BALA continued winning ways in Division One North as they hit back from trailing 21-12 at the interval to record a thrilling 22-21 triumph away at Pwllheli.

The win boosted Bala’s hopes of achieving a top-three finish this season, and dented their hosts’ title ambitions as they slipped to back-to-back league defeats.

In surprisingly good conditions at Bodgroes, the pitch was a little greasy and there was a slight breeze, but the snow and ice had thankfully kept away.

It was the visitors who started the strongest, and varied their play, and they were clearly intent on playing fast rugby.

This paid dividends when Ilan Aled scored the first try after just seven minutes, after his centre partner Owain Aled took a quick tap penalty to set him up. The conversion attempt missed the posts.

Pwllheli almost made an immediate riposte as they created a clear opening, but a poor last pass stopped their attack.

The hosts gradually asserted themselves, and they scored a deserved try on 20 minutes when centre Ianto Parri crashed through several would-be tacklers to score, and winger Osian Parry Jones confidently slotted the conversion.

Three minutes later Bala had a player yellow carded for a high tackle, and determined Pwllheli took full advantage.

They pressed on the Bala defence, earning territorial domination, and on 29 minutes scrum half Nick Butterworth squeezed past Bala’s back row to score, with Parry Jones adding the two points.

Just two minutes later, Pwllheli won quick ruck ball, and they broke the cover to put captain Tom Parry in the clear, and his try was converted by Parry Jones.

To their credit, Bala, now back up to 15 players, took the game to Pwllheli and some frantic home defence culminated in lock Williams rightly being carded for intercepting a dangerous pass one handed and knocking the ball forward.

Pwllheli were now looking under the cosh, and the pressure mounted as their open side flanker was yellow-carded for supposedly being persistently offside.

Again the Llyn side’s defensive organisation held, but in the last moments of the half Bala moved the ball quickly along their backline and Miall Roberts crossed the whitewash before half-time.

The home crowd adjacent to where the try had been scored were incensed, however, claiming that it was held up.

Despite the approach of the Pwllheli captain, the score stood and salt was rubbed into the wound when Bala slotted an excellent wide out conversion to make it 21-12 at the half-time interval.

The second half opened badly for Pwllheli, and within a minute they had a player yellow carded, seemingly for a high tackle, and this left them with 12 players and no recognised second row.

Bala opted to kick to the corner and from the ensuing line-out, they drove a maul over the line, with hooker Endaf Jones gaining the touch down to reduce the visitors’ deficit to only four points.

Pwllheli’s spirit brought them back into the game, and they could have increased the lead, but a penalty shot drifted wide.

With carded players returning, Pwllheli gained the edge, and they came close several times - but Bala’s defence held.

When a speculative Pwllheli pass was intercepted in their own 22, Bala went almost the length of the pitch before they were tackled and the threat was halted.

Pwllheli were disrupted again as talisman Nicholas Butterworth and a Bala player were carded for coming to blows.

The visitors changed their tactics and kept the ball tight, and prop Garan Roberts squeezed through for a try in the far left corner, to give them a 22-21 lead.

Pwllheli did their utmost to turn the tables, but Bala held on for a notable result.

One of the form teams in Division One North, the Maes Gwyniad men have made it nine wins on the bounce, and they will look to maintain momentum when they resume league action at home to leaders Llandudno on 16 February.

It is a long time since Pwllheli lost two consecutive league matches - and having lost to Penallta in the WRU Plate they have lost three of their last four games.

They know they have the talent to have a say in this season’s Division One North title race, and their next league match is away to Bro Ffestiniog on 16 February.

• Pwllheli Seconds earned a bonus point 26-12 win over visitors Rhos in their Division Three North encounter, with their much-changed side scoring tries through Tudur Ellis, Gareth Roberts, Jac Jones and Rhys Jones. Ilan Jones slotted three conversions. Referee Carwyn Lewis managed the game well.