Bro Ffestiniog cause upset by knocking league-leaders out of the cup at the semi-final stage 30-28 while WRU NW Academy win 43-9
North Wales Cup Semi-Final
Bro Ffestiniog 30 v Caernarfon 28
WRU NW Senior Academy 49 v Tonmawr 3
RGC1404 43 Tonmawr 9
Back in August, an RGC1404 side that had only had a few sessions together suffered a heavy defeat against Tonmawr. Yesterday was true revenge as a very different RGC1404 team beat their South Wales opponents in every aspect of the game, running in seven unanswered tries in the process.
The team seems to have recognised their capabilities with tremendous improvements seen since the Cardiff ‘5-minute aberration’. The second half at the Arms Park, last week against Aberavon and now this week against Tonmawr has seen some rugby of the highest class and left some high flying clubs in RGC1404’s wake.
It was Tonmawr who took the lead with a penalty after 2 minutes converted by Flanagan, but it took the Gogs only 4 minutes to score their first try. Luke Cudmore picking up the ball on the left of Tonmawr’s 22m and breaking through tackles to touch down in the corner. Connor Braid converted to make it 7-3.
Ten minutes later RGC1404 won the bal at a ruck on the left and moved the ball swiftly across its back line for full-back Sean White to touch down and Connor Braid again converted, 14-3. Tonmawr closed the gap on 25 minutes with another Flanagan penalty, but at this stage the Gogs were looking comfortable. So much so that on 25 minutes they engineered almost a repeat of the second try this time with Ben Stelmaszek crossing on the right corner. Again it was converted by Connor Braid making the score 21-6 at half-time.
The second half began in a similar manner to the first with Tonmawr’s Flanagan converting a penalty. On 58 minutes, the Gogs made a break down the right and Josh Leach threw a pass to the right wing where Ben Stelmaszek caught the ball one-handed, just managed to stay the right side of the touchline, and went over for his second unconverted try, 21-9.
The Gogs then applied almost constant pressure on the Tonmawr defensive line and were reward on 65 minutes with a pushover try by debutant Jeremy Kyne, 31-9. Three minutes later he was again involved tipping on a pass to Luke Cudmore who reprised his first try by running in from 20m. Man of the match Braid converted to make it 38-9. The scoring was completed after a sweeping team move by winger Richie Hopkins. The try was unconverted making it 43-9 at the whistle.
The small crowd were treated to a superb attacking and defensive display by RGC1404 and I am sure will be sorry they won’t be seeing them at Parc Eirias again until the 16th April when a Leicester Tigers team are the visitors. Before then are two trips to South Wales, next week at Carmarthen and the week after at Pontypool, neither are easy games but after the last two weeks they will both know they are in for a fight.
Against South Wales sides in 2011 RGC1404 have scored 23 tries and conceded 12, scoring 153 points against 88. Had they been in a league that would have been 17 points in 5 matches, Premiership winning rugby?
So RGC1404 have their name back, their logo back, their new kit, an excellent winning record against top opposition – all it needs now are the crowds.
Top class rugby in North Wales has arrived – why haven’t you?
NW1 Pwllheli 0 v Llangefni 12
Teams P W D L BP Pts
Caernarfon 10 10 0 0 6 46
Mold 11 8 0 3 6 38
Llandudno 12 7 0 5 8 36
Bethesda 13 8 0 5 3 35
Nant Conwy 10 6 0 4 9 33
Ruthin 12 6 0 6 7 31
Bro Ffestiniog 11 4 0 7 4 20
Llangefni 13 4 0 9 4 20
Colwyn Bay 11 2 0 9 5 13
Pwllheli 11 2 0 9 4 12
NW2 Abergele P P Welshpool
NW2 Bangor P P Denbigh
NW2 Llanidloes 10 21 Dolgellau
NW2 Machynlleth 0 39 Bala
NW2 Newtown 14 30 COBRA
NW2 Wrexham 5 24 Rhyl
Teams P W D L BP Pts
Bala 14 11 0 3 9 53
Dolgellau 14 11 0 3 8 52
COBRA 14 10 0 4 7 47
Rhyl 14 9 1 4 7 45
Llanidloes 13 9 0 4 8 44
Abergele 14 8 1 5 5 39
Denbigh 12 7 0 5 6 34
Newtown 13 7 0 6 5 33
Wrexham 14 3 0 11 6 18
* Machynlleth 12 3 0 9 3 11
Bangor 14 0 0 14 2 2
* Welshpool 12 1 0 11 0 0
* - Denotes points deducted
Reports from Daily Post follow:
BRO Ffestiniog and Nant Conwy will contest the final of the Scottish Power North Wales Cup following Bro’s 30-28 home semi-final victory over league leaders Caernarfon on Saturday, after Nant Conwy overcame Cobra 42-15 in midweek.
Bro ran in four tries in their 30-28 win – one apiece from flanker Mark Morris, No8 Tom James, centre David Roberts and centre Barry Roberts, who added two conversions and two penalties.
It was a disappointing day for Caernarfon second row Paul Williams, who ran in three tries with outside half Kelfyn Morris adding the goal kicks.
In Division One (North) Pwllheli went down by 12-0 at home to Llangefni, all the points coming from the boot of full-back Iwan Davies with four penalties.
Bala, leaders of Division Two (North), gained a maximum points win at Machynlleth with a 39-0 win, with the back row pair of brothers Elian and Arfon Rowlands running in four tries, Elian with a hat-trick while in the backs another pair of brothers Sion and Tudor Lynch managed one try apiece.
Second-placed Dolgellau had to settle for just three points with a 21-10 win at third-placed Llanidloes, tries from No 8 Dewi Thomas, flanker Ed Williams and centre Owain Thomas.
Rhyl ran out 24-5 victors at Wrexham with two tries from scrum-half James Farrell and one for wing Paul Thelwood.
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