After 10 weeks of kicking their heels awaiting a game due to the lack of commitment by three South Walian sides to travel North, Caernarfon Ladies who have not reneged one game this season travelled to Pencoed and yet again came home with a victory after a Trojan defensive effort during the last quarter
Pencoed Ladies 8 v Caernarfon 26
Pencoed started brightly and drove at the heart of the Caernarfon rearguard with purpose and were soon three points to the good after competent fly half Jade Mullen slotted over a penalty following an offside call. Luckily for the Cofis, Pencoed failed to deal with the restart and with Jenna Tugwell's persistent harassing, a wayward defensive clearance was scooped up by full back Dyddgu Hywel in mid field, who showed a clean pair of heels to all would be tacklers and crossed the white wash to take the lead. Sera Bailey was successful with the conversion.
Some five minutes later, driving forward play resulted in quick recycling which allowed Manon Williams to score out wide. Bailey was again successful with the conversion. Pencoed continued to apply pressure and looked threatening consistently, but with heroic tackling by the likes of Sara Patchett, Elin Evans and Lauren Hassett ensured they made little headway. The loss of Sera Bailey trusted boot due to injury resulted in re shuffling the team, but Dyddgu Hywel deputised well.
A Cara Hope take against the head on the hour resulted in ball being fed blind and allowed Manon Williams another dash to the try line to extend the Cofis lead with Dyddgu Hywel's successful conversion to eighteen points. Minutes later Manon almost extended the lead thank to a Dyddgu Hywel break , however the latter was injured in the process and took no further part, thus limiting the Cofis attacking options significantly. With all subs already used Caernarfon faced the last 15 minutes with fourteen players and despite everything Pencoed threw at them defended sternly thwarting attack after attack.
Alaw Hughes' inclusion at scrum half was vindicated with her harassing of the opposite number 9 leading to a good field position being gained. Captain Cenin Eifion carried and offloaded to give Manon Williams another incisive run and score to make the game safe with five minutes left. Pencoed however remained game to the end and their efforts were justly rewarded wing Hannah Seward was to breach the stretched defence and toutch down out wide.
Caernarfon's bruised and battered troops will haul themselves back down South next week to face Blaennau Gwent at Crumlin in a rearranged league fixture.
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Welshpool Ladies 5 v Lampeter Ladies 46
Lampeter Ladies RFC warmed up nicely for their first ever Welsh Cup semi-final against tough outfit Welshpool last Sunday in their penultimate Away League fixture. In the knowledge that they were able to better their opposition earlier on in the season, the side were wary of Welshpool fielding a stronger side than the one previously played.
After travelling for over two hours Lampeter started the game strongly, but were thwarted by a resilient home pack. Great offloading in the tackle led to an early try for nimble Fullback Nikki Lanslers, scoring her first try for the club. Welshpool pressed from the restart but were unable to break down the stiff Lampeter defensive line time and time again.
With Lampeter Number 8 Claire Davies rampant on the pick and go, great handling from the Lampeter backs using the full width of the field resulted in Centre Tracy Evendon crashing over in the corner. The home side refused to let their discipline and spirits drop all credit to them, but the Lampeter side brimming with confidence began to look dangerous, keen to run the ball on every occasion, even when offered penalty decisions, Lampeter chose to run instead of seeking the touchline. This resulted in stretching the home defence with great interplay between forwards and backs providing a second try for Fullback Lanslers.
At this point Lampeter lost their Centre Evendon to a blood injury which did not seem to phase the side as replacement Bee Sayers raced in under the posts after a top drawer offload by improving Centre Sandra Bollpit. Evendon returned to the action only to suffer a crunching tackle from her opposite number resulting in her being stretchered off the field with suspected fractured ribs.
The second half witnessed a fine fightback from the home side with them tightening up their defensive line and really making Lampeter scrap for any kind of possession. The home side began putting some neat phases together of their own as Lampeter seemed to tire somewhat, yet against the run of play Lampeter broke down the blindside for Scrum-half Aiasha Aroussia to score a length of the field touchdown with Sayers finally slotting a conversion,after several extra two points had been missed from in front of the sticks.
From the restart Welshpool pressed yet handling errors proved their downfall, with Lampeter taking full advantage through powerful Number 8 Claire Davies crashing over with most of the home pack on her back. Two more tries came from the Lampeter backs,one for powerful Fly-half Jess Turner who weaved her way past would be tacklers and a final try came for Sayers after another barnstorming run from Number 8 Davies, off-loading neatly in front of the posts for Sayers to have the final word.
However, sandwiched between these tries Welshpool had played some great rugby which really troubled the Lampeter side. A training ground move saw the home Number 8 pick up a channel one ball and sprint twenty metres for a fine individual try in the corner providing the home side with a try they fully deserved showing their never say die attitude. As far as Lampeter are concerned they will return to North Road with a lot to work on, especially at the breakdown area.
What had pleased Coach Brinley Smydde was the marked improvement in the handling and tackling of the backs with the back three of Lanslers, Hannah Bailet and Woman of The Match Tasha Goodwine really outstanding both in defence and attack. Lampeter know that their fixture against Croesyceiliog in the semi-final come April will be a much tougher game,yet home advantage will ensure that Lampeter will have all their players available and ready to make history.
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