BALA and Dolgellau served up an eight-try derby thriller at Maes Gwyniad, with the hosts emerging victorious by 40-22, having hit a purple patch early in the second half.

Two quick-fire tries in as many minutes, in their immediate response to Dolgellau taking a deserved 12-15 lead eight minutes into the second half, were decisive.

It was Dolgellau who went ahead after six minutes’ play, as scrum half Jac Roberts was busy on the blind side and Gerwyn Thomas’ perfect chip ahead was gathered by centre Dylan Evans to sprint over and give the visitors a 0-5 lead.

Five minutes later, Bala responded with a long driving maul from 10 meters out, and it was hooker Garan Davies who emerged with the score. Stand-off Owain Aled put over the conversion to lead 7-5.

Stand-off Gerwyn Thomas restored Dolgellau’s lead with a penalty going into the second quarter of the match, but that lead was short-lived, as a misunderstanding in the visitors’ defence saw alert Bala open side flanker Owain Pugh take full advantage to score Bala’s second try of the afternoon, and give them a 12-8 lead.

As both sets of forwards grappled for ascendancy at the scrum, the pendulum swung one side to the other, and the half time whistle went without any addition to the score, with the match evenly poised.

Dolgellau went ahead for the third time in the match eight minutes into the second period, No 8 Rob Lewis pouncing to score from the base of a five metre scrum.

Gerwyn Thomas added the extras and Dolgellau looked good with a 12-15 lead.

Almost immediately, however, Bala took the match by scruff of the neck, hitting Dolgellau with two quick tries.

The first went to replacement hooker Endaf Jones, again following a short drive from a line out, and the second score was a peach of a try, as Bala ran from deep.

The ball was moved through many pairs of hands, and finished off in style by prop Mathew Bevan. Stand-off Owain Aled added both conversions for a 26-15 lead.

There was no come back for Dolgellau this time, and Owain Aled punished them off with two penalties for a 32-15 lead with a quarter of an hour remaining.

Dolgellau did close the gap, however, with No 8 Rob Lewis’ second try of the match, following a driving run by second row Bryn Jones, and Thomas’ conversion closed the gap to 10 points at 32-22.

Whilst the visitors had worked hard for their points, they came easier for Bala.

Owain Aled added a penalty on the half hour and winger Iwan Williams crossed for Bala’s fifth try with four minutes remaining, following some excellent probing runs by skipper Ilan Rowlands.

• Dolgellau Seconds fielded seven Youth team players in the side which beat Wrexham Thirds at the Marian on Saturday, running in five tries, with one conversion on a very heavy pitch to win 27-0.