DOLGELLAU and Bala fought out another nail-biting derby encounter in Division One North, and the result could have gone either way on a cold but dry afternoon, on a heavy Marian surface.

Bala just about edged it, as they scraped home with a 19-13 win to move up to second position in the League, whilst Dolgellau secured a fourth successive losing bonus point for another commendable effort against their high-flying neighbours.

It was the visitors who went ahead on seven minutes with a penalty kick by stand-off Owain Aled, after Dolgellau were penalised at a scrum 30 metres out.

After a period where Dolgellau had enjoyed the most possession and territory, they levelled matters after 20 minutes.

The Bala backs strayed off-side just inside the Dolgellau half, and centre Henri Roberts calmly put over a monster kick from two metres inside his own half.Bala fought back immediately and following a couple of penalties they worked forward from a five metre line-out and hooker Endaf Jones surged over for the try, to make the score 3-8 to the visitors.

Five minutes later, from a quickly-taken penalty from half way, winger Chris Roberts chipped ahead down the right touchline and won the race for their second try, to stretch the visiting side’s lead to 3-13.

Dolgellau responded strongly towards the end of the half, however, and with two minutes remaining they were rewarded.

Prop Greg Smithies and skipper Rhys Roberts made hard yardage deep into Bala’s red zone, and stand-off Gerwyn Thomas’ miss-pass found winger Rhys Lewis, who squeezed over for the score.

Henry Roberts made no mistake with the extra points and the half ended evenly poised, with the visitors ahead 10-13.

Bala kept Dolgellau under constant pressure in the third quarter, and Owain Aled eased them to a nine point lead with two penalties, on 14 and 25 minutes.

The second infringement saw Dolgellau No 8 Rob Lewis, harshly yellow-carded for handling at a ruck, but despite being down to 14 men, a tense last 10 minutes was guaranteed when stand-off Gerwyn Thomas slotted over a penalty, to narrow the gap to six points after Bala were penalised whilst running form their own 22.

It was Bala who finished stronger, however, and several forward drives were repelled by a determined Dolgellau defence, and a dart up the left touchline by Dolgellau centre Henri Roberts, in the last minute, was snuffed out by the visitors’ swarming defence to hold on for the win.