Fixture

Caernarfon RFC | 1st Team 12 - 17 Pwllheli RFC | 1st Team
Osian Jones
2 Conversion
1 Penalty
John Pugh
2 Try

Match Report
12 September 2017 / Team News

Caernarfon RFC 12 Pwllheli RFC 17

Other than one brief torrential downpour weather conditions were surprisingly good at Y Morfa for this important Division 1 North league match. Neither team required any motivation for this local derby. 
Pwllheli played with the pronounced slope in their favour while Caernarfon had a strong breeze at their backs. Caernarfon showed their intent in the first minute when a counter ruck pushed Pwllheli off the ball.The home half backs dominated early play  and the kicking game was initially to the fore. Seven minutes in Caernarfon varied their tactics and scored in a well planned move which was abetted by some disappointing Pwllheli tackling. Winning the ball on the left the home side's pack created the space for the home wing, Iolo Hughes, to cut in at an angle and scythed through the Pwllheli cover to score under the posts. The conversion was a formality. The visitors line out did not function well though their scrum was steady throughout. It was a breakaway on twenty minutes which saw Pwllheli penetrate the home defence. Flanker Tom Parry crossed the line but the pass was deemed to have been forward. It took Pwllheli barely two minutes to make amends. Some intricate close passes by the Pwllheli backs put centre John Pugh in the clear and the cover defence could not match his pace. Wing Osian Parry Jones added the conversion to equalise the score at seven points all.
The rest of the half saw the game punctuated by a series of injuries and penalties. Most of the kicks were against Pwllheli who then found it difficult to bring and consistency into their play.Half time came with no further score.
Sadly the pattern of the game changed little in the second half with constant stoppages and penalties dominating proceedings. The highlight of the game came after four minutes. Fielding a loose kick ahead Pwllheli countered from deep.Full back Danial Glyn took on and beat the upcoming Caernarfon players. He made ground before passing to John Pugh who finished off a the skillful counter attack. Osian Parry Jones slotted the wide angled conversion.
The momentum of play changed when captain Nick Butterworth was yellow carded and he was off he pitch for fully fourteen minutes. The home side took full advantage and scored their second try after a period of concerted pressure. The scorer was wing Dylan Gwyn. Sadly for Caernarfon Gwyn's conversion attempt drifted wide.The Pwllheli side dug deep and when they caught Caernarfon offisde after twenty eight minutes Parry Jones added an invaluable three penalty points.  
The balance of the game changed again with Butterworth's reintroduction. With flanker Dafydd Anwyl having his best  game for some time Pwllheli's pack began edging the fifty fifty ball. The line out had settled and the scrum half was given tidy possession . Pwllheli were then  rocked when stalwart veteran second row Geraint Parry was awarded what was called a team yellow card. Caernarfon had been given another opportunity to clinch the game but Pwllheli's composure held to see out the game.
Coaches, players and Pwllheli's supporters were very concerned as to the distorted penalty count of 17-4 against the Lleyn side. Add what was considered to be a marginal yellow card to Pwllheli's Captain and a so called team yellow card against second row Geraint Parry with less than ten minutes remaining  Pwllheli were very pleased that an experienced  referee assessor was present.
Pwllheli were delighted to come away with a win but it one they deserved. Once again Pwllheli were not at their best but the newly promoted youngsters  did well.
The First XV play Llandudno at home on Saturday. The seconds too are at home in the first round of the WRU Bowl. Their opponents are Denbigh Seconds - who also play in Division 3 North. Both matches kick off  at 2.30.
The Youths are away again this weekend as they travel to Bangor RFC.
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