Caernarfon returned once again from the long trek south with a comfortable victory over a game Blackwood outfit
The opponents started brightly but on Caernarfon’s first venture into their half, following the kick off, points were put on the scoreboard. An up field kick was gathered by wing Mary Atkinson who broke the cover and the offload resulted in the ball being spread to the opposite wing for Manon Williams to outstrip the defence and score. Sera Bailey added the extras.
For the next half hour, Caernarfon camped in the Blackwood half and were recycling possession well. Sara Patchett and Rhian Jones adding impetus from second row resulted in a take against the head that led to a sweeping move and from the resultant breakdown scrum half Leah Collis went blind to free Manon Williams who once again grounded between the posts and afforded Bailey an easy conversion. Becky Williams at No 8 was sadly forced off injured minutes later.
On the half hour, following good lineout linkage between Cara Hope and Jenna Tugwell, Dyddgu Hywel powered her way, through numerous despairing tackles, some twenty-five meters to add to the score with Bailey’s trusted boot again adding the conversion. The backs were varying their tactics well, thus keeping the defence guessing. An Elin Evans break led to quick second phase ball allowing Tugwell to find Manon Williams at hand and instead of the customary outside break she jinked inside to wrong foot the defence and added another five pointer.
Soon a lineout, close to the halfway line became the platform for the next score. A chip by centre Alaw Hughes caused confusion in the opposition ranks and with Nia Thomas and Collis harassing the defence, the loose ball was picked up by ever-present flanker Isi Rees who squeezed in at the corner to record her first and deserved try for the Cofis.
On the stroke of half time a breakdown in midfield resulted in Blackwood’s fly half Aimee Williams snapping up the loose ball and sprinting clear to record a good opportunist try. The half time whistle arrived with Caernarfon 31 points to 5 to the good.
Blackwood found a new lease of life at the beginning of the second period with a few timely substitutions. Natalia Ortiz at flanker had played consistently well as had Stacey Hudd at scrum half prior to her ankle injury. However, the Cofis coped with the onslaught and were dominant in the scrum with props Cenin Eifion and Emma Williams enjoying the contest. A take against the head and good slick passing again freed Manon Williams to notch her fourth touchdown of the day. Another Williams insertion was halted short but the clearance kick from the resultant lineout found full back Dyddgu Hywel who counter attacked and although stopped short of the line the offload fell kindly to outside half Sera Bailey who ploughed over to complete the scoring.
Leanne Jones, Ros Wiggins and Nicola Jones were welcomed fresh legs for the final twenty minutes fitting in well and never taking a backward step. Blackwood’s attempt to gain parity fell foul of the referee with two innocuous yellow cards being issued during the final quarter. The final whistle was however welcomed by all on such a hard playing surface.
The Cofis have two further away fixtures at Kidwelly and Gorseinon over the next fortnight and will undoubtedly give a good account of themselves.
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