DOLGELLAU secured their first win of the season by beating visitors Denbigh 20-6,with a much-improved showing after two difficult away trips at the start to their campaign.

They also secured a bonus point to move to the heady heights of seventh in the Division One North table.

The hosts only took three minutes to go ahead, with the benefit of a strong wind, as wing Rob Pugh released full-back, James Owen, who darted over to left corner.

Five minutes later, a strong run from scrum half Lewis Jones ended on the goal line, and a quick release saw left wing Rob Pugh go over the try line to make it 10-0.

After this promising start, Dinbych settled into the match and flanker Dafydd Evans was hauled down just short of the try line after half an hour. Full back Gruff Roberts was also thwarted by some desperate home defending only a minute later.

Dolgellau responded, and with less than a minute of the half remaining, stand-off Jac Roberts’ inch perfect chip to the right corner, was caught by prop Eon Williams, who sped over from five metres to make the scoreline 15-0.

It was then Dinbych’s turn to reap the benefits of the wind in the second half, but a determined Dolgellau repelled all they could throw at them, despite losing hooker Celt Lewis to a yellow card, and saving a certain score.

A heavy downpour disrupted the visiting team’s intentions, but they clawed their way back into contention with two penalty kicks from full-back Gruff Roberts.

Dolgellau finished the match strongly, and centre Gareth Hughes had a try disallowed, after he had stepped over the touchline in the in-goal area, and then second row Marius Jones was held up over the try line.

It seemed the bonus point would elude them, but in the last minute of normal time, Celt Lewis, Jac Roberts and Eon Williams combined to put in flanker Tim Jones in at the corner to secure the maximum point for the hosts.

Bro Ffestiniog 15 Cobra 7

HAVING lost both their opening two league matches Bro Ffestiniog headed into this game with some confidence, on the back of a last-gasp win over Dolgellau in the national WRU Plate.

In atrocious weather at times, both sides took time to settle and inevitably handling mistakes were made.

A turnover on the halfway line by Paul Kalafusz took Bro into their opponents’ 22, and the ball was passed through the backs for left winger Steffan Rhys to touch down, but then centre Aron Aspden failed to convert.

Cobra were much stronger in the scrums and put Bro under enormous pressure.

Four times Bro were penalised from five metre scrums and the referee Rob Jones had no choice but to award a penalty try and a yellow card for prop Martin Williams.

With five minutes left of the first period Bro pressured deep in their opponents’ half.

From a scrum five Bro went through four phases, before fly half Ian Roberts side-stepped and crashed over between the posts, with Aspden adding the extra points.

The only points of the second half was an Aspden penalty five minutes from the restart, after Cobra were penalised in a ruck. Both sides continued to play aggressively but neither could break the others’ defence.

Penalties were kicked for touch, but the final pass was dropped or turnover was ball was gained, and the chances were few and far between.