BRO FFESTINIOG started the New Year off with a bonus point 29-0 win, with five unanswered tries against a stubborn Harlech side - and in the final analysis the home side were seldom troubled, and dominated the territory and possession.

Captain and No 8 Dewi James produced a man of the match performance and was at the heart of the win with two tries.

It took 15 minutes for the first points of 2016 to be scored at Cae Dolawel. The hosts were awarded a penalty, which they kicked for touch, and a clean catch and drive resulted in flanker Marc Morris going over for the unconverted try.

Minutes later, Bro Ffestiniog doubled the score, after flanker Huw Parry broke though and went very close himself. The hosts recycled quickly for No 8 James to crash over for his first in the corner.

Harlech defended well throughout the game, but they could hardly get out of their own half and any possession they gained was frustratingly kicked away.

When the two Bro Ffestiniog flankers combined well once more, this time Morris made the break, before offloading to Parry - but a forward pass with the try line beckoning meant the sides went into the break with Bro ahead 10 points to 0.

The second period was mostly played in Harlech’s half, with Bro dominating.

The Castle men continued to defend well, but were still unable to gain any momentum when they had possession.

Six minutes into the half, Bro were awarded a penalty deep in Harlech’s 22 for a deliberate knock on, and James claimed his second try with a quickly taken tap penalty, which was unconverted.

Harlech had a chance to score when they were awarded a penalty on 40m as Bro were penalised for offside, but fly half Aeron Griffiths failed to reach the posts.

The hosts secured the bonus point 10 minutes into the half, when they were awarded a penalty and choose a scrum five. The pack shoved Harlech backwards, but the visitors held the scrum to within a metre of the line, before scrum half Aron Roberts passed the ball to Iwan Cynfal, and the strong left wing crashed over, with Danial McCormick converting.

On 15 minutes Morris was penalised for a tip tackle, but referee Gwion Davies adjudged it to be only a yellow card offence and the flanker was then sin-binned.

The try of the match came soon afterwards, as Rhodri Williams intercepted a pass just inside his own half and the right wing was unstoppable, showing a clean pair of heels as he sprinted over the try line - some even wandering if he could stop, before crossing the dead ball line!

McCormick added the conversion.

With only minutes left on the clock James could still have claimed a hat-trick, but for a good try saving ankle tap from Harlech’s wing Antony Richards.