PWLLHELI travelled to Meifod with a depleted squad, as many of the established first team players were unable to travel through work commitments, injuries and mid-winter holidays - but they came through for an important 28-12 win over Cobra.

The visitors’ bench included three youth team players, with their own fixture against Bala having been called off.

The forwards in particular struggled to establish any pattern during the first half. It was a sunny afternoon in Meifod, but the ground was very heavy and the conditions better suited the bigger Cobra pack.

After 15 minutes, home flanker Owain Morris forced his way over the Pwllheli try line. Outside half Rhodri Jones, however, failed with the conversion and was also unsuccessful with two penalty kicks.

Play resumed after half-time with the score 5-0 to the hosts, and for 10 minutes, Cobra’s tactics prevailed as they increased the score with prop Bryn Edwards’ try, which was converted by Rhodri Jones.

The visitors changed the structure of their forwards by introducing James Mortimer to the second row and reverting to a more tried and tested front row trio.

Soon, the Llyn side began to dominate the play and after 15 minutes prop Alwyn Trenholme found a way over the try line for his fist touchdown of the season. Osian Parry Jones expertly added the extras.

Three minutes later, with the home side now playing with 14 men, the feat was repeated with Trenholme again dotting down over the line, and Parry Jones convered to put the visitors ahead by 14-12.

The confidence had returned to the away side and it remained to the final whistle.

On 32 minutes, outside half John Pugh fly-hacked the ball towards the goal posts and he comfortably won the race to touch down between the posts. Parry Jones again added the extras for a 12-21 score.

Pwllheli continued to pressurise the home team and it was not until injury time that winger and another newcomer Gethin Vaughan Jones somehow managed to squeeze through and over the defending Cobra team to score the bonus earning try wide out. Parry Jones’ difficult conversion attempt was a beauty, curling inside the far post to give a final score of 12-28.

With Nant Conwy also earning a bonus point against, lowly Abergele, it is status quo at the head of the league table. Colwyn Bay travel to Bodegroes next Saturday whilst Nant travel to Mold.