Fixture

This local derby is always on the list of key games of the season. League matches between the Clubs have gone Pwllheli's way in recent years but the winning margin has invariably been narrow. After the heavy overnight rain conditions at Y Morfa were surprisingly good and the supporters of both teams turned out in force.

Pwllheli played with the slope but against gusty wind in the first half. The visitors opened strongly.Their line out functioned effectively and the set scrum did well against their much heavier opponents.The Lleyn pack were quicker to the loose ball with the back row of Anwyl, Billington Parry and Ifan Roberts doing well.

Caernarfon were clearly highly motivated and they gradually worked themselves back into the match. Fly half Carwyn Roberts used the wind y to pin Pwllheli back. When the home side tried to use their backs Pwllheli's defence was very organised and cut off many attacks at source. Centre Dafydd Lloyd had several pots at goal before successfully landing a penalty after eighteen minutes. A subsequent kick at goal was voided by the referee as it drifted wide of the left hand post.

The tempo of the game did not diminish. One thundering break by prop forward Alwyn Trenholme almost brought Pwllheli a score but powerful tackling kept Pwllheli out. Pwllheli were then denied a try when they beat the home cover after a delicate kick ahead but they were deemed to have knocked on in the process of touching down. On thirty one minutes a Caernarfon attack faltered in midfield and they lost possession deep in Pwllheli's half. Centre John Pugh latched on to the loose ball and kicked ahead. Fellow centre won the footrace to touch down. Manu Acebo added the two points. Caernarfon stormed back and came close several times before the half time whistle went after forty one minutes of play.

Caernarfon started the seond period with gusto and were rewarded with a Dafydd LLoyd penalty to take the score to Pwllheli seven Caernarfon six. Pwllheli's backline always looked the more threatening and after a powerful break by scrum half Butterworth wing Facundo Aguirre was given space on the right. His pace took him clear of the cover and he ran in a forty metre try. Five minutes later Pwllheli scored a classic counter attack score. Fielding a wayward kick from Caernarfon Pwllheli ran the ball at the onrushing Caernarfon players. Robin Hughes Jones' line of running and pace saw him make fifty metres before passing inside to supporting centre Deio Brunelli. Acebo's conversion took the score to Pwllheli nineteen to Caerrnafon six.

The game then turned sharply in Caerrnarfon's favour when the referee  yellow carded Pwllheli captain Butterworth for bundling over his offside opposite number.He was then replaced by Osian P.Jones who was playing his first match since injuring himself pre season. The home side cut the deficit with a thirty sixth minute try by flanker Mac Jones. Pwllheli were then punished with a second yellow and Caernarfon's fly half Carwyn Roberts dashed through the Pwllheli cover on forty two minutes to score under the posts. The conversion suddenly made it a one point game

As it was Pwllheli retrieved possession from the ensuing kick off and they saw out the remaining three minutes of play without further threat. This was a match Pwllheli could have lost and they will now focus on which areas of play they can strengthen.

Pwllheli's seconds lost a tight match by seven points to three. Pwllheli Youths won away at Llangefni in the First Round of the WRU Youth Cup.

The matches do not get any easier as Pwllheli face Bethesda at Bodegroes on Saturday. Matches between the clubs have always been very competetive and sometimes a little feisty. The match at Bodegroes kicks of at 2.30. Come and support your team.