ELWYN WILLIAMS had mixed emotions after seeing his Nant Conwy side go down to a 21-15 defeat to Penallta in the final of the Swalec Plate at the Millennium Stadium.
The following report was first published by the Daily Post
ELWYN WILLIAMS had mixed emotions after seeing his Nant Conwy side go down to a 21-15 defeat to Penallta in the final of the Swalec Plate at the Millennium Stadium.
Despite being obviously disappointed at the loss, Nant head coach Williams, was immensely proud of the effort his changes had put in against a side from two divisions higher.
Second half tries from replacements Llywyrch ap Myrddin and Gareth Jones brought Nant to within a converted try of claiming a shock victory over Division Two East runners up Penallta, but they were unable to make the most of field position, and a two man numerical advantage to claim the win.
Penallta went 14-3 ahead at the interval and stretched their lead to 21-3 shortly after the break, before Nant finally began to find their straps and hit back.
“We took them to the heights, but we gave them too much of a head start,” said Williams.
“We did well to come back at them in the last half an hour and we could have snatched it at the end.
“Huge disappointment, but immense pride from the coaches in what the players have achieved coming here and performing like that and playing some lovely running rugby in the last half an hour against a very, very good side.
“Yes, there was a chance for us there to take it, but it was a superb performance from them in the first half and they just didn’t let us into the game at all.
“There was relentless pressure on us and we made a few mistakes and they capitalised on that and that is the way they play the game, they put pressure on you and they take their chances.
“Our start was down to them, we didn’t get any ball at all, but then in the second half when we did start getting some possession we starting playing some good rugby.
“I think you’ve got to put that down to the lads’ fitness as well, while they were going down with cramp, we were carrying on right to the very end, and you have got to put that down to the fitness work we have done with fitness coach Ray Williams.”
A modest Williams was at pains to lay the praise for Nant’s run to the final at the group of coaches, and at the players, while he was also keen to thank the huge travelling number of fans who made the journey down to Cardiff from North Wales.
He added: “I’m just part of a set up, part of a group of coaches, and I’m extremely proud of the players for what they have achieved.
“I’ve coached some of these guys since they were under-nines, and to see them out on this field, well it’s what you dream of as a coach.
“You’ve got to give credit to Elgan (Davies) and the boys for their work in moving their scrum backwards at the end.
“I do want to add a huge thanks to, what was it 1,500 supporters who came down to support us today, through hell and high water.
“It’s just a huge thank you to the fans, at the end you could hear the ‘Nant, Nant, Nant’chants roaring through the crowd and that is some-thing that you dream of hearing.”
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The following reports have been kindly supplied by Nant Conwy RFC:
Bron iawn a'i gwenud hi! / Very nearly won!
By Ifor Efans | Tuesday 8th May 2012
Bu bron i ddiffyg disgyblaeth Penallta golli'r gem iddynt! Penallta very nearly lost the match because of ill-discipline!
Sgrwyr Nant Conwy scorers:
Ceisiau / Tries: Llywarch ap Myrddin & Gareth Jones
Trosi / Conversion: Carwyn ap Myrddin (1)
Cosb / Penalty: Carwyn ap Myrddin (1)
Rhaid nodi i Benallta ddechrau ar dan gan fynd yn haeddiannol ar y blaen ar ol 8 munud gyda chais gan eu hasgellwr Stephen Davies a droswyd gan 'Seren y gem' John Wright. Dyma'r seren swyddogol er fod amryw o fechgyn y wasg yn anghytuno ag yn rhoi'r clod hwnnw i Carwyn, Hafod Ifan a hynny ychydig ddyddiau cyn ei briodas! Ymatebodd Carwyn ap gyda chic gosb ar ol 40 munud ond eiliadau cyn diwedd yr hanner cyntaf, caniatawyd cais amheus i Benallta ar ol iddi ymddangos fod y dyfarnwr wedi 'newid ei feddwl' a chaniatau cais ger y pyst i Benallta yn hytrach na rhoi cic gosb i Nant fel yr ymddangosai i'r dyrfa! Troswyd y cais hwn i wneud sgor o 14 -3 ar yr hanner!
Dechreuodd yr ail hanner mewn dull tebyg a chiciwyd cic amddiffynnol Owain i lawr ar ol 10 munud a chasglwyd y bel rydd gan Ross Morgan i Benallta i sgorio'i ail gais. Troswyd hwn eto!
A dyna yn wir pryd y dechreuodd Nant chwarae go iawn! Wedi symudiad da gan y cefnwyr, rhyddhawyd Llywarch ap i sgorio cais ar ol 22 munud ond bu ymgais ei frawd, Carwyn ap i drosi daro'r postyn! Dangosodd Penallta eu diffyg disgyblaeth wrth fod dan bwysau a rhoddwyd cerdiau melyn i ddau o'u chwaraewyr. Manteisiodd Nant ar hynny a bu i'r bachwr, Gareth sgorio ail gais Nant gyda 10 munud yn weddill a throswyd hwn gan Carwyn ap i wneud sgor o 15 - 21.
Serch tri sgrym bwerus gan Nant yn y 3 munud olaf a Charwyn E yn tirio ar y linell gydag un, a'r dyfarnwr yn gwrthod unrhyw gri am gais cosb (serch fod Hyfforddwr yr enillwyr yn credu fod Nant yn haeddu un!) dyna fu'r sgor derfynol.
Mor agos ond o mor bell ynte! Felly, codi awydd wnaeth hyn i ymweld a'r Stadiwm eto'n fuan gan ddod a'r tlws ADREF i'r Gogledd y tro hwnnw. Gobeithio'n wir y daw'r freuddwyd honno'n wir yn fuan!
Penallta deservedly 'won' the first half having played some excellent rugby. Stephen Davies (14) scored their first try which was converted by the 'official' man of the match, John Wright. Many members of the press disgareed with this award and thought that Carwyn Ellis deserved the accolade and that would have been just a few days before his marriage to Gemma! Carwyn ap converted a penalty kick after 40 minutes but Penallta were awarded a 'doubtful' try on the stroke of half time when most spectators thought that Nant had been awarded a penalty for an infringement! This try was converted to make a half time (deserved) score of 14 -3.
Things started in a similar manner in the second half and Owain's defensive kick was charged down after 10 minutes and Ross Morgan (6) picked up the loose ball to score his second try which was duly converted.
It was only then that Nant really switched into gear and a wonderful move by the backs was completed by a super try by Llywarch ap. Unfortunatley, the converson attempt by his brother, Carwyn struck the upright! Penallta were now under pressure and their ill discipline came to the fore when two players from their side were sin binned! Nant kept up the presure and Gareth Jones scored a converted try by Carwyn ap with 10 minutes play left. Nant were camped on the Penallta line for the last six minutes with the referee awarding them three successive scrums. Carwyn E, actually touched the line with the ball from one shove and despite calls for a 'penalty try' none was forthcoming! Indeed, the Panallta Coach was gracious after the win in suggesting that he tought that Nant should have had that 'penalty try' after the second scrummaging offence!. But, it was not to be!
Nant live on to fight another day and all this experience has taught is that we want another attempt to win tis trophy. Let's hope that this 'dream' will become true sooner rather than later and that the PLATE will come to North Wales before long!
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