Dolgellau win Division Two title and Shotton on target to remain unbeaten as they are also crowned Champions in Division Three
North Wales Youth Division One
Ruthin Youths 55 v Pwllheli Youths 5
(9 tries - 1 try).
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Following report kindly supplied by Caernarfon RFC
Bethesda 28 v 17 Caernarfon
This was a typical end of season affair where there was nothing at steak and as a result, there were very few highlights to lift the spirits of the expectant crowd. Caernarfon having already secured the Division 1 North title and having been inactive for a month found Bethesda far more subdued than usual obviously thinking ahead to their Swalec Cup Semi final against Penallta next week. As a result, the opening exchanges were lethargic with possession being kicked away by both teams in an effort to gain field positions.
An offside call gave Kelvin Morris an opportunity to open the scoring from near the halfway line but the effort rebounded off the crossbar. However, the pressure was maintained and following a rolling maul, the Cofis crossed the try line only for the referee to be undecided as to the grounding.
However, a few minutes later Morris was not to be denied as he slotted over a penalty following an off side. Sadly, the lead was very short lived as Mathew Parry replied following an offence at kickoff. Parry edged Pesda further ahead after a high tackle but for the remaining ten minutes of the half, with Caernarfon’s scrum being dominant they applied pressure and Morris’s trusted boot brought them on a par and edged them three points clear following two not releasing offences.
The Cofis extended their lead again, thanks to Morris, at the beginning of the second half and were possibly expected to make the game safe, as up to that point they had been the better side.
Complacency and a few forced changes upset the Cofi balance and Bethesda soon found a new lease of life and seized the moment. Carwyn Williams on the wing and later at scrum half had been by far the most industrious player on the park and his infectious enthusiasm eventually spread to include his teammates. A sustained attack by the forwards was eventually fed wide and a Parry loop and slick passing freed wing Gwyn Hughes to score in the corner with twenty minutes to go.
From this point onwards Bethesda were sharper and kept the Cofis at bay with relative ease. Another promising attack saw a missed tackle on centre Ben Stelmazek, who on finding freedom and a wrong-footed defence found a clear path to the try line to give Bethesda the lead that was added to with Parry’s successful conversion.
With ten minutes to go Caernarfon attempted to up the pace but any chance of a revival was dashed when Parry intercepted a long pass and sprinted some seventy meters to score under the posts and add the extras. He soon added an additional three points to bring his tally for the day to eighteen.
Luckily, enough time remained to witness one fine try from Cofi scrum half Trystan Gwilym. Good work by number eight Rhys Evans freed winger Carnedd Williams who on being thwarted found his scrumhalf at hand and his pace and guile took him to the try line for a well-deserved score.
Caernarfon will need to regroup and focus on an important North Wales Cup semi-final tie at home against Bro Ffestiniog next Saturday. The second fifteen were thankfully far less lacklustre at Bethesda, winning 41 points to 10 and by so doing, securing their league title.
All connected with Caernarfon Rugby Club would also wish both Bethesda and Nant Conwy the very best of luck in their respective Swalec Plate semi-finals in Mid Wales next Saturday. Hopefully the Millennium stadium will await them.
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Ludlow 2nds 10 v Rhayader 9
Ludlow castle has witnessed so much in nearly 900 years of overlooking the former Welsh capital including playing major roles in such battles as the Owain Glyndŵr rebellion and the English Civil War. However Saturdays game will not live so long in its memory.
A last gasp penalty from Ludlow 2nds handed the home side a last ditch win in this keenly contested but very even friendly.
Despite missing several key players, manager Terry- John Hutchinson was keen to continue his build up for the end of season Mid Wales District Cup Final against Aberystwyth University. Gareth Evans returned from injury and Stephen Frost returned from working away whilst Gavin Rees returned to the front row.
Rhayader did start lively and Haydn O'Reilly gave the away side an early lead with a simple penalty. Rhayader continued in the same vain and were camped in the Ludlow 22 for long periods of the first quarter. However an inability to spread the ball wide meant overlaps went begging and quick tap penalties rather than taking three points ended up proving costly.
The only try of the game came against the run of play as Rhayader's pack again secured the ball, Rhayader attempted to spread the ball quickly but a gamble by the Ludlow centre gave him an interception and a clear 50+ metre run to the line to touch down even though young Jordan Phillips was closing on him all the way. Ludlow added the extra two points.
The try seemed to wake Ludlow up and for the second quarter were probably the better team. The only other try scoring opportunity to follow was through an interception by Matt Flat Boore who didnt quite have the pace to reach the line but through good support and quick recycling Nathan Hammond went remarkably close to his first Rhayader try but fantastic defence denied him at the last. With both defences on top neither team looked capable of breaching the opposition line.
The second half very much continued in the same vain. Rhayader forwards were more than a match for their opposition 8 and many a Ludlow scrum went backwards. The front three of Ryan Lewis-Davies, Terry- John Hutchinson and Gavin Rees clearly had the upper hand. However a lack of composure on slow ball and failure to retain possesion in pick ups and drives meant the game was scrappy and neither team took real control.
John Foster took over the kicking from the injured Haydn O'Reilly and added two well struck penalties to give Rhayader a 9-7 lead. The second with only five minutes remaining which looked like giving Rhayader the win.
The game was decided however by a controversial high tackle by Luke Gordy Evans. A few moments earlier Luke had put in a great tackle to stop a potential Ludlow attack, however tackle number two was deemed high by the referee who awarded Ludlow a difficult but kickable penalty.
The Ludlow kicker who earlier in the season had kicked a last ditch winning conversion in the 17-15 win in Rhayader stepped up and struck the penalty straight between the sticks.
Despite the disappointment of the defeat, manager Terry- John Hutchinson will continue to build towards the Cup Final and the next step is Gwernyfed at home. The friendly on Saturday kicks of at 2.30pm.
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