There was an air of relief around Bodegroes on Saturday as finally the fixture took place following no fewer than four cancellations due to the recent winter weather. But the relief was short lived for the hosts who were put to the sword as the visitors eased through to the next round by six tries to two, where they will take on Nant Conwy in Llanrwst later on this month. There was a plethora of strong performances, but special mention must go to Dafydd Roberts in the centre berth who was a man made mountain of a battering ram, constantly creating gaps in attack, with backrow pairing of Rhys Evans and Andrew Williams who were constantly in support to put Pwllheli on the back foot. Despite the score the game was a lot closer and keenly contested affair with both sides looking to attack and both sides eager to play positive rugby.

The opening score came from a turnover deep in the Caernarfon half, where the ball was quickly recycled and passed out to wing Lance Owen who sped up the blind side to breeze over for the score. With Morris adding the extras this was a dream start for Caernarfon, who had not had a game of rugby since October last year. Pwllheli hit back strong and crossed twice in less than five minutes with scores from youngster Nick Butterworth who caught the Caernarfon defensive line napping as he darted through a gap for the score. Gethin Roberts stepped up to add the conversion and then minutes later it was Roberts who took advantage of some weak Caernarfon tackling and sped down the wing to score in the corner. A flurry of penalties for both Gethin Roberts and Kelvin Morris move the score to 15-13 to the hosts. Caernarfon regained the lead just before the break when Captain, Rhys Evans, made a decisive break deep into the Pwllheli 22.

The Captain was well supported and the ball was quickly recycled and popped up to hooker Paul Williams who forced his way over for the score. Morris stepped up to add the extras to give the Cofi’s a 20-15 lead at the break. Whilst the first have was really competitive half the second didn’t quite follow the same pattern as the Cofi’s massed up an additional 27 points whilst the hosts could only manage a single penalty. First to get onto the scoresheet was Second Row Paul Williams who turned up to support the backs. Williams came into the line with an excellent angle to wrong foot the drifting defence to crash over for the try. Morris duly added the extras. On the hour mark Morris and Butterworth exchanged penalties before the finale. In the last twelve minutes, fitness levels being tested the Cofi’s went on the rampage adding three tries in quick succession. First to cross was hooker Paul Williams who turned up on the wing to support his Rhys Evans. It was Evans who was next to cross when Gareth Patchett had been denied a try, when Referee Iwan Williams deemed that the scrum half was help up in the act of grounding the ball. From the resultant scrum 5m, Evans picked up at the base of the scrum and powered over for the score.

Tired legs were well evident when Rhys Evans again broke through some weak tackling and charged towards the line. In close support was Centre Iolo Hughes who took the pass to glide over for the final try with Morris finishing off the game with the conversion for Caernarfon to ease into the next round.

Report Courtesy of Clwb Rygbi Caernarfon.

Nant went ahead in the 1st minute of the natch by virtue of a successful penalty by Ifan. Pwllheli replied after 10 minutes in a similar manner – Gethin Robers being the scorer. Two minutes later a strong drive by the Nant pack resulted in Eryl the Hooker touching down for a try that was converted by Ifan. This was followed 4 minutes later with another successful penalty by Ifan. Nant were controlling the first half but were penalised by Roberts gain after 4 minutes. A score of 6 – 13 at half time.

Pwllheli became more forceful during the second half and Huw Williams scored a try for them after 5 minutes. Another 2 successful penalties by Roberts for Pwllheli made the score 17 – 13 after 22 minutes which remained until 80 minutes had been played. Nant withheld strong pressure from Pwllheli and then, matters changed completely during the extra time (9 and a half minutes in total allowed by the referee. Pwllheli committed 9 fouls during this extra period but 3 points would be unsufficient for Nant. At the very last moment of the game, Trystan managed to squeeze over for a try in the left hand corner to win the match for Nant. A sigh of relief for Nant and a huge disappointment for Pwllheli. Next Saturday, Nant will be playing at home against Bethesda.

Report Courtesy of Nant Conwy RFC

WHILE delighted to be flying high in third place in WRU Division One North, Llandudno coach John Davies insists things could be even better for his team. Saturday’s hard-earned result at Pwllheli was Tudno’s sixth win in nine but their three losses have only been by the narrowest of margins and were all of the late heartbreak variety.

"Just a few more points in our favour and we could be top," said Davies. "We only lost 34-27 at Caernarfon to a very late try and were only beaten by two points at Bethesda and Mold, again losing late on. "Of course I’m happy with third, but there’s still a few games to go and we’ll be aiming to finish as high as we can. "We’re struggling for numbers at the moment, we’ve got a few injuries, so to go to Pwllheli and win at the weekend was a good result."

Pwllheli started strongly at Bodegroes and after missing a penalty they grabbed a try when a quick tap from prop Aaron Owen saw him burst over the line, Gethin Roberts adding the conversion. Tudno’s massive pack ensured the visitors dominated the rest of the half. Initially the home defence held firm, but when Pwllheli’s captain and prop was yellow-carded for slowing down the ball the Seasiders pounced, wing James Gregson scoring wide out after a forward drive. The conversion was missed so the hosts led 7-5 at the interval.

Early in the second stanza Pwllheli failed with another penalty attempt but kept up the pressure and on 44 minutes centre Deio Brunelli scored their second touchdown, Roberts adding the extras to make it 14-5. Pwllheli then had a second player rightly carded for tackling an opponent without the ball. Llandudno capitalised immediately when outside-half Rhodri Carlton Jones did well to gather the ball off his bootlaces and embarked on a dynamic 70-yard run which ended with him touching down for a tremendous try. No8 Kelvin Davies added a third try for the visitors after a strong pack drive and before the end Carlton Jones landed a penalty to secure the victory.

With the North Wales Senior Academy’s match at Bedwas postponed, Llandudno benefited from the availability of star turns Carlton Jones and Kelvin Davies. However, the Seasiders also had to field players out of position, but Lewis Griffiths and Nathan Maxwell did a great job in the backs, while the back row of Josh Williams, man of the match Harrison Crowe and Kelvin Davies were outstanding. And few impressed more than veteran prop Jason Roberts, who made life hell for his foes all afternoon.

"We dominated the set pieces, the scrums and the lineouts," added a proud John Davies. "I felt we were more than worthy of the win, difficult though it was and always is at Pwllheli." Davies stressed the future of Llandudno is based very much on its youth section which has already produced top class talents like Andy Fenby (Scarlets) and Danny Barlow (Pontypool). "It’s nice to see lads I coached in the youth section now making their mark in our first team and also beyond at a higher level," said the coach. "We’re building everything through our junior section which is the future of the club."

Report Courtesy of The North Wales Weekly News

PWLLHELI took the local bragging rights in their derby match with Bro Ffestiniog, running out convincing 36-7 winners.

The win, Pwll’s first of the season, moves them above Bro in the Division One North standings by two points and leaves the Blaenau side third from bottom, just four points ahead of basement outfit Llangefni.

Conditions were ideal for rugby at Bodegroes on Saturday, with a firm pitch in fine condition. Pwllheli once again were again forced into a number of changes – both selection and positional – but it was the home side that started strongly and from the outset it was apparent that referee Gareth Edwards would attempt to allow the game to flow.Pwll camped in the visitors 22 and it was no surprise when the first score came after only five minutes as No8 Huw Williams crashed over for his fifth try of the season, with winger Gethin Roberts adding the extras.

Bro’s beefy young side came back strongly and put Pwllheli on the back foot, and could have reduced the arrears soon after, but saw a penalty effort drift just wide of the mark. On 21 minutes Pwllheli scored a back-line try that their supporters had long awaited. Winning possession in their own half, the ball was quickly transferred through three pairs of hands before winger Roberts was put clear 50 metres out and his strong run beat the cover defence to score wide out on the right. Bro were reeling when barely two minutes later another Pwllheli counter saw the visitors beaten by slick handling for second-row Carl Studt to show commendable pace to score from 40 metres. Roberts added the conversion to put Pwllheli 19-0 ahead.

Bro are a proud team and they came back strongly but Pwllheli’s defence held firm and the hosts held a comfortable interval lead.

The Llyn side started the second period well and for the first time this season they made regular line breaks with full-back David Lloyd Williams prominent. Pwllheli added to their score after only four minutes with a Roberts penalty, but stubborn Bro defence kept the home side out until the 56th minute when full-back Williams finished off a long range effort with some aplomb. With Roberts adding the conversion Pwllheli made a raft of substitutions all of whom made an impact on the game. As it was second-row Dylan Jones scored a consolation try for Bro but it was a case of too little too late, with winger Ian Ellis adding the conversion.

At the death Pwllheli scored with another try from deep through fly-half Elgan Rowlands and the Roberts conversion was the final action of the day. Pwllheli’s man of the match was diminutive flanker Studt who proved that size really isn’t everything. His reading of the game was exceptional and he was a vital link in several of Pwllheli’s scores.

Report Courtesy of The Caernarfon and Denbigh Herald

A VITAL Swalec Welsh National League Division One North victory was snatched away from Colwyn Bay at the weekend with a try deep into injury time in their clash with fellow strugglers Pwllheli.

The Bay rearguard was at its best during the early stages to repel a strong start from the hosts, and exchanged penalties in the opening quarter hour. Another penalty handed the hosts the lead, but Colwyn Bay struck back ten minutes before the break with a try, taking a four point into half time. A fractious restart saw both sides receive yellow cards, and Pwllheli missed a golden opportunity to get back in the match, failing to touch down after crossing the line.

Another penalty stretched Colwyn Bay’s lead, but a slick move from the home side saw them touch down wide on the right. Another penalty six minutes from time seemed to have secured the points for the visitors, but it was not to be, with flanker Tom Parry getting free to score two minutes into added time.

Report Courtesy of North Wales Pioneer.

With Pwllheli only having won one game this season and Ruthin having lost 3 games on the trot this was a crucial game for both sides.

Ruthin started with a revised front row with former youth player Jason Humphreys coming in as prop. The first move of the match led to a Ruthin penalty on Pwllhelis 22 which scrum half Wil Davies put over. Within 5 minutes Davies had slotted over another penalty goal and then bagged another from two attempts to put Ruthin 9-0 ahead. Play was all in the home sides half and the inclusion of Humphreys alongside good propping by Sion Owen and great play by flankers Dan Jones and Clwyd Jones led to much improved forwards play.

The home side were still conceding penalties and after half an hour a Pwllheli player was sin-binned, Ruthin opted for a scrum from the resulting penalty and centre Ben Syme steamed over for a try which Davies converted. The home side responded and their centre went over for a try putting the score at 16-5 at the break. The visitors continued to pressure and five minutes into the half wing Kyle Davies bagged Ruthins second try. At 21-5 ahead the game should have been secure but Wil Davies was sin-binned and Pwllheli turned in a furious 10 minutes scoring 3 tries, one of which was converted. At 21-19 to the visitors the game was wide open again but the blues stabilised and centre Gethin Hughes got their third try. Ruthin were back on top and after a stonking kick into the home sides half by full back Shay Tudor the home side conceded another penalty which Davies slotted over, Tudor himself then furthered the score with a penalty goal from the half way line.

Just before full time Wil Davies nipped out from a Ruthin drive to the Pwllheli line and scored the bonus point try which he then converted bringing his personal tally to 21 points.

Just before full time tempers flaired resulting in two players from both sides leaving the field. The whistle blew at 39-19 to Ruthin after an entertaining game.

Report Courtesy of Ruthin Rugby Club.

WITHOUT a shadow of a doubt, this was a very important win in the quest to ensure Division One North rugby at Cae Smyrna next season, writes Dafydd Lloyd. The victory was based on an excellent all- round defensive performance, coupled with another superb display by the forwards. The scrum was dominant over 80 minutes, and rescued a very perilous situation on the hour when the Pwllheli attacking scrum was shunted backwards for 15-20 metres. The driving maul also went very well, tiring the home side’s pack and gaining large chunks of territory.

However, it was the pick and go from the pack which effectively killed off the challenge from Pwllheli. The home side were penalised time after time for not rolling away, not releasing the tackled player or on occasions just entering the breakdowns from the side. Iwan Davies duly obliged with the points with four excellent kicks on 23, 40, 46 and 65 minutes. Llangefni’s hopes of playing a little more expansively were thwarted by an injury to scrum-half Robart Evans on the 20-minute mark, and constant infringing from the home side at the breakdowns. The surprise was that only one yellow card was issued to Pwllheli and that not until the 46th minute.

On a day when all 19 Llangefni players did their work effectively, choosing the man of the match was difficult. However, for his massive work rate, high tackle count and countless line breaking carries, this reporter’s accolade goes to flanker Huw Davies.

Cefni’s last two games in their bid for the great escape are against fellow strugglers Colwyn Bay on March 26 and finally the return match with Pwllheli on April 9.

Report Courtesy of Holyhead and Anglesey Mail.

PESDA put Pwllheli to the sword after last week’s excellent victory over league leaders Caernarfon.

However, it was hardly plain sailing for the visitors against a side fighting to avoid relegation. The game was only a few minutes old when fullback Gethin Roberts scored a penalty to give Pwllheli a 3-0 lead. There followed a series of strange decisions by the referee involving scrums on the Pwllheli line. He awarded Bethesda a penalty try which Carwyn Williams converted to after 12minutes to leave the score 3-7.

A fine Dylan Owen take in a lineout led to number eight Dylan Williams going over and again Carwyn Williams scored the extras to make the score 3-14 after 25minutes.

Pwllheli rallied in the second half, and winger Thomas Henry touched down after 45 minutes. Pwllheli capitalised after Richard Moore was sin-binned on the hour with a try from number eight Huw Williams.

However, Pesda’s forward took control, and Gavin Owen touched down after 70 minutes to make it 13-19. Pwllheli would not give in though, and fullback Gethin Roberts kept them in the game with 75th minute penalty to make it 16-19.

Pwllheli flanker Dafydd Anwyl was sin–binned, and with the final move of the game, fly half Gareth Wyn burst through to give Bethesda a bonus point try. Carwyn Williams polished off the conversion.

Report Courtesy of The North Wales Chronicle.

Injuries and work commitments meant Mold took a severely depleted squad to Pwllheli. A total of 11 changes were made from the previous week and credit must go to a number of players who were forced to play out of position, such as centre A.Green who put in a fine performance on the flank, winger G.Evans who reverted to his old position of hooker and flanker S.Holmes finding himself in the unusual position of second row. Mold were further hit when no.8 C.Lewis failed a fitness test and flanker C.Ellis injured his hamstring in the warm up both forced to take their place amongst the replacements. On a positive note duo L.Gill and J.Shirley returned at scrum half and prop respectively.

Mold kicked off playing away from the clubhouse in the first half and immediately applied pressure on their hosts. This forced a knock on by the Pwllheli second row and it was prop A.Jones who reacted quickest taking the play on. The ball was transferred quickly between forwards and backs and Mold were punching holes in the hosts defence. Pwllheli's backs were caught off-side at a ruck and this provided centre S.Quinton an early opportunity to give his side the lead which he took making the score 0-3.

It was now Pwllheli who enjoyed a period of possession and it was clear from the early exchanges that they would be looking to play a tight game based around their half-backs. They were finding holes in the Mold defence but good scramble defence thwarted any scoring opportunities. The home team then experienced a moment of ill-discipline when their winger threw a punch off the ball on his opposite number an act the referee saw fit to punish with a yellow game. This set-back did not affect Pwllheli's tight game plan and they continued to apply pressure on their visitors.

Mold second row N.Shirley was forced to leave the field with a neck injury and this meant injured flanker C.Ellis took to the field and open-side G.Millington played out of position at second row. Mold were dealing well with the changes that were forced upon them and were showing their attacking capabilities from deep with fly-half O.Jenner and centre S.Quinton proving threats. One such break from Quinton created an opportunity for hooker G.Evans who had a footrace against the cover defence who managed to pull him down just short. Mold did manage to reward their pressure with points with Quinton knocking over another penalty taking the score to 0-6.

The home side were not without their attacking moments too but both teams were suffering from a lack of accuracy and patience in attack. With the clock ticking down Mold conceded a penalty on the half-way line and with enough time to go for a lineout their fly-half sent a kick into the 22. Pwllheli scored their first points of the half with the last play when from a short lineout they sent their stocky inside straight into the Mold defence. Two poor tackle attempts allowed the try to be scored under the posts which was converted.

Half Time: Pwllheli 7 – 6 Mold.

Play opened up in the second half and there were opportunities for both teams to show their attacking intent. Mold were the first to score when the reliable boot of Quinton added a penalty from deep to regain the lead 7-9. The visitors then thought they had extended their lead when after breaks from firstly hooker G.Evans and then fly-half O.Jenner had taken play deep into the home 22. Quick ball was passed out wide with left wing E.Hughes providing the final pass to opposite wing K.McCombe who grounded the ball. However the try was disallowed as the referee saw a foot in touch and awarded the home side a lineout on the five-metre.

As the game entered its final moments Pwllheli came more and more into the game against a team who were becoming depleted with injuries. Strong and committed defence was holding off any attacks and it looked as though Mold would come away with a narrow victory. However with play inside the visitors 22 Mold were continuing to defend and from a subsequent ruck the referee harshly penalised a player for not rolling away when he became trapped. This gifted Pwllheli's replacement fly-half a simple penalty kick in front of the posts which he took making the score 10-9.

There was just enough time to restart the game and Mold turned the ball over straight away. With possession just inside the Pwllheli half Mold's centre knocked the ball on. From the resulting scrum Pwllheli kicked the ball straight into touch to signal the end of the game to the delight of the home supporters.

Full Time: Pwllheli 10 – 9 Mold.

Report Courtesy of Mold RFC

Pwllheli scored first with a penalty kick by Gethin Roberts after 5 minutes play before Sion Jones pushed his way through three attempted tackles to touch down for a try.

Just on the stroke of half time, Ifan, playing at Centre broke the defensive line to score a try on the left. This made a half time score of 10 – 3.Seven minutes into the second half, Pep scored a try that he converted himself. Five minutes later, the Nant pack drove over the Pwllheli line with Carwyn E touching down for a try (a try bonus point achieved) that his brother, Pep converted. This was Nant’s last score.

Pwllheli came back strongly with tries from Dylan Llyr and two by David Lloyd Williams, the first of the three converted by Dylan himself and the last by Gethin Roberts to make a final score of 24 – 22. This was a match with several handling errors by both sides on a bone hard pitch due to the recent sunny spell of weather.

Report Courtesy of Nant Conwy RFC