PWLLHELI moved to within two matches of a showpiece Swalec Plate Final at the national stadium as they held their nerve in a thrilling last-gasp win at Llanishen.

With the scoreline level at 26-26 going into the final minute of the game, Llanishen looked well set to go through, having scored more tries than their visitors.

Pwllheli, however, kept pressing and their persistence finally paid off when they were dramatically awarded a penalty, and wing Osian Parry Jones held his nerve to slot over the winning points.

The Division One North title contenders now go on to play Abercarn, of Division Two West, in a keenly-anticipated quarter-final tie at Bodegroes on 18 February.

The Llyn side had made the long journey south with a much-changed team, but they arrived at Llanishen in good time to prepare, and after all the concerns about the weather, the conditions were ideal.

The visitors took just two minutes to register their first score. Winning the ball 30 metres out, they set up a series of effective driving mauls and, with the ball being well protected, hooker and captain on the day Kevin Morris crashed over.

The try was unconverted, but from the restart Pwllheli managed the ball and patiently went through the phases, with forwards and backs supporting each other.

After seven minutes Pwllheli made an incisive break, and centre John Pugh deftly offloaded to co-centre Ianto Parry, whose power and pace took him beyond the cover to score. Wing Osian Parry Jones’ successful conversion made it 12-0.

The match became peppered by injury stoppages and frequent use of the whistle, but Llanishen adapted well and used their pack to bludgeon Pwllheli’s defence.

When Llanishen were penalised for killing the ball in a ruck, however, Osian Parry Jones duly added the three points.

Any thoughts of an easy ride were lost as Llanishen came back very strongly.

They took the ball right and Pwllheli’s defence was sucked in to counter heavier opponents. The ball was switched left, and number eight Lewis Marshall crashed over for the try, which was converted.

On 30 minutes Pwllheli then had scrum half Robin Hughes Jones yellow-carded for what was deemed to be a high tackle, and worse was to come three minutes later as prop Alwyn Ellis was also yellow-carded for entering a maul from the side.

Inevitably, Llanishen took advantage of Pwllheli’s 13 men as Lewis Marshall crossed for his second try, also converted.

To Pwllheli’s great credit they upped the tempo, and when Llanishen were forced to kill the ball in an ensuing ruck, Osian Parry Jones’ kick took the score to 18-12.

Straight from the restart it was Llanishen who had a player yellow-carded for tackling a Pwllheli player in the air, but there was no further score in the first half.

The second half saw Pwllheli on the defensive as they still had one player off.

Their scrum half returned to the fray, but Pwllheli were bemused when centre Gary Lloyd Williams became their third player to be yellow carded. He was said to have tackled without using his arms.

Due advantage was taken within three minutes as Llanishen scored their third try, and the conversion was successful.

For the first time Llanishen held the lead at 21-18, but they lost the next player to a yellow card and Pwllheli struck back.

From a set scrum 10 metres out Robin Hughes Jones saw the defence moving to cover Pwllheli’s backs, and he darted through the gap to reclaim the lead.

The drama was still not over, and when an attacking Pwllheli lost possession, Llanishen fly hacked the ball and then won the chase for the touchdown. The home team now had a lead of 26-23.

The scoreline was levelled with an Osian Parry Jones penalty after 86 minutes, but at this stage Llanishen would still have taken the game, as they had outscored their visitors by four tries to three.

Pwllheli knew that they had to score again, and as the seconds passed the visitors’ support became edgy, but the players and coachces kept their composure.

Finally, in the very last minute of the game, Pwllheli were awarded a penalty and it was ace kicker Osian Parry Jones who coolly held his nerve to slot over the kick that won the match for the visitors.

Centre John Pugh was awarded Man of the Match after the game by Llanishen.

Pwllheli now move into the last eight of the national competition, and the home draw is a just reward, having been drawn away from home in the last three rounds.

The Club once again wishes to think the 80-plus supporters who made the journey to support the team. Their commitment is very much appreciated by all at the Club.

Meanwhile, the matches do not get any easier as Pwllheli host Division One North leaders Nant Conwy at Bodegroes this Saturday. Kick off is at 2.30pm.