Nant take major scalp at Dunvant as four out of five North/Mid Wales clubs progress to next round of the Swalec Plate and Bowl
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SWALEC PLATE 2011-2012 - ROUND 4
Abertillery B G 13 v Builth Wells 23
Bethesda 40 v Nelson 3
Crymych 10 v Ystrad Rhondda 12
Cwmllynfell v Glynneath - postponed
Dunvant 24 v Nant Conwy 30
Maesteg Quins v Kidwelly - postponed
Senghenydd v Penallta - postponed
Skewen 22 v Pontypool United 26
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DYFNANT/DUVNANT 24 v NANT CONWY 30
Hanner amser / Half time: 0 -27)
Sgorwyr / Scorers:
Nant Conwy: Ceisiau/Tries: OWAIN JONES, ELGAN DAVIES & IFAN JONES
Trosi / Conversions: CARWYN ap MYRDDIN (3)
Cosb / Penalties: CARWYN ap MYRDDIN (3)
Dyfnant / Duvnant: Ceisiau / Tries: ADAM WILLIAMS, DANNY DAVIES & JAMES RICHARDS
Trosi / Conversions: ADAM WILLIAMS (3) Cosb / Penalty: ADAM WILLIAMS (1)
Ar gae a oedd yn hynod wlyb ar yr wyneb am 1.00 o’r gloch ond yn sych erbyn 4.00 ac a oedd gyda goledd pur serth, manteisiodd y ddau dîm ar y gwynt cryf a oedd yn chwythu i lawr yr ‘allt’ fel petai. Holltodd Nant amddiffyn y tîm cartref yn syth o’r gic gyntaf gydag Ifan (rhif 9) yn derbyn pêl gyflym gan y blaenwyr ac yn torri’n hyfryd i sgorio dan y pyst. Trosiad hawdd i Carwyn ap (rhif 15).
Saith munud yn ddiweddarach gyda’r pac yn rheoli, bu i Elgan (rhif 1) sgorio yn ei drydedd gêm yn olynol gyda Carwyn ap yn trosi’n hyfryd eto. Chwarter awr oedd wedi mynd pan giciodd Carwyn ap ei gic gosb gyntaf o bron i hanner ffordd gan ddefnyddio’r gwynt yn gelfydd. Ar ôl hanner awr, â’r pac yn parhau i feistroli ac yn ennill pêl lân gyson, cyd chwaraeodd y ddau hanerwr yn dda i adael Owain (rhif 10) sgorio ger y pyst. Trosiad arall i Carwyn ap. Gyda chic olaf yr hanner, llwyddodd Carwyn ap i gadw’i record gicio 100% trwy sgorio’i ail gic gosb i roi sgôr o 0 - 27 ar yr hanner. Roedd y cefnogwyr cartref wedi’u synnu o gofio nad oedd Dyfnant wedi colli unrhyw gêm gartref y tymor hwn.
Dau funud o’r ail hanner oedd wedi mynd pan fu i Adam Williams (15) drosi cic gosb o bellter. Ymatebodd Carwyn ap gyda chic arall lwyddiannus yn syth bron. Daeth cais cyntaf Dyfnant ar ôl 12 munud o chwarae pan fu i Williams fod y cyntaf i dirio’r bêl mewn ras i’r gornel. Trosodd y cefnwr ei gais ei hun yn dda iawn. Gyda phac Dyfnant yn ennill mwy o’r bel i lawr y goledd, chwaraeodd eu ‘hen ben’, James Richards (rhif 9) yn dda o gefn ryc i ddeifio trosodd am gais arall. Troswyd hwn hefyd gan Williams, y cefnwr. Daeth Dyfnant a thri o flaenwyr hŷn, mawr a phrofiadol ymlaen am yr 20 munud olaf ond ni ddaeth eu trydydd cais tan 7 munud o’r chwiban trwy Richards (rhif 13). Troswyd y cais hwn eto. O hynny ymlaen, bu i flaenwyr Nant gadw’r bêl yn eu mysg am yr holl funudau olaf i sicrhau’r fuddugoliaeth o 24 - 30.
Bydd NANT yn chwarae I FFWRDD yn erbyn RHUTHUN ymhen pythefnos – Sadwrn 3ydd Mawrth 2012 mewn gêmAdran 1 y Gogledd gyda’r gic gyntaf am 2.30 o’r gloch.
On a pitch that was extremely wet on the surface at 1.00 p.m. but completely dry at 4.00 p.m. and had a deceptive slope between both sets of posts, both teams took advantage of the strong breeze blowing down the ‘slope’. Right from the kick-off, the Nant pack gained the ball and supplied Ifan (scrum half) with a quick ball and he split the home defence beautifully to touch down beneath the posts. Carwyn ap (no’ 15) converted.
Seven minutes later, Captain and loose head prop, Elgan touched down for a try in his third consecutive match with Carwyn ap again converting from wide out. Only a quarter of an hour had elapsed when Carwyn ap took advantage of the wind and converted his first penalty from a distance that was not far from the half way line..
With the pack still in ascendency, both half backs interchanged passes to allow Owain (fly half) to cross and touch down for a try that was converted by Carwyn ap again. With the last kick of the half, Carwyn ap maintained his 100% kicking record to convert another penalty from distance to create a half time score of 0 – 27. The Dunvant crowd were muted as their team had not lost a home match this season.
Two minutes of the second half had gone when the home side opened their account with a good penalty converted by the full back, Adam Williams. But, Carwyn ap replied against the breeze two minutes later with another successful penalty kick.
The home side scored their first try after 12 minutes play when full back Williams won the race for a try in the corner. His good attempt at converting his own try was a successful one. With the Dunvant pack now coming more to the game as they played down the slope with the wind, the home side’s experienced scrum half, James Richards, gathered the ball from the base of a ruck and darted over the line – a try that was again converted by the home full back, Williams.
For the last 20 minutes of play, Dunvant brought on three tall and experienced forwards as substitutes but their third try did not arrive until7 minutes before the final whistle when centre, Danny Davies broke over the line to touch down. Full back, Williams converted to set up a tense finish to the match. As it turned out, that was the last occasion the Dunvant players touched the ball as the Nant forwards kept complete control of the ball in the ‘Munster’ fashion for the entire 7 minutes to make a final score of 24 – 30 in a memorable match for Nant Conwy. (After the match, the Referee commented that this was about the best bit of ‘tight’ forward play that he had witnessed for many a season)!
NANT’s next match is an AWAY game against RUTHIN on Saturday afternoon, 3rd March 2012 in a Division 1 (North) match with the kick off at 2.30 p.m.
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Bethesda 40 v Nelson 3
Half time score 19 – 3
Sgorwyr Bethesda’s scorers
Dylan Williams (2 gais / tries), Graham Davies, Ben Stelmazek, Mathew Parry, Llion Lloyd (1 cais yr un / 1 try each)
Scoriwr Nelson scorer
Daniel Jones – 1 gôl gosb / penalty goal
Gwelodd torf sylweddol ar Dôl Ddafydd y tîm cartref ar ei orau yn trechu Nelson o Adran 3 De Ddwyrain yng nghystadleuaeth Plât SWALEC.
Yr ymwelwyr aeth â'r pwyntiau cyntaf drwy gôl gosb Daniel Jones ond dyna fu eu hunig sgôr mewn prynhawn hir ofnadwy iddyn nhw.
Roedd yr ymwelwyr yn benderfynol o herio Bethesda drwy'r blaenwyr a dyna oedd eu camgymeriad mwyaf. Er i Nelson reoli'r leiniau a gwneud ennill pêl dda o'r sgrymiau yn anodd i Fethesda, doedd ganddyn nhw ddim ateb i ffyrnigrwydd y blaenwyr lleol yn y chwarae agored.
Ar ddiwedd y chwarter cyntaf llwyddodd Dylan Williams i sgorio o sgrym 5, a 10 munud yn ddiweddarach sgoriodd y mewnwr Graham Davies gais yn dilyn pwysau ar linell Nelson.
Ar ddiwedd yr hanner sgoriodd Dylan Williams gais arall a gellid gweld hyder yr ymwelwyr yn diflannu wrth i'r sgôr ddringo i 19 pwynt i 3 erbyn y toriad.
Prin y daeth Nelson allan o'u 22 yn yr ail hanner. Ar yr achlysuron pan lwyddon nhw i dorri allan gyrrwyd nhw'n ôl unwaith eto gan giciau deallus Mathew Parry.
Erbyn y chwarter olaf roedd blaenwyr Bethesda wedi gwneud eu gwaith a daeth yr olwyr i'r amlwg wrth i Ben Stelmazek, Mathew Parry a Llion Lloyd (wedi gwella o'i anaf o’r diwedd) sgorio ceisiau clodwiw. Llwyddodd Mathew Parry i drosi 5 o'r 6 cais i goroni prynhawn cofiadwy iddo fo ac i weddill chwaraewyr Bethesda.
A large crowd at Dôl Ddafydd saw the home side at it's best in defeating Nelson from Division 3 South East in the SWALEC Plate competition.
The first points went the visitors' way through a Daniel Jones penalty goal, but that proved to be their only score in what became a very long afternoon for them.
Nelson seemed determined to challenge Bethesda through the forwards and that proved to be their undoing. The visitors controlled the line outs and made winning clean ball in the scrums difficult for Bethesda, but they had no answer to the ferocity of the local forwards in open play.
At the end of the first quarter Dylan Williams scored a try from a 5 metre scrum and 10 minutes later, scrum half Graham Davies scored following sustained pressure on Nelson's try line.
At the end of the half, Dylan Williams scored another try and the visitors' confidence visibly disappeared as the score became 19 points to 3 at the break.
Nelson hardly came out of their 22 in the second half. When they did manage to break out they were sent back again by some astute kicking from Mathew Parry.
By the last quarter the Bethesda forwards had done their job and the backs came to the fore as Ben Stelmazek, Mathew Parry and Llion Lloyd (at last recovered from injury) added 3 commendable tries. Mathew Parry succeeded in converting 5 of the 6 tries to crown a memorable afternoon for himself and all the Bethesda players.
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SWALEC BOWL 2011-2012 - ROUND 5
Amman United 28 v Gowerton 0
Barry 5 v Caerleon 27
Cardiff Quins 18 v Talywain 25
COBRA 14 v Tycroes 22
Dolgellau 25 v Milford Haven 22
Glyncorrwg 9 v Glyncoch 13
Hafodyrynys 10 v New Tredegar 11
Resolven v Treherbert - postponed
*****
Dolgellau 25 v Milford Haven 22
The result of this gripping tie was in the balance until the very last move of the game and could well have gone either way. In fact, neither side deserved to lose but, from a partisan point of view, it was encouraging that a North Wales team could more than hold its own against a decent team from West Wales.
Dolgellau played the opening half with a gusting wind on their backs and made good use of the advantages proffered by the elements. Although Milford had what seemed a weight advantage amongst the forwards and backs, it was the home team that looked the sharper in the opening half-hour as they moved the ball around in impressive fashion. Overnight rain had made the pitch very heavy but it didn’t seem to hamper the hosts, especially in the first half, whilst the bulkier visitors tended to get bogged down in the mud.
Dolgellau were three points to the good within a few minutes of the kick-off as the visitors were penalised for wandering offside in midfield. This allowed home full-back Dion Jones to convert an easy penalty from thirty metres out, directly in front of the posts. Dolgellau maintained the momentum and had soon added to their advantage as a good passing movement saw the ball reach left-wing Tristan Evans. He cantered in from fifteen metres to score a good try, breaking through several tackles in the process. Although the conversion attempt was unsuccessful, Dolgellau had established an eight point lead and seemed comfortably in control of the game.
The visitors huffed and puffed but found it difficult to gain good attacking positions, playing, as they were, into the strong wind and occasional squally shower. A poor clearance kick by the visitors saw the ball reach Ian Jones-Morris on the right-wing. He in turn exchanged a couple of slick passes with outside-half Owain Thomas, allowing Jones-Morris to sprint up the touchline. His considerable pace allowed him to beat the cover-defence before grounding the ball for a try, immediately behind the posts, thus making the conversion a formality for Dion Jones. As the interval was reached, the fifteen–nil score line seemed comfortable enough for the hosts, especially as the wind had eased somewhat by this stage.
However, within minutes of the restart, Llion Pugh, the very effective Dolgellau number eight, was yellow-carded, seemingly for preventing quick release of the ball at a ruck. This put the hosts under unnecessary pressure and caused a degree of panic in the ranks. A number of attempted clearance kicks were charged down by the visitors – indeed, their first try stemmed from such an incident. Geraint Evans, the Dolgellau hooker, found himself with the ball in an isolated position, some ten metres from his own try line. His attempt at a clearing kick was charged down by Milford’s six foot four inch tall second row, Gareth Fawcett, who managed to dribble the ball over the line to score a deserved try for his team. Although the conversion was missed, Milford were soon back on the attack, their favoured move being the crash ball to their strongly-built centres.
Within a few minutes they had doubled their try tally when centre Ian Rusnick powered over to the left of the posts. The conversion by full-back, Leigh Broome, was successful, making the score 20-12. The Dolgellau full-back Dion Jones was yellow-carded at this stage, apparently for speaking out of turn to the referee. A Leigh Broome penalty soon followed and brought the visitors within five points of the hosts and an interesting final ten minutes beckoned.
Milford sensed that the game was within their grasp and piled forwards towards the Dolgellau try-line. The hosts` efforts were further hampered when experienced number eight, was Dewi Thomas, was yellow-carded for a deliberate infringement. This led to the Dolgellau scrum coming under considerable pressure and, as it back-tracked, the referee ran under the posts and awarded a penalty try. The conversion by Broome gave the visitors what seemed a slender but winning advantage.
However, the Dolgellau forwards were determined to have the last word and with a minute or so remaining they advanced to within a few metres of the Milford try-line. The hefty props tried in turn to use their strength and weight to breech the Milford defences but eventually it was number eight, Llion Pugh who burrowed over for the all-important try. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but it hardly mattered as it was the final action in what had been a pulsatingly-exciting tie between two well-matched teams. Llion Pugh was awarded the Man of the Match accolade for his impressive ball-carrying and his ability to cross the gain line.
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North Wales Division Three
Harlech vs Bangor - postponed
Holyhead 12 vs Llangollen 37 (Llangollen bonus point)
Menai Bridge 21 vs Flint 22 (Menai losing bonus point)
Shotton Steel 26 vs Benllech 3 (Shotton bonus point)
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North Wales Senior Cup
Bro Ffestiniog v Rhyl - postponed (waterlogged pitch)
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North Wales Senior Plate
Llanidloes 20 v Mold 15
Pwllheli v Colwyn Bay - w/o Colwyn Bay concede
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North Wales Intermediate Cup
Abergele 20 v Newtown 10
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Gwynedd League
Pwllheli 2nds 28 v Llangefni 2nds 14
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Clwyd Districts Cup
Denbigh 2nds 54 v Abergele 2nds 7
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Clwyd Districts Plate Semi-Final
RHOSLLANERCHRUGOG 2NDS 7 v COLWYN BAY 2NDS 52
The Bay 2s travelled to Rhos on a cold wet and windy day to end their losing run in spectacular style by beating the home side by 8 tries (6 converted) to 1 converted try in the semi final of the Clwyd Plate.
Playing into the strong wind in the first half the visitors much improved cohesion was evident as passes were made to ever present supporting players and missed tackles were kept to a minimum – a product of the steady hard work in the training gym since Christmas.
Scrum half Lee Parkes opened the scoring for the Bay with a try with a strong run in from deep. Fly half Henry Morris landed the first of his four conversions. Rhos hit back after 25 minutes with a try from wing Tom Jenkins and levelled the score when fly half Mike Evans-Jones converted. But that was their last score as more tries came from the Bay from Number 8 and man of the match John Astbury and inside centre Tom Williams before half time to leave the Bay 17 -7 up at the break.
It was more of the same in the second half as Skipper Dean Henson, Parkes and Astbury again, wing Rob Norman and flanker Serge Cabezuelo crossed as the increasingly fluent Bay side took advantage of the wind at their backs.
A real confidence booster for the Ceebees who can look forward with optimism to a final against local rivals Abergele on the 28 April.
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Cambrian Training Mid Wales Cup
Welshpool 2nds 7 v UWA 2nds 62
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North Wales Youth Division One
Caernarfon vs Ruthin - postponed
COBRA 56 vs Pwllheli 7
Colwyn Bay 3 vs Mold 10
Denbigh 24 vs Wrexham 24
Llangefni 44 vs Rhyl and District 0
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Colwyn Bay Youth 3 v Mold Youth 10
The Bay welcomed title contenders Mold to Brookfield Drive for their penultimate home league fixture. Due to the unavailability of a number of key front row players the home side opted to go uncontested at the scrums which worked in their favour regarding that traditionally Mold always have a strong and physical pack, The Bay were also unfortunate to lose utility back Ethan Morris due to injury in the warm-up.
Having had to re-shuffle the back division the home side more than matched their counterparts in attack and defence. The Bay absorbed Mold‘s intense aggressive style throughout the game and the visitors seemed to get frustrated by the home side’s purposeful approach and they were guilty on numerous occasions in the first half of over enthusiasm at the contact area in their own half but unfortunately the dependable boot of fly-half Pat Atkinson could only succeed with a solitary penalty taking a slender lead into half time.
Both sides continued to play entertaining rugby in the second half with the visitors noticeably less intimidating and vocal realising that they faced a severe test. Mold’s try came mid-way through the second period when the home defence panicked and tried to play themselves out of their own 22 but were penalised on their 5m line for not releasing after being tackled and the visitors maintaining the momentum opted for the scrum and subsequently they overpowered the home side’s defence after a couple of phases to cross the line.
Mold’s continued frustration was apparent when their right winger was sin-binned for a cynical spear tackle on his opposite number Lewis Stockton. The Bay enjoyed regular periods in their opponents half considering they were playing against the wind and prop Kristen Yeomans strength at the maul aided by his pack crossed the Mold try line but could not ground the ball and the scrum was wrongly awarded to the opposition. The visitors stretched their lead to a converted try with successful penalty kick with 10 minutes remaing. The Bay playing with courage and commitment battled to the final whistle with Mold showing obvious signs of relief in their victory.
Captain Lloyd Jones led by example by encouraging his team mates and his direct running gaining valuable metres and good performances was displayed by second-row Dewi Jones and outside-centre Josh Lloyd but man of the match was awarded to inside-centre Jordan Sheridan who marshalled his back line both in attack and defence.
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North Wales Youth Division Two
Bro Ffestiniog vs Bangor - Postponed
Llanidloes vs Bala
Newtown vs Nant Conwy
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League Division 6 (Central)
Llandrindod Wells 22 v CIACS 7
When Llandrindod won away at CIACS a couple of weeks ago, it was a bright and breezy match, packed with flowing rugby and good moves. This return game was anything but that. Littered with handling and tactical mistakes by both sides, it was a dour, tense affair on a slightly heavy pitch but with a strong breeze blowing.
The first half produced no score and nothing really of note. CIACS had the territorial advantage for most of this half despite Llandrindod being dominant in the scrums and breakdowns and winning some of the lineouts against the head. It was only towards the end of this half that Llandrindod managed to gain some semblance of real possession and
territory but were not rewarded with any points.
Llandrindod continued where they left off after the break and scored the first points in the game with a pushover try grounded by prop Richard Watkins and converted by Mathew Williams. Watkins also scored the second try which, being another try by a prop, is perhaps a reflection of what sort of match this was.
This second try woke CIACS up and, using their backs to good effect, put centre Jack Davies over for a self-converted try and only an unconverted try behind their hosts. A penalty from Llandrindod Williams meant that CIACS had to score twice to go ahead but this match was finally put to bed in the dying minutes with another Llandrindod try, this time from wing Paul Griffiths.
In between all this excitement Llandrindod could have gained a 4th try bonus point but for the player to run over the dead ball line! It was that sort of a game.
This week Llandrindod travel to Cambrian Welfare in the League with an early kick-off of 1.30 pm due to the England-Wales International at 4.00 pm.
(For information, CIACS stands for Cardiff Internationals Sport Club. They are based near the docks)
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Pembrokeshire Cup
Pembroke v Aberystwyth
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19th
Pencoed Ladies 8 v Caernarfon Ladies 26
Welshpool Ladies 5 v Lampeter Ladies 46
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