Fixture

Llanelli Wanderers RFC | 1st Team 20 - 29 Pwllheli RFC | 1st Team
Rhodri Lodwick
Try 1
Jonathon Jenkins
Try 1
Jonathan George
Conversion 2
Penalty 2
Robin Jones
1 Try
Osian Jones
2 Conversion
5 Penalty
Elgan Davies
1 Try

Match Report
12 December 2016 / Team News

Llaneli Wanderers RFC 20 Pwllheli RFC 29

Pwllheli endured the tortuous four hour journey , albeit through beautiful Welsh countryside , to meet the 2.00 kick off deadline for this Swalec Plate match. Conditions for the match were poor with incessant heavy drizzle on a saturated pitch. The Pwllheli squad were hugely boosted to see that their travelling supporters outnumbered the home side's backers The match had to be moved to the Wanderers' second team pitch because of technical difficulties. This meant that the last twenty minutes under the training lights which did little to penetrate the impending dusk. The Wanderers had an ideal opening to the match.Even before Pwllheli had settled they won the ball in the Pwllheli half after barely a minute of play A simple but well executed back line move created an overlap on the right and the Wanderers right wing gleefully beat the cover to touch down. An excellent touch kick by their exciting fly half Jonathan GEorge gave them a seven point lead.The score galvanised Pwllheli. From the restart they played with spirit and aggression. They kept the ball tight initially and the home side were tested but their organised defence held. The visitors kept up their momentum and on fourteen minutes Llanelli yielded a penalty for killing the ball. Osian Parry Jones' fifty metre penalty soared over the posts to cut the deficit. The tenacious Wanderers side responded well and took the score to ten to three after thirty minutes with a Jonathan George penalty when Pwllheli were deemed offside.. This Pwllheli fifteen play as a team and they gradually exerted pressure on the home side. The kick and chase game did well with Pwllheli's speedy backs giving the opposition no time on the ball. When the Wanderers tried the same tactic they found Pwllheli's back three and particularly fullback Danial Glyn up to the task. They countered at very opportunity and threatened each time they had the ball. The last ten minutes of the half saw the Lleyn team camped in the home twenty two. Time and again they tested Llanelli's defence. Something had to give and on forty two minutes it was the experienced Elgan Davies who forced himself over for a try. Osian Parry Jones' try was the last score of the half .Pwllheli led by thirteen points to ten. The weather worsened in the second half and the Wanderers had the benefit of the slope and the breeze at their backs. The home side used the elements well but they were matched at the lines out and edged in the scrums. In the loose to Pwllheli had the edge and their back row secured some vital turn over ball. Pwllheli used more of their backs early in the second period and this paid dividends. On seventeen minutes Pwll attacked on the left. Wing Robin Hughes Jones beat his opposite number and made fifty yards before off loading to the supporting Nick Butterworth. He made ground before switching the ball back to Hughes Jones who crossed over in the corner.The conversion by Parry Jones was successful and took Pwllheli into a twenty points to ten lead.. Pwllheli now looked confident with the ball in hand but during one attacking phase a long cut out pass was intercepted by the Wanderers centre Rhydian Morgan. He raced half the length of the pitch to score under the posts .The conversion was a formality.The score now showed a tenuous twenty points to seventeen lead to Pwllheli. With Pwllheli now under threat they changed their tactics and kept the ball tight. With Pwllheli's eight making ground whenever they got the ball Nick Butterworth at scrum half was able to control Pwllheli's game. Osian Parry Jones earned Pwllheli some respite with a thunderous long distance penalty to take the visitors a further three points ahead. Pwllheli were now more focussed and yet another penalty gave the visitors a crucial two score advantage . The next score came from another Jonathan George penalty for the home side but they were soon rocked by yet another long distance penalty by Osian Parry Jones.Pwllheli were under the cosh in the last ten minutes as Llanelli earned both territorial and possession advantage.Pwllheli retained their defensive shape and thwarted all the Wanderers' attacks. Twice they won the ball against the head and their back row foragers were quicker to any stray ball. The last move of the match epitomised the game with Pwllheli winning turnover ball to clear their line. This was a hard fought tight match but Pwllheli deserved to come back with the spoils. They matched the opposition in all facets of play . They also blooded youngsters into the squad and this can only be positive for the future. On Saturday Pwllheli return to the bread and butter of the season which is Division One North League rugby.The Lleyn side face yet another tough match as they travel to neighbours Caernarfon for a crunch match. Caernarfon will wish to avenge their heavy Swalec Plate defeat earlier in the season while Pwllheli are very aware of Nant's successful winning run in both cup and league. A win is very important to both sides and Pwllheli will hope that their loyal support will turn up in force on Saturday to cheer on their team.

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