Reports as they come in from around the grounds of North and Mid Wales.
Following report kindly supplied by Nant Conwy RFC
Caernarfon 3 v Nant Conwy 29
(Plât SWALEC Plate – R.2)
Sgorwyr Nant Conwy Scorers:
Ceisiau / Tries: Gethin Ilan Jones (2),Grant Jones(1) Aeron Jones (1), Cais Cosb/Penalty Try
Trosi / Conversions: Aeron Jones (2)
Caernarfon: Cosb/Penalty: Kelvin Morris
Ar brynhawn a drodd allan yn braf ar ôl yr holl rew a glaw troa y dyddoai blaenorol, bu i Nant ennill y gâm wrth chwarae i fyny’r oledd yn yr hanner cyntaf pan oedd y sgôr yn 3 – 17. Ar ôl wyth munud o chware, taclwyd Elgan D. yn erbyn y faner gornel wrth iddo geisio tirio. Ond yn fuan iawn, bu i’r asgellwr, Grant dirio yn yr un gornel o fewn modfeddi o’r un faner and aflwyddiannus oedd yr ymgais am drosi.
Parhaodd pac Nant i chwarae’n gryf ac nid oedd yn syndod i Carwyn E blymio trosodd o un ryc ond ni chaniatawyd y sgôr gan y dyfarnwr a gafodd gêm arbennig o dda. Ar 26 munud, gwelwyd Aeron, ar ôl bygwth ddwywaith neu dair yn ystod y gêm, yn llwyddo i dorri’r amddiffyn a thirio o dan y pyst.
Yn rhyfeddol, tarodd y trosiad y postyn! Dri munud yn ddiweddarach, gwelwyd yr asgellwr arall, Gethin Ilan, a oedd newydd gyrrraedd gartref o Brifysgol Caerdydd, yn sgorio’i gais cyntaf o ddau. Troswyd y cais yma gan Aeron o ongl ddigon anodd. Daeth Caernarfon fwy i fewn i bethau am 5 munud olaf yr hanner a llwyddodd Kelvin i drosi cic gosb i roi unig sgôr y tîm cartref.
Dechreudd Nant yn gryf eto’n yr ail hanner ac wedi i sgrym osod gan ei chwalu gan bac Nant, penderfynodd y dyfarnwr roi cais cosb – un a droswyd gan Aeron. Gwelwyd tueddiad gan Nant i bwyso ar eu rhwyfau braidd wedyn a bu Caernarfon yn ymosod mwy heb wir fygwth llinell Nant. Yn wir, rhyng-gipiwyd y bêl gan Gethin Ilan yng nghanol ymosodiad y tîm cartref a llwyddodd i sgorio’i ail gais heb i hwnnw gael ei drosi (31 munud o’r hanner wedi’i chwarae). Bodlonwyd ar sgôr o 3 – 29 ar y diwedd.
Dydd Sadwrn nesaf bydd Nant yn chwarae gartref yn erbyn Rhyl rownd gyntaf Cwpan Gogledd Cymru gyda’r gic gyntaf am 2.00 o’r gloch.
On an afternoon that turned out to be a really dry one after the wet and icy weather the area had had for a few days pre-match day, it turned out that Nant won the match whilst playing up the slope in the first half, that ended with a score of 3 – 17.
After 8 minutes play, lock, Elgan D was tackled and hurled over the corner flag as he was diving for a try. But soon after, winger Grant scored a try in the same corner, touching down a matter of inches from this same flag! The conversion attempt was unsuccessful. Nant’s pack continued to master the set play and from one ruck, star player, Carwyn E dived over from a ruck but the score was not allowed by the Referee – who, incidentally, had an excellent match.
After 26 minutes play, Aeron, having threatened two or three times previously, managed to out wit the home defence and score a try underneath the posts. Unfortunately, the conversion attempt struck the upright! Three minutes later, the returning winger, Gethin Ilan, home for a vacation from Cardiff University, scored the first of his two tries during the afternoon. Aeron converted this try from quite a difficult angle. During the last 5 minutes of the half, Caernarfon had more ball possession and Kelvin had the home side’s only points in converting a penalty kick.
Nant began the second half brightly and after a set scrum had been overwhelmed by the Nant pack, the Referee awarded a penalty try which was duly converted by Aeron. From then on, Nant began to ‘rest on their laurels’ and Caernarfon became a stronger force without actually threatening the Nant line. Indeed, Gethin Ilan intercepted a Caernarfon attack and ran through to score a try after 31 minutes but, the conversion attempt was charged down by an on-rushing home player! The rest of the match petered out to an extent to give a final score of 3 – 29.
Next Saturday, Nant will be playing at home against RHYLin a North Wales Challnege Cup match with the kick of being at 2.00 p.m.
*****
Following report kindly supplied by Caernarfon RFC
Caernarfon 3 v Nant Conwy 29
Nant were in dominant mood on the Morfa to progress in the Swalec Plate Competition once again. Although the score line suggests that the game was slightly one sided, this was not necessarily the case as everyone who took to the park gave their all and the fitness levels were maintained throughout.
Nant opened cohesively and brightly but failed with an early penalty effort. The Cofis countered with a Gwilym Jones steal and a Trystan Gwilym break but were unable to maintain any worthwhile foothold in Nant territory. The customary tight Nant eight began gaining momentum and recycled with their usual gusto and with quarter of an hour gone they came within striking distance to allow Ifan Jones to feed winger Grant Jones who touched down out wide.
Caernarfon’s cause was dented when centre Dafydd Roberts was yellow carded with Nant again pressing. There followed a brief period when the Cofis upped their game to fight their way out of defence, take one against the head and tackle tenaciously. They may have believed that they could have survived for ten minutes but Nant fullback Aeron Jones had other ideas and scored a classic solo effort from just inside the Cofi half, sidestepping at pace to leave a trail of would be tacklers before grounding beneath the posts.
Ironically he missed the easiest of conversions but was on target a few minutes later when adding the extras to Gethin Jones’s grounding, thus taking the game out of Caernarfon’s reach. Aeron and Grant Jones had been instrumental in unlocking the Cofi midfield and on receiving the ball Gethin was able to wriggle free of the final covering tackle to score.
A glimmer of hope was afforded the Cofis when Kelvin Morris bisected the posts from some distance after the Nant flanker broke his bind at scrum time, this bringing the half to a close with the score line 17 – 3 in Nant’s favour.
Sadly, Caernarfon lost hooker Mathew Bohana to a knee injury during the last play of the half, a servant that who’s loss they could ill afford.
The Cofis failed to threaten the visitors from the off in the second half and were soon made to pay as the well drilled Nant pack stepped up the pressure to afford the rearranged Cofi pack no rest bite. Worst was to follow as an effort to disrupt Nant ball at a fast retreating scrum resulted in Cheltenham referee signalling a penalty try. Aeron Jones slotted the conversion to bring his points tally to nine.
Caernarfon were however still game and stuck to their task, finally putting the visitors under a spell of pressure that resulted in prop Elgan Metcalfe being yellow carded for killing the ball. A series of drives in an effort to cross the whitewash were however fairly easily dealt with by the stern, uncharitable, Nant defence. However prop Rhodri Owen was still game, attempting to lift the spirits and lead by example.
Another breakout from defence saw Iolo Huws attempt to chip over his opposite number but the ball was charged down and with the fortunate bounce Gethin Jones was able to race clear and score his second beneath the posts. The conversion attempt was however charged down so the scoreboard stayed shy of thirty points.
Nant march on confidently whilst Caernarfon will regroup prior to facing Llangefni in the North Wales Cup on the Morfa on the 29th, December.
*****
Ruthin 31 v 3 Dolgellau (H)
With both teams in confident mood after good away wins in Division 1 North last week this North Wales Cup 1st round match against Dolgellau at Caeddol promised to be a competitive match.
Added colour was provided by Ruthin's pink alternative kit, much needed as the floodlights failed during the match.
The home side started strongly and after a missed penalty goal in the first 5 minutes centre Shay Owen forced himself across the visitors line for a try which he then converted. Dolgellau responded almost immediately with a penalty goal by Tom Roberts kicked from the halfway line.
Ruthin continued in their aggressive vein and after the visitors conceded a penalty 5 yds out from their line full back Gethin Hughes charged over for a try again converted by Owen. The visitors were unable to contain Ruthns fast running and at around the 30 minute mark Owen weaved his way past a couple of defenders and offloaded to wing Huw Parry who got the Blues third try. There was no further score in the first half and the teams took the break with the score at 19-3 to Ruthin.
In the second half the visitors had more of the possession and territory and although playing some attractive rugby at times were unable to break through Ruthins solid defence.
The home side were still dangerous in the visitors half and after some great play by the forwards prop Tom Vaughn put another five points on the board with a fine try. Shortly afterwards after further home side pressure fly half Ben Syme and No8 Chris Davies combined to put centre Harri Morgan over for the Blues 5th try. This was converted by replacement Dafydd Lloyd and the game ended 31-3 to Ruthin.
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