PWLLHELI maintained winning ways in Division One North as they stormed to a convincing 59-17 win over visiting Denbigh.

After heavy overnight rain, only a light wind and drizzle had any influence on the game, as the pitch stood up well and suited the pacy runners of both teams.

A decent crowd braved the changeable weather, and it was Denbigh who used the elements to turn Pwllheli’s defence.

The ploy misfired, however, on five minutes as Pwllheli countered from deep, cut through the centre and moved the ball right, where burly flanker Dafydd Anwyl was on hand to crash over in the corner.

The visitors drove Pwllheli back to near their twenty two, and referee Ceiron Parry awarded a penalty for offside, which was slotted by fly half Garin Roberts.

Pwllheli turn the screw

They kept up the pressure for the next five minutes, but Pwllheli inexorably turned the screw as they gradually exerted their dominance in the scrums.

It was no surprise when their second try came on 16 minutes, with centre Deio Brunelli crossing the line, and Osian Parry Jones added a wide-angled conversion.

Again Denbigh rallied, but the last quarter of the match was all Pwllheli, and it was flanker and captain Tom Parry who touched down following a forward drive.

Six minutes later full back John Pugh’s pace beat the Denbigh cover to score his side’s fourth try to secure a bonus point.

Tom Parry then added his second try as he backed up a break by his three-quarters, and all three tries were converted by Parry Jones for a 33-3 lead at the interval.

The second half started with Pwllheli regularly winning balls against the head in the scrums. They were safe on their line out and put pressure on their opposition.

Flanker Dafydd Anwyl was soon replaced by talented prospect Huw Owen, but unfortunately after 10 minutes on the pitch an injury forced him out of the game, to be replaced by Harry Roberts.

Within a minute Pwllheli had extended their lead, as fly half Danial Williams caught Denbigh out and scythed through for a try, which Parry Jones’ converted.

Pwllheli scored their seventh try when centre Ianto Parri used his guile and pace to score, and he duly converted the score.

Despite Denbigh’s best efforts, Pwllheli then added an eighth try through second row Huw Williams, and Parri converted.

The try of the game came next. Winning loose ball fully 50 metres out, Huw Williams battered through several would-be defenders, and his stamina saw him gleefully touch down for an unconverted try.

With another injury to Pwllheli’s centre, they went down to 14 players and Denbigh capitalised on their one advantage.

They utilised their pace to score tries from centre Owain Davies and fly half Garin Roberts, who converted both scoreto give some respectability to the score.

Pwllheli’s Geraint Parry will hopefully be available for their Plate match against Bethesda at Bodegroes on Saturday, but Mathew Parry’s injury is far more severe.

• Pwllheli Seconds hosted Benllech in Division Three North and won 52-5, with tries by Elgan Hughes, Bleddyn Hughes, Abner Roberts, Berwyn Jones, two by Wil Jones and two by Gethin V Jones. Captain Alan Roberts added six conversions.

At Holyhead the Youth match ended early with Pwllheli emphatically running in eight tries and slotting five conversions.

Bro Ffestiniog 12 Ruthin 25

BRO FFESTINIOG are still to win this season after Ruthin’s excellent defence proved to be the difference between the two teams.

Both sides had exchanged a few handling errors at the start of the match, but a deliberate knock-on gave Ruthin a kickable penalty.

Fly half Emyr Gwynedd took it quickly and put wing Bryn Shepered through, and he would have scored but for a try saving tackle from Bro’s Rhodri Williams.

A line-out soon after for the visitors inside Bro’s 22 was spread out, and the inside centre crossed over, with full back Dyfan Lloyd also adding the conversion.

The hosts then crossed over the whitewash, but the ball was held up and Ruthin cleared. Two yellow cards were issued, one each for both sides for high tackles.

Ruthin still continued to pressurise and they went through the phases, with prop Tom Crawford scoring in the corner, but Lloyd failed to add the extras.

Bro made it hard work for themselves and another yellow card was issued, and back chat towards the referee gave Ruthin an extra 10 metres and Lloyd duly converted the penalty kick.

The sides went into the break with the score at 0-15.

Ruthin won turnover ball after the re-start and created an overlap for Lloyd to score and convert his own try.

Bro hit back almost immediately, however, after rucking and mauling their way towards the try line, slowly gaining the metres through some excellent defensive work by the visitors.

The pressure finally paid off with hooker Tom James scoring, and fly half Daniel McCormick converting it.

With the home crowd behind them, Bro continued to gain more and more possession, but they were penalised for offside and Lloyd extended his side’s lead with a difficult penalty kick.

Again Bro Ffestiniog continued to pressurise, and they were awarded a try for second row Ewart Williams.

Bro were camped deep inside the visitors’ 22 for the remainder of the match, but they were unable to pierce through Ruthin’s defence and the match ended with the final scoreline of 12-25

The match ball was sponsored by Isallt Coffee Shop.

• Machynlleth suffered their second loss in the Division Three North when downed 25-11 at early leaders Denbigh Seconds.

Despite a patched up side, which saw them travel with 13 forwards in their 16-man squad, Machynlleth more than matched their hosts.

A key moment came after the interval when, with the game still in the balance, Machynlleth prop Rob Mercer was harshly red-carded after being adjudged to have used a flailing arm.

Mach were in the hunt at the time with a try from replacement prop Rhys Morris, and two penalties from Will Taylor, but Denbigh capitalised on their one man advantage to seal victory.

Their four tries were scored by Iwan Johnson, Tom Wynne, Rhys Johnson and Dylan Easton, with Ben Reed slotting two conversions for a 24-0 home win.