DOLGELLAU are through to the fifth round draw of the Welsh National Bowl - and are the only North Wales side to do so - after a battling 24-7 win over a very competent Bryncethin side.

The Meirionnydd men overcame a rocky 30 minute period each side of the break, where it looked as if the visitors might overcome a slim, three point advantage, but Dolgellau held their nerve to book a place in the last 16.

Dolgellau elected to play into a strong breeze, and torrential rain, as the match got underway, but their forwards managed to get the upper hand immediately.

Hooker Celt Lewis created a scoring opportunity for prop Greg Smithies to be driven over for the opening try after only three minutes.

Bryncethin stand-off Lloyd Bradley then spurned two kickable penalty attempts, before Dolgellau went further ahead on 23 minutes.

A clean catch by No 8 Dewi Thomas at a line-out resulted in a 20 metre drive, and scrum half Lewis Jones spotted a gap in the visiting defence to dart over from 5 metres out to make it 10-0.

Straight from the re-start, however, the ball squirted loose towards Dolgellau’s left hand corner flag. The scrambling try-saving cover from Dolgellau stand-off Jac Roberts was hounded by the visiting pack, and ultimately penalised for not releasing, and he was yellow-carded.

From the resulting penalty Bryncethin scrum half, Cai Bradley, lofted a perfect cross field kick, which was pounced upon by full-back, Shane Howells to score on the right. Stand-off, Lloyd Bradley converted for 10-7.

Dolgellau lost both flankers Iwan Pugh and Dylan Llewelyn and centre Carwyn Pugh to injuries, as the youthful visitors were growing in confidence, which they carried into the second period.

With the wind in their favour Dolgellau were unable to build on their slender lead, despite Marius Jones, and wing Rhys Lewis being hauled down on the try line.

Wing James Owen’s interception on 10 minutes saw him trip just short of the line.

When Dolgellau centre Henri Roberts saw yellow for a loose tackle 15 minutes in, the visitors’ backs and forwards were combining well in blustery conditions, as Lloyd Bradley came close.

Dolgellau weathered the storm, however, and 35 nervous second half minutes had elapsed when Dolgellau scrum half Lewis Jones broke from a five metre scrum.

Their forwards combined to put skipper Rhys Roberts in for the try, that Henri Roberts converted to give the hosts breathing space at 17-7.

Dolgellau had come good, and scored a deserved fourth try five minutes into injury time, but not before losing replacement flanker Cellan Evans to a shoulder injury.

Scrum half Lewis Jones was the creator once again, along with No 8 Dewi Thomas’ perfect timed pass to Rhys Roberts to barge over for his second try of the game.

Henri Roberts added the extras to seal a great win for the Meirionnydd side.

WRU National Bowl Round Four Results: Dolgellau 24 Bryncethin 7; Teirw Nant 6 Aberaeron 30; Penygraig 6 COBRA 5; Pwllheli 2nds 15 Llanhilleth 26; Wrexham 19 Bridgend Sports 25. WRU National Plate Round Three: Llandudno 23 Blaenavon 6; Pwllheli 10 Mountain Ash 8.