TWO of the North’s strongest teams in the Swalec Bowl set about each other in a bruising encounter in this plum second round tie, with Llangefni just about edging it 11-17 to progress to the third round of the competition.

It was a dour contest, with neither side able to fully exploit any clear-cut openings, due to some pretty brutal defending.

Dolgellau started well and dominated the first quarter. Scrum half, Osian Morris, wing Rob Pugh and second row Bryn Jones all came close for Dolgellau, but stout defending on their own line by a stubborn Llangefni outfit kept them out.

Dolgellau had to rely on the boot of centre Gareth Hughes to give them the lead with a penalty after 15 minutes of play.

Llangefni’s first incursion to Dolgellau territory saw them score a well-worked try, with wing Ifan Hughes crossing in the right corner to make it 3-5 on 20 minutes.

The second quarter belonged to Llangefni, as they edged the set-pieces, but Dolgellau’s cast iron defending saw them through to half time without further score.

Dolgellau dominated the third quarter, but had to endure coming close on several occasions, with prop Huw Jones, and centre Dylan Evans caught on the line.

After 15 minutes, however, prop Greg Smithies put in centre Gareth Hughes and he was strong enough to break through two tackles to touch down, to give a slender 8-5 lead going into the final quarter.

The visitors struck back within three minutes, as prop Jordan Scott went over to give Llangefni a slender lead at 8-10.

Then, six minutes later, they scored their third try of the afternoon when scrum half Edward Williams crashed over the line.

Stand-off Carwyn Millburn converted and Llangefni were 8-17 ahead with less than 15 minutes of the tie remaining.

Centre Hughes gave Dolgellau a glimmer of hope with his second penalty to set up a nail-biting last 10 minutes, but despite a rousing finale, and Dolgellau giving their all, Llangefni held on to win.

SWALEC BOWL NORTH ROUND-UP

FLINT held their nerve to edge visitors Harlech out of the Swalec Bowl in a closely fought second round match.

Harlech were first to score, with a try by number 8 Sion Rees, and a conversion by second row Ewart Williams.

The visitors built on this score and they were leading 12-0 at the interval with a second try by flanker Llion Kerry, after some impressive mauling from the 22m area.

The tide changed in the second half, however, with two converted tries by Flint, one by Jamie Elder and the second by Jake Shill, both converted by Sam Parry.

Ewart Williams then converted a penalty for the visitors, to put them ahead by one point, and the match was in the balance right up until the end of the game.

Harlech, however, conceded a last-gasp penalty, which was impressively converted by Sam Parry to earn Flint a dramatic win.

Dinbych cruised into the third round with an emphatic 10-try victory at Bangor.

Whilst the hosts battled bravely to the end they had little answer to Dinbych’s attacking flair and their dangerous runners, with skipper and right wing Aidyn Jones the main protagonist as he crossed for six tries.

Kieran Bonar also crossed for a brace and Tom Wynne and Gareth Jones also went over for tries, with the kicks being supplied by Tom Evans to complete an emphatic 62-5 final scoreline.

Llanidloes marched on with a 37-17 home success against previously unbeaten Shotton Steel, with replacement fullback Tom Morgan finishing with two tries.

A first half try from fullback Matt Jones and a penalty by fly half Tom Jarman was followed by second half scores by replacement Morgan, with his brace, flanker Andrew Williams and centre James Davies, with Jarman kicking the extra points.

Benllech were beaten 65-0 by Newtown, Menai Bridge eased to an 82-18 win against Rhosllanerchrugog, and Welshpool lost 20-25 at home to Bangor University.