DOLGELLAU 9 BETHESDA 18

Fullback Gethin Long, with two late penalties and a try in injury time, won it for Bethesda - just as it looked like a brave display from Dolgellau would provide the upset of the day, if not the season.

With wins at Nant, Rhuthun and Pwllheli already under their belts, Bethesda, with former Dolgellau skipper Gerwyn Thomas playing at No 10, had Dolgellau encamped within their half for long periods in the opening exchanges.

Dolgellau defended heroically, and half an hour had passed when a penalty line-out five metres out saw Bethesda scrum half, Carwyn Williams squeeze through the narrowest of gaps to touch down out on the left.

Gethin Long’s conversion made it 0-7 to the visitors.

Dolgellau eased themselves into the match, and proved to be more than a match for second-placed visitors, and began to get the upper hand in the scrums and loose.

With five minutes of the half left, Dolgellau centre Gwion Jones made it 3-7 with a penalty from 40 metres out.

A late and high tackle on Dolgellau scum half, Lewis Jones, saw Gwion Jones reduce the deficit to a single point five minutes into a tense, entertaining and competitive second half for 6-7.

Long fluffed a kickable penalty on 10 minutes as the visitors looked increasingly nervous, before Dolgellau then deservedly went ahead after a quarter of an hour.

Bethesda prop Scott Bullock was shown a yellow card for indiscipline at the ruck, giving Gwion Jones the opportunity to make it 9-7 with his third penalty of the game.

Dolgellau full back Gareth Hughes thwarted wing Marc Jones, but the visitors were awarded a penalty, 25 metres out with less than 10 minutes remaining, and this time Gethin Long made no mistake, and Bethesda again had their noses in front at 9-10.

With less than five minutes remaining Long put over his second penalty to give them breathing space.

Dolgellau responded and they went in search of glory and a match winning try, but in injury time, they fluffed a blind side move and Bethesda No 8 Arwyn Griffith sped away upfield, and the ball was worked right for Long to score right in the right corner to seal a win for the visitors.

BRO FFESTINIOG 8 NANT CONWY 43

VISITORS Nant Conwy thoroughly deserved their win at Bro Ffestiniog last weekend, but the final scoreline was hardly a reflection of the overall match.

The home side had plenty of chances and most of the possession, but Nant were ruthless when the opportunity arose. There is no substitute for pace and Nant’s backs have it in bucket loads.

The first score came from a line-out deep inside Bro’s 22. The ball was spread out to fly half Jack Ellis, who put centre Morgan Dafydd through the tightest of gaps, before receiving the ball back and scoring the try, as well as converting.

Nant soon doubled the scoreline after winning turnover ball on the half way line. Full back Rhydian Jones showed his pace and footballing skills, kicking the ball twice, before flanker Iwan Jones dived onto the ball to score under the posts. Ellis adding the extra points.

The visitors went close once more but the ball was spilled on the try line.

The second 20 minutes of the first half was all Bro. Time and time they went close through Huw Parry, Dylan Jones, Dewi James and Dylan Daniels, but were just unable to cross the whitewash.

All this pressure finally paid off as Nant were penalised in a ruck. Fly half Edwyn Roberts’ penalty gave Bro their only points of an entertaining first half and the teams went into the interval at 3-14.

Soon after the restart Ellis extended the lead after Bro were penalised for offside, with the fly half converting from 38m.

With the hosts pressuring deep in Nant’s 22 the visitors won turnover ball once more. No 8 Carwyn Ellis made a strong run before offloading to left wing Gethin Roberts to crash over in the corner. Ellis converted again from out wide.

The bonus point try came from a line-out inside Bro’s 22. Centre Ifan Jones put fullback Rhydian Jones through for a well worked, unconverted try in the corner.

Bro continued to work their way towards the visitors’ try line, but yet another turnover ball saw the ball spread out wide, and Gethin Roberts went over for the try, which also went unconverted.

Nant kept the pressure on Bro after being awarded a penalty they chose to kick for touch. The ball was spread out to Rhydian Jones, who pounced on his own kick through a number of Bro players who were unable to clear. Ellis excellently converted the try from out wide.

Bro had the final say when rucking and mauling towards the try line. Tom James popped up to score. Dylan Daniels’ attempt at the conversion was pulled wide.