title rivals Nant Conwy at Bodegroes with a 12 o’clock kick off next Saturday and before the 2-30 pm Wales v Georgia match.
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