Another selection of great match reports from the weekend's games involving youth and senior games
A reminder of the scores from the weekend's games and then some more excellent reports
WRU Division One East
RGC 40 v Penallta 5
WRU Division Two West
Aberystwyth 11 v Crymych 6
Maesteg Celtic 15 v Builth Wells 20
WRU Division One North
Bala 12 v Bethesda 28 - winning bonus for Bethesda
Dolgellau 12 v Llangefni 12
Nant Conwy 20 v Bro Ffestiniog 7
Caernarfon 3 v Pwllheli 11
Ruthin 12 v Mold 22
WRU Division Two North
COBRA 21 v Colwyn Bay 15 - losing bonus for Colwyn Bay
Denbigh 105 v Llanidloes 8 - winning bonus for Denbigh
Llandudno 5 v Abergele 9 - losing bonus for Llandudno
Machynlleth 27 v Llangollen 10 - winning bonus for Machynlleth
Rhyl 27 v Shotton Steel 28 - 2 losing bonus for Rhyl, one winning bonus for Shotton
WRU Division Three North
Bangor 12 v Porthmadog 22 - winning bonus for Porthmadog
Harlech 41 v Flint 0 - winning bonus for Harlech
Holyhead 12 v Newtown 60 - winning bonus for Newtown
Menai Bridge 3 v Wrexham 26 - winning bonus for Wrexham
Rhosllanerchrugog 33 v Welshpool 14 - winning bonus for Rhos
WRU Youth Division One North
Bala v Ruthin
COBRA 0 v Denbigh 41
Colwyn Bay v Wrexham
Llangefni 36 v Pwllheli 5
Rhyl v Mold
WRU Youth Division Two North
Bangor 50 v Bro Ffestiniog 0
Llandudno v Holyhead
Llanidloes v Dolgellau
Newtown v Flint
Welshpool v Caernarfon - postponed
Clwyd Districts League
Colwyn Bay 2nds v Mold 2nds
Denbigh 2nds v Rhos 2nds
Flint 2nds v Rhyl 2nds
Shotton 2nds 10 v Llandudno 2nds 10
Wrexham 2nds v Abergele 2nds
Gwynedd Districts League
Caernarfon 2nds 52 v Pwllheli 2nds 12
Nant Conwy 2nds 45 v Bro Ffestiniog 2nds 5
Dolgellau 2nds v Llangefni 2nds - postponed
WRU Division 6 Central
Wick 18 v Trefyclawdd 5
Crickhowell 45 v Llandrindod Wells 5
WRU Division 7
Rhayader v West Mon - postponed
Mid Wales District Cambrian Training League
Aberystwyth University 2nds 35 v Welshpool 2nds 5
*****
Wrexham won a tough encounter away at Menai Bridge
By Barry Lewis | Sunday 18th November 2012
Menai Bridge 3 v Wrexham 26
Wrexham won a tough encounter away at Menai Bridge with Jack Ratcliff scoring 3 tries and James Jess scoring 1 and newcomer Gavin Jones kicking 3 conversions.
Wrexham started brightly considering they were the traveling team no doubt the excellent warm up and team talk be Ian Sanger had its part to play. The first half was well contested by both teams with Wrexham looking to have a slight edge both sets of forwards were running hard lines and Wrexham’s backs attacking and defending well.
As Wrexham edged towards to Menai’s try line Menai conceded a penalty unfortunately Wrexham missed the deadlock continued. Finally Wrexham edged in front after their backs went wide for Jack Ratcliff to latch on to the ball round his opposite number an score in the corner this allowed newcomer Gavin Jones to kick his first points for Wrexham 1st team Wrexham 7 points up. Menai applied pressure on Wrexham after the restart and gained a penalty just outside Wrexham’s 22 which they converted 7 – 3 to Wrexham.
In the last 10 minutes Menai pressurised the Wrexham line again, running some hard lines as Wrexham defended their try line, they never allowed the Menai forwards to cross the line this was the turning point of the game, as it galvanised the team Wrexham finally cleared their lines half time unfortunately Rhys Jones had received a yellow card after coming in from the side at a ruck.
At half time Wrexham had to make a change due to an injury to Jamie Morris who was replaced by Pete Doogan in the centre. 14 man Wrexham started brightly having weathered the storm of the Menai pack in the first half. Wrexham pressurising at every opportunity resulting in one of menai’s players receiving a yellow card both sides equal numbers.
Menai looked to run the ball but a well-read interception by Jack Ratcliff saw him score under the posts for Gavin Jones to kick the conversion. Wrexham now back up to full strength kept on pressurising Menai’s players into mistakes and when they looked to go wide again, who was there Jack Ratcliff with another interception and another score under the posts for Gavin Jones to kick.
Wrexham had brought on hard hitting James Bellis into the second row who’s runs forced Menai to mark him with a number of players and as the game went on and Wrexham introduced fresh legs in the form of Richard Platt the Menai players tired this resulted in them receiving another yellow card, towards the end of the game the final score of the game came from a scrum where a well worked play saw James Jess cross in the corner the bonus point try.
It would be hard to pick a man of the match from this game as every player played for each other it was one of the best team efforts we have seen as coaches and a big thank you to the subs that came with us.
*****
Cobra Youth 0 v Denbigh Youths 41
Denbigh shrugged off their recent defeat against Rhyl with a rare and convincing seven try win at Cobra.
Weakened due to RGC commitments Cobra battled throughout but were unable to cope with Denbigh’s power and precision behind the scrum where Osian Willaims made some powerful early runs showing the visitors intention from the outset.
Despite this Cobra were themselves a threat early on using their forwards too good effect making some good gains only to be thwarted by Denbigh’s solid defence. It took Denbigh 15 minutes to break the deadlock when Osian Williams came off his wing to take an inside pass to score the first of his two tries.
With Denbigh looking good on the break and the forward supplying quick possession Captain Ayidn Jones was next on the score-sheet with a trademark try running in from thirty meters. Two other tries were scored before the interval by Huw Alexander and Gareth Howatson to extend the lead to 22-0.
After the interval Denbigh were in complete control but were thwarted on many occasions by Cobra’s brave cover defence. With man of the match Dafydd Jones turning over numerous ball at the breakdown Denbigh scored three further tries by Ayidn Jones, Osian Williams and prop Elliott Davies who drove over from five meters to complete the scoring.
*****
BANGOR GO DOWN TO PORTHMADOG
By David Dunn | Sunday 18th November 2012
Bangor missed a great opportunity for a rare victory at home to Porth.
BANGOR 10 v 22 PORTHMADOG
Both teams were lacking threequarters and fielded forward players in the back division. Both created many scoring chances but it was the visitors who made the most of them scoring four tries to Bangor two. Bangor scored in each half the first going to Mathew Wallace and the second to Ashley Randell. In the second half Bangor actually occupied the visitors half most of the time and squandered many scoring chances. Porthmadog scored two tries in each half and in the second half these were almost the only times the visited the home territory breaking out and chasing their kicks.
*****
YOUTHS TOO GOOD FOR BRO
By David Dunn | Sunday 18th November 2012
Bangor were in great form running in 8 tries.
BANGOR Youth 50 - 8 BRO FFESTINIOG Youth
Bangor youths scored 8 tries in this victory. Their forwards set up a good platform for many successful scoring attacks.
The Try Scorers were Rhys Williams x 2 and one each for the backs, Trystan Tomos,Dyfed Roberts, Dafydd Jones, Calvin Williams, Alex Griffiths and Carwyn Roberts
*****
Dinbych run in 16 tries against out of sorts Llani
By Sam Jones | Sunday 18th November 2012
Dinbych's slick handling and pace overwhelm Llanidloes RFC who gave 100% upto the final whistle.
Denbigh 105 v Llanidloes 8
Dinbych gave a scintillating display of attacking skill to overwhelm a brave but outclassed Llanidloes side scoring sixteen tries as they topped the century mark. With their ninth successive success they remain unbeaten at the head of Division two at the half way mark of the league season.
This was a complete team performance with the forwards not only providing quality possession from set pieces and the breakdown area but also showing handling and running skills to match the dangerous back division. Outside half Tom Seddon took the scoring honours with thirty five points made up of two tries, eleven conversions and a penalty whilst right wing Dafydd Cartwright bagged a hat trick of tries and scrum half Jamie Winning, flanker Dwayne Speakman-Jones and centre and Man of the Match Dan Mars-Jones each scoring a brace of tries.
Dinbych started in top gear and notched three converted tries in the opening quarter of an hour with scrum half Jamie Winning starting off with a typical solo effort from near half way closely followed by two strikes down the right hand touchline ending in tries by flanker Gavin Rizzi and Matt Hulse with all three tries converted by Tom Seddon. Llanidloes pulled back three points through a penalty by full back Adam Price after a brief period of pressure.
Tom Seddon then cancelled this out with a penalty before Dinbych gained their bonus point before the midway point of the half with a Dan Mars-Jones try after another excellent combined attack down the right. The Dinbych pack then showed a rare skill by driving an unstoppable maul over from forty metres out with Dwayne Speakman-Jones claiming the touchdown. Tom Seddon then went over after a solo run from near halfway for a try under the posts which he duly converted.
Dinbych continued to stretch the Llanidloes defence with long distance attacks and after Dafydd Cartwright was halted just short of the line prop Gareth Jones was on hand to cross in the corner when the ball was recycled.
Any hope of Llanidloes being able to salvage anything from the match was then dashed as they were reduced to fourteen after a red card for a kicking offence at a ruck. Dinbych closed the half with a try by skipper Dan Jones who went over after a driving maul from a short range line out. Tom Seddon converted to leave Dinbych leading by fifty five points to three at the interval.
There was no respite for Llanidloes with Tom Seddon adding his second try in the opening minutes of the second half with another solo effort from near half way to which he added the conversion points. Right wing Dafydd Cartwright then finished off two excellent attacking moves with a brace of tries one of which Tom Seddon converted.
Dwayne Speakman-Jones then added his second from a ten metre scrum before Llanidloes got some reward for their determined effort when centre Paul Jehu went over in the corner for an unconverted try after a brief attack by the visitors. Quick hands on the ground by replacement hooker Geraint Madoc-Jones put Dafydd Cartwright over in the corner for his hat trick try which was converted by Tom Seddon.
With the seven man Llanidloes pack under severe pressure at the scrum replacement No.8 Liam Allsup-Jones touched down as Dinbych drove over the line from a five metre scrum. Warren Edwards and Liam Allsup-Jones then combined well to send Jamie Winning over for his second try. With time running out Dinbych then passed the century mark after another excellent combined move with Dan Mars-Jones touching down for his second try. Tom Seddon converted the three final tries to cap a fine individual performance.
*****
League Division 6 (South Central)
Crickhowell 45 v Llandrindod Wells 5
To a degree the scoreline flatters Crickhowell. Most of the match was much closer than the statistics indicate with the very considerable difference between the teams being the 5 tries scored by Crickhowell wing Joe Powell, whose powerful running proved too much for the Llandrindod defence.
The match was even for the first ten minutes with Llandrindod having initial territorial advantage and, when Crickhowell attacked, defending solidly, especially in the forwards. The initial stalemate was broken when Crickhowell were awarded a penalty kick duly slotted over by Adrian Howells. Llandrindod twice had an opportunity to level the scores, and perhaps take a slender lead, but two penalty kicks went astray.
Straight on the half hour, Powell scored his first try quickly followed by a second as Llandrindod's defence weakened. The rest of this half was notable only for handling errors by both sides before the players took a break with Crickhowell sitting on a fairly comfortable 13 point lead.
The second half opened with another Howells penalty for Crickhowell. Great Llandrindod defence, led by the forwards, was keeping their hosts away from the tryline but, eventually, the dam was breached with a third Powell try, this time under the posts, duly converted by Howells. Still Llandrindod kept up the pressure on Crickhowell despite the scoreline but, again, their defence was overcome with Powell touching down twice more, with Joe Tigg and Alan Taylor also scoring, this time with Llandrindod down to 14 men due to a sin-binning, Howells converting one of these tries.
The match was not yet over of course, and with Llandrindod's never-say-die approach, their considerable efforts were well rewarded by Joe Bradley touched down for an unconverted try before the final whistle.
Llandrindod have no match this week. Next weekend, they travel to Tongwynlais in the League.
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