BALA proved to be formidable opponents as they pushed league leaders Pwllheli all the way in their Division One North encounter, before finally succumbing to a last minute penalty by Osian Parry Jones.

Despite the cold and blustery weather conditions, a large crowd turned out to watch this key match - and the numbers were swollen by the many who had turned up to watch Pwllheli’s Under 8s and 10s take on their Bala counterparts.

Bala were far quicker off the blocks and went on to dominate much of the first half, taking the lead after only two minutes with a penalty by fly half Owain Aled.

The visitors played a quick off-loading game, and it was very effective as only stout defending kept the visitors at bay.

Pwllheli were rocked after 14 minutes as they lost key back rower Tom Parry through what appeared a nasty injury. Unfortunately, he had suffered ligament damage and a broken ankle, and the Club has wished him an early and full recovery.

Once play resumed, Bala kept up their momentum as their strong, agile forwards provided their speedy back line with quick quality possession, to stretch Pwllheli’s composure and defensive cohesion.

Pwllheli ultimately yielded a penalty on 19 minutes and Owain Aled duly obliged by slotting over a second successful kick.

With Pwllheli’s line-out being adversely impacted by the loss of Tom Parry, the hosts struggled to get back in to the game.

Bala maintained their strangle-hold, and were duly rewarded on 22 minutes with a try from their busy No 6 Owain Pugh, but the conversion attempt drifted wide.

Pwllheli’s cohesion was tested as Bala rampaged at the rucks, and several attacks were only thwarted by last-ditch tacking, but on 39 minutes their hooker Garin Davies finished off a concerted attack. Crucially, the conversion attempt again missed.

Pwllheli dug deep and in the last seconds of the half they were able to retain possession. They made ground and when Bala were penalised for dropping a driving maul, Osian Parry Jones kicked a vital penalty goal in the last play of the half.

Trailing 3-16, Pwllheli’s half-time team talk must have worked as they came out much stronger in the second period. Their line-out woes were corrected in the main, and the set scrum also did well, and Pwllheli now posed a greater threat.

With the wind at their backs in the second half they took the game to Bala, and although their defence was resolute, Pwllheli kept their composure and they made the breakthrough after 14 minutes.

After going through 12 phases, space was created for right wing Parry Jones to crash over, and he added the conversion to make the score 16-10 in Bala’s favour.

From the restart Pwllheli reasserted their pressure and as Bala’s defence became more frenetic it became inevitable that the referee would have to respond. Bala’s second row was shown a yellow card more as a general response to the frequent killing of the ball, rather his individual offence.

The home side maintained their discipline and focus, and kept the ball tight, and after a series of attacking moves they were finally reward with a penalty try.

With Pwllheli now leading - by 17-16 - for the first time in the match Bala had to respond, and that was just what they did.

They attacked on Pwllheli’s left and when the hosts conceded a penalty with five minutes to go, fly half Owain Aled slotted the kick to give his team the lead.

Pwllheli now had to manage the game, and for the two minutes before the end of the match they pressed Bala into conceding a penalty some 45 metres out. The most relaxed player at Bodegroes was Osian Parry Jones, and his strike soared over the posts to secure a hard-fought victory.

On Saturday, Pwllheli are away to Mold. The coach leaves the club at 11.15am.