Some great pictures and match reports, including the top of the table thriller at Caernarfon
Don't be shy, let the world read your match reports and see any pictures that you have available - there are some great reports already in and these will be added to as more come in - so please email reports and pictures (if available) to gwcymru1@aol.com for inclusion on this web-site
To view the photo albums please click on the files at the bottom of this page - some of these files are quite large so please allow them time to open
Photo albums already uploaded include:
COBRA v Llanidloes
Rhosllanerchrugog v Welshpool
Rhosllanerchrugog 2nds v Ruthin 2nds
Ruthin v Llangefni
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WRU Division One North
Bro Ffestiniog 0 v Pwllheli 5
(H/T 0 - 5)
Bro Ffestiniog - no score
Pwllheli - Try : Emyr Jones (wing)
A strong blustery wind accross a firm but slippery pitch did not allow for open running rugby but there was strong defending by both sides with the away team dominating but failing to convert opportunities into points. Bro failed with an early opportunity to convert a penaly and it was 25 minutes play before Pwllheli managed to provide a quick ball from a ruck to winger Emyr Jones who scampered down the left and side-stepped the defence to score in the corner. The conversion by full back Williams was missed.
Both teams won territory with well directed long kicks, mostly to touch, from both open play and from penalties and free kicks but there were many handling errors and too many ruck offences and turnovers. Pwllheli were under a lot of pressure for 15 minutes early in the second half but defended stoutly and held-up Bro when they once managed to cross the line.
With full time approaching the ball was hacked-on by Pwllheli on the half way line. The ball was followed by young righy winger John Pugh who failed to gather and slide over for the try to consolidate the away win.
Pwllheli are at home to Bala next Saturday whilst Bro travel to Nant Conwy, both kick-offs are 2-30 pm.
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Caernarfon 13 v Nant Conwy 12
(Hanner amser / Half time 10-12)
Sgorwyr / Scorers:
Nant Conwy: Ceisiau/ Tries: Aeron Jones (1), Gareth Jones (1)
Trosi / Conversions: Carwyn ap Myrddin (1)
Caernarfon: Cais / Try: Paul Williams
Trsoi / Conversion: Kelvin Morris (1)
Cosb / Penalties: Kelvin Morris (2)
Caernarfon were the complete masters for the first 25 minutes of this match when they deservedly went 10 – 0 ahead. A try was scored by lock, Paul Williams after 11 minutes which was duly converted by fly half, Kelvin Morris. Seven minutes later, Kelvin was successful with his second penalty attempt. But, arguably, the best attacking move of the match was played on 32 minutes when the Nant centres left their home counterparts floundering and Aaeron touched down by the posts. Carwyn ap stepped up to convert the try.
Three minutes later, Gareth Jones, the Nant flanker, caught the home defence napping again when he took a quick penalty from 20 metres out and managed to touch down for a try. The conversion attempt was missed but Nant were 10 – 12 ahead at half time.
The talk amongst the supporters of both sides at the interval was that everybody was witnessing a real classic game of rugby – a good advert for the game in North Wales and everybody was expecting further top quality rugby for the remaining 40 minutes. And so it went – both sides in ascendancy for different periods without actually dominating. The only score of this half was another penalty by Kelvin after 8 minutes play.
For some reason, both kickers found it difficult to place kick, with Kelvin missing three attempts during this half and Carwyn ap two. The last one being the final kick of the match and it sailed narrowly wide of the posts!
NANT’s next match is a HOME game against BRO FFESTINIOG on Saturday afternoon, 14th January 2012 in a League match with the kick off at 2.30 p.m.
Un tîm oedd yn y gêm am y 25 munud cyntaf pan aeth Caernarfon 10 - 0 ar y blaen yn haeddiannol. Cais gan yr ail reng, Paul Williams ar ôl 11 munud yn cael ei drosi gan Kelvin Morris. Yna, cic gosb lwyddiannus gan Kelvin i roi’r tîm cartref yn gyfforddus ar y blaen. Ond, yna, daeth symudiad gorau’r gêm gyda chefnwyr Nant yn chwalu’r amddiffyn cartref ag Aeron yn codi ar ôl tirio’r bel ar ôl 32 munud. Methwyd y trosiad ond, o gic gosb a gymrwyd yn gyflym, gwelwyd y rhif 7, Gareth Jones yn plymio trosodd ger y pyst a Charwyn ap yn llwyddo i drosi y tro hwn i roi Nant 10 - 12 ar y blaen ar hanner amser.
Y sgwrs tros yr egwyl gan gefnogwyr y ddwy ochr oedd cymaint yr oedd pawb yn ei fwynhau gan edrych ymlaen am hanner arall llawn cyffro. Gwelwyd chwarae o safon trwy gydol yr ail hanner gyda’r ddau dîm yn meistroli yn eu tro. Aeth Caernarfon yn ôl ar y blaen gyda chic gosb arall gan Kelvin ar ôl 8 munud ac, yn wir, dyma sgôr olaf y gêm!
Bu i Kelvin fethu trosi tair cic gosb arall a bu i Carwyn ap fethu gyda dwy hefyd – yr ail o’r rhain y gic olaf un ond bu i’r bel wyro ychydig i’r chwith o’r pyst!
Bydd NANT yn chwarae GARTREF yn erbyn BRO FFESTINIOG nesaf ar brynhawn Sadwrn 14eg IONAWR 2012 mewn gêm gynghrair gyda’r gic gyntaf am 2.30 o’r gloch.
The above report was kindly supplied by Nant Conwy RFC - the following report was kindly supplied by Caernarfon RFC
Caernarfon 13 v 12 Nant Conwy
The large crowd at Caernarfon were testament to one of the best encounters witnessed in the Division North Championship for many a year. Both teams were to be congratulated for an all action eighty minutes that meant that the final score was in question throughout. In view of their current league status, a close contest was always on the cards but the nail biter that unfolded was unscripted.
Conditions were gladly conducive to good rugby with very little wind and the pitch in surprisingly good condition. Caernarfon were gifted an early penalty opportunity from an obstruction at kick off but the ball drifted wide. Soon good ball retention by Nant led to them pressurising the Cofi line but the defence was very well marshalled. Playing downhill Caernarfon themselves responded with good offloads and direct running stretching the Nant defence. The dominant Caernarfon scrum of old, with young Jack Matthews punching well above his weight, was an added bonus and asked questions of the visitors. After a series of up field thrusts, a quickly taken penalty by scrum half Trystan Gwilym found the present, ever effective second row Paul Williams at hand to barge over wide of the uprights. Kelvin Morris duly added a fine conversion.
At this stage Caernarfon were combining well, putting together wave after wave of promising attacks. To Nant’s credit, their defence held firm but with the penalty count against them mounting it was not surprising to see Kelvin Morris adding another three pointer when a midfield offside was called.
With the home crowd thinking that a further score was imminent Nant had other ideas. Ifan Jones, lively at scrum half took a quick tap from within his own half and set off on a mazy run that was only halted yards short. Nant forwards came to life and following a period of pressure released their backs to allow the experienced Emrys Evans to wrong foot the cover and crash over on 34 minutes. Almost instantly, the Nant pack were back to their marauding best and a series of pick up and goes close to the line were only halted illegally. Caernarfon thinking that Nant would automatically opt for a three pointer prior to half time were caught cold when flanker Gareth Jones chose a quick tap and ploughed a furrow to the whitewash. Carwyn ap Myrddin duly added the most basic of conversions to give Nant, what a few minutes earlier had looked unexpected, a 12 – 10 half time lead.
At the restart levels of fitness and commitment were not found wanting by anyone with ball in hand with Liam Leung and Gwilym Jones charging like men possessed at the opposition constantly. Both back rows worked tirelessly and the tussle between two class acts in Andrew Williams and Carwyn Ellis was a notable spectacle. On 50 minutes, a shoulder charge on the rushing centres allowed Kelvin Morris to slot over a penalty to regain the lead for the Cofis. From the point onwards, the match became an even more tense affair with the knowledge that one error could be exceptionally costly. Play became concentrated in midfield with the numbers of scrums mounting, however Nant on more than one occasion released their backs swiftly and effectively and it called for good scrambling defence and the sharp eye of the referee who called a forward movement thus halting one very promising move.
In contrast to the usual scenario, very little use was made of the subs bench, a testament to the commitment and tenacity of all concerned. As the game was drawing to a close Nant’s prop was yellow carded for illegal use of the boot but apart from one other skirmish the fiercely contested match was played in very good spirit by players who had the utmost respect for each other’s talents.
With Caernarfon longing for the final whistle and failing to find touch an effective drive by Nant handed one final penalty effort at the death but the posts were out of reach.
In view of percentage territory and possession, Caernarfon may just have done enough to shade it and the win gives them a little breathing space at the top of the league.
Rugby supporters will await the cup encounter between the two sides at Nant on the 28th January with interest.
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Ruthin 27 v Llangefni 15
With Llangefni sitting just above Ruthin in the Division 1 North table with a 3–point difference this was a crucial match for both sides to win to keep themselves out of the relegation zone.
The game started with some vigour and within the first 3 minutes fly half Wil Davies had slotted over a penalty goal and Llangefni’s Carwyn Milburn had responded with their own. Cefni missed a further penalty goal attempt but Davies slotted over his second for the Blues putting them 6-3 ahead. It looked as though it might all fall apart for the home side when two players were sin-binned for separate offences in quick succession and the visitors capitalised on their 2 man advantage and scored a try converted by Milburn. The Blues dug in however and with two further penalty goals from Davies edged 12-10 ahead.
Ruthin were now in gear and spending most of their time in the visitors half. The pressure paid off with centre Ben Syme going over for a try converted by Davies. The visitors were having to defend desperately against the Blues organised and aggressive attack.
Two almost certain Blues tries were negated by infringements on the try line but Cefni were unable to clear far from the resultant penalties and eventually conceded one of their own which Davies slotted over making the score 22-10 at the break.
The second half started with a great try with flanker Clwyd Jones running almost the full length of the pitch to go over but Cefni responded immediately after the restart with an unconverted try of their own. At 27-15 the visitors had clearly decided that the game was not lost and for periods of the second half put the home side under great pressure.
Cefni had the better of the scrums and began to use that to their advantage but the Blues defended well and could have gone further ahead on the break with great runs by Jones, wings Parry and Davies and replacement Meldrum.
There was no further score and Ruthin can be pleased with their continued improvement.
Man of the match went to Wil Davies but this was a good team performance with many individual players having a good game.
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WRU Division Two North
Dolgellau 25 v Dinbych 6
Dolgellau secured another win in their quest for promotion to Division One North but they found it hard going against a feisty Dinbych team that made them work hard for their victory.
Playing against the breeze in the first half on a pitch made heavy by recent rain, Dolgellau struggled in the first twenty minutes to shake off a post-Christmas lethargy. During this period the visitors pressed hard but lacked the cutting edge to penetrate the home defence. They had two good opportunities to put points on the board when they were awarded penalties in very kickable positions but they spurned both chances, preferring instead to kick to the corner.
During the first quarter Dolgellau scarcely got out of their half and it was no surprise when Dinbych took the lead through a penalty kick taken by outside-half, Llion Edwards. This stirred the hosts from their slumber and within minutes the scores were level, courtesy of a penalty kick, taken by outside-half, Tom Roberts.
Both teams in turn probed for weaknesses but the defences stood firm and points were hard to come by. Following an infringement by Dolgellau hooker, Geraint Evans, the visitors were awarded another penalty which was slotted confidently by Llion Edwards, thus restoring Dinbych’s three point advantage. A few minutes later Dolgellau were awarded a penalty thirty metres out, virtually in front of the posts, which was converted equally confidently by Tom Roberts, levelling the scores once more. A hack-on by young Dolgellau wing, Gethin Edwards, followed by a good follow-up tackle then secured a five metre scrum for the hosts. As the Dolgellau eight moved forward towards the Dinbych try-line in perfect unison, a try seemed inevitable. However, as scrum-half Osian Morris went to score the try he knocked-on and a golden opportunity was lost. Thus, the score at half-time stood at 6-6.
Dolgellau started the second-half with much greater purpose as the home eight imposed their authority on the game. Following some good driving play by the forwards the ball reached Gethin Edwards on the left wing. He cleverly delayed his pass to hooker Geraint Evans who was able to crash over to score the game’s first try. The conversion from near the touchline was unsuccessful but the try gave Dolgellau the boost they needed to increase the pressure on the stubborn visitors from Clwyd.
The Dolgellau forwards deserve a great deal of credit as they upped the tempo of their game and stormed time after time into the heart of the Dinbych defence, enabling Geraint Evans to demonstrate his strength and determination as he crossed for his second try. The successful conversion by Tom Roberts made the score 18-6. Dinbych continued to resist stoutly and launched the occasional counter-attack but they lacked the fire-power and subtlety to breach the home defence. The Dolgellau forwards then launched another concerted attack and advanced towards the Dinbych try-line by means of a highly effective driving maul. Three or four players crashed over the try-line together but it was Geraint Evans who again emerged with the ball, securing his hat-trick of tries. The conversion by Tom Roberts made the score 25-6.
With the final whistle in the offing Dolgellau threw everything at the Dinbych defence in an attempt to score a fourth try. The visitors defence held firm however and Dolgellau were denied the bonus point a fourth try would have brought them. The game was played in a good spirit and was firmly refereed. Dinbych were undoubtedly one of the better teams to visit the Marian this season and were worthy opponents. Geraint Evans was nominated Man of the Match for his three tries and inspiring all-round play.
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WRU Division Three North
Bangor 8 v Menai Bridge 26
Bangor are yet to win a league game this season and looked like producing a surprise result leading 8 – 7 at the break but running out of steam in the second half. The home team had most of the possession and territory but Menai Bridge held out for 35 minutes and then in their first visit into Bangor’s half they produced a good attack leading to veteran forward Frank Rushton getting a try converted by outside half Iwan Roberts. Only then did Bangor show their potential setting up a good back attack and their centre also called Iwan Roberts crossed for an unconverted try. Soon after Bangor’s outside half Darren Brace, back from a long period of injury, put them ahead with a penalty
The second half was a bit of a stalemate for the first ten minutes and Brace came close with a penalty that just dropped under the cross bar. Bangor seemed to suffer from the loss of Captain Wil Withey with a front row injury and their scrums and lineouts became more and more ragged.
Menai Bridge regained the lead when Bangor lost a disrupted scrum and Bridge got the ball to outside centre David Williams for a try converted by Roberts. Although Bangor tackled well the pressure told and giving away a penalty leading to a scrum that was again disrupted, No.8 forward Gareth Parry forced his way over for an unconverted try. The last try came in injury time when Jack Owens mauled his way over in the corner for Menai Bridge and Roberts added a touch line conversion to end the game.
Next week Bangor have a hard home game against Rhos.
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Clwyd Districts League
Rhos 2nds 3 v Ruthin 2nds 135
Ruthin ran in a hatful of tries in another woefully one sided game at Rhos on Saturday.
The 135 points that Ruthin scored though was not the most impressive stat. That was left to Shay Owen who scored an incredible 80 points single handedly. His haul of 10 tries and 15 conversions is a club record. Owen was on the end of everything finishing of moves from anywhere from 5 to 50 yards out. Shay's feat received a mention on Sunday's Scrum V programme.
Pat Carroll with two tries and Jonny Davies two tries were the other notable contributors in a day of running rugby. Ruthin are at Wrexham next week and will hope to continue in the same manner!
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