PWLLHELI had to work hard to beat a well-organised Bala team - to make it five wins from five in Division One North with a battling 14-8 win last weekend.

Following an incessant downpour overnight and in the morning, the weather cleared just in time for kick-off, and a good crowd turned up for this key fixture.

Despite Bala’s unexpected home defeat to Bro Ffestiniog the previous week, Pwllheli knew that they faced a real threat.

The hosts started brightly, with the backs receiving quick ball from their pack, and it took just five minutes to open the scoring.

Winning the ball from a ruck on the half way, the ball was swept right, and Bala fell off their tackles as winger Arwel Thomas went over for the first try wide out.

Nick Butterworth slotted an excellent wide angled conversion, but a penalty attempt two minutes later hit the upright.

Bala’s set scrum was the strongest, and home possession was limited from the line-outs - but although the visiting backs had a volume of quality possession they struggled to pierce Pwllheli’s defence.

Both fly half and full back Rhydian Jones kicked well to gain ground, but Pwllheli’s cover was well drilled and organised, and they were able to counter from deep.

Wing Arwel Thomas had several strong runs, but the cutting edge from the backs was not as sharp as it has been this season.

Bala then kept the ball tight and used their hefty scrum half and powerful back row to bludgeon Pwllheli. They were camped in Pwllheli’s 22 for minutes at a time, but the home side’s discipline held.

Pwllheli put in some hefty hits, with number eight Tom Parry and the diminutive Ifan Tywyn to the fore, but everyone played their part in keeping Bala out.

Pwllheli held on to a 7-0 lead at the interval, and they then took the game once again to Bala at the start of the second half.

After five minutes they won clean ruck ball on the left, and centre Kalim Kelemete held the ball up long enough for the Bala defence to overcommit their drift defence.

Seeing the gap, Kelemete ran through from the 22 to score, and the conversion from Butterworth opened up a 14-0 lead.

Bala kept their composure and they came back at Pwllheli with vigour, but the match was at stalemate until the 27th minute of the second half when they were awarded a free kick close to the try line.

They took a quick tap, and No 8 Ilan Rowlands crashed over to score their only try, much to the delight of his teammates.

Bala were on a roll and they reduced the deficit further with a penalty by full back Rhydian Jones - but Pwllheli’s response was assured as they took the game back to Bala, and the last minutes of the game saw virtually all the play in the visitors’ half.

Nonetheless Pwllheli were relieved to hear the final whistle, and it was a huge credit to both sides, their coaches and the referee that this attritional tough encounter never deteriorated into foul play.

Caernarfon are visitors to Bodegroes on Saturday in the Swalec Plate first round.

On a good weekend for Pwllheli, the Seconds beat a strengthened Dolgellau 19-12 and the Youths beat Bala 27-0 away.