A LAST-GASP try from Dolgellau winger Rob Pugh, with less than four minutes remaining, secured what could be a crucial 28-10 bonus point victory in their quest to achieve promotion into Division One North in a bruising encounter against a fired up Llangollen.

Determined Dolgellau had started the match brightly and hooker Geraint Evans had a try disallowed after 10 minutes.

Dolgellau’s growing injury problems saw the home eight dominate the set scrums, but visiting second row Carwyn Hughes set up their first try with a clever dummy, to put in flanker Iwan Evans in for the try. Full-back, Henri Roberts converted from wide out for a 7-0 lead.

Four minutes later wing Gerwyn Pugh’s inch perfect chip was gathered by centre Dylan Evans, who crossed for the score and again Henry Roberts converted, despite the stiff breeze that crossed the pitch.

Any thoughts of an easy passage were quickly dismissed as Llangollen dominated the rest of the half, with their strong forwards combining efficiently with their three quarters, resulting in a penalty from inside centre Iestyn Hughes going into the second quarter, and then a try by right winger Ashley Jones, which was converted by Hughes to close the gap to 10-14.

Dolgellau were holding on to their slender lead at the interval, but it was the visitors that struck first in the sixth minute of the second half, as Leon Brooks’ quick ball off the top of a lineout saw prop Dan Brazier take it to the line, where second row Rhys Roberts dived over for their third try. Henri Roberts’ magnificent conversion took the score on to 21-10.

As Llangollen once again began to dominate, however, Dolgellau began to lose their composure with the ball, and they also lost Leon Brooks to a shoulder injury, and the play became ever more frantic.

With four minutes to go, however, replacements Carwyn Pugh and Marius Jones made inroads towards the home posts, and as Dolgellau’s backs kept their nerve, centre Gareth Hughes put in wing Rob Pugh in the right corner to clinch the bonus point. Roberts kept his 100 per cent record with the boot to make it 28-10.