PWLLHELI produced a well-disciplined display as they marched into the second round of the Swalec Plate with a solid 29-15 win over Bethesda at Parc Bodegroes.

The home side took a few minutes to settle, which was not surprising given more enforced changes in the team, but from the outset both sides tried to play a wide game, with both sets of backs looking very threatening with the ball in hand.

Heavy hits were the norm in open play, while in the set-pieces Pwllheli had the edge in the scrums, with the visiting pack under pressure for most of the afternoon.

Pwllheli did well in the line-outs also, but this facet of play was well-contested.

Osian Parry Jones’ penalty shot at goal drifted wide, but 11 minutes in Pwllheli opened their account. The ball was quickly transferred right and moved along the back-line to full back John Pugh, who went over wide out.

For the next quarter of an hour, the game was nip and tuck, until Pwllheli again opened up the Bethesda defence. The home forwards gradually advanced towards the Bethesda line, before scrum half Gwilym Parry switched the ball right and winger Parry Jones crashed over.

His attempt to major his own try from wide out proved to be unsuccessful.

The visitors reacted with gusto, and with fly half Gerwyn Thomas making ground with his astute kicking they drove towards the Pwllheli line and eventually flanker Gethin Harper cleverly used the blind side to score. The fly half added a tight conversion for a narrow 10-7 lead.

The Llyn side responded decisively, and from a loose kick ahead they made ground through the centre. The backs went right and captain Tom Parry thundered over to score an unconverted try.

Pwllheli replaced centre Deio Brunelli with Gareth Williams, for his first appearance of the season, but Bethesda had the last say of the half when No 10 Thomas kicked a penalty to make it 15-10.

The second period saw Elgan Davies coming on as a replacement in the front row, and it was Pwllheli’s pack who ultimately earned the hosts their fourth try.

A fine kick turned the Bethesda defence and their defender was forced into touch. Pwllheli won clean line-out ball, drove inexorably towards the try line and it was captain Tom Parry who touched down, with Parry Jones slotting the conversion.

If the home side thought Bethesda were done they were wrong, as a slick move created an overlap for hard-working scrum half Carwyn Williams to score, to keep his side very much in contention.

On 20 minutes the experienced Geraint Parry came on, and within two minutes space was created for Parry to complete his hat-trick, and Parry Jones added the two points to put Pwllheli clear at 29-15 .

This match was certainly not for the fainthearted, but it was well-disciplined, and referee Jason Griffiths of Tycroes had a positive influence on proceedings.

This weekend the first team return to league duties away against Nant Conwy.

• Pwllheli Seconds, with several players missing, toppled previously unbeaten Denbigh Seconds 23-19, with tries by second row Owain Roberts and backs Gethin V Jones and Tudur Ellis. Captain Alan Roberts added a conversion and two penalties. Pwllheli Youths were well beaten 41-5 by Nant Conwy, with their only score being a try by Iwan Emlyn.

BRO FFESTINIOG 19 NANT CONWY 25

ON a glorious afternoon at Cae Dolawel Nant Conwy beat Bro Ffestiniog for the second time within a month, but this WRU Plate match was much closer than in the previous league encounter, which is a positive for Edwyn Roberts’ team.

Both sides had made changes, and while Bro were much heavier in the pack Nant’s backs were quicker and more clinical.

The first try came on 20 minutes from a Nant line-out inside Bro’s half, with centre and captain Ifan Jones cutting through the defence to score, but Steffan Horan failed to add the additional two points.

After a penalty for offside, Bro’s props Dylan Jones and Paul Kalafusz combined well and charged towards Nant’s young backs, but a knock-on stopped that attack.

Whilst the hosts were having much of the territory, handling errors were handing the possession back to Nant Conwy.

On the half hour mark, a scrum on their own 10 metre line saw Nant’s full back Joel Stirling show a clean pair of heels to cross over for an unconverted try.

Two minutes later Stirling was involved once more, but while he was tackled on the try line wing Gethin Roberts was on hand to gather the loose ball for a try, which was also converted by Horan.

As the match neared the half time whistle good pressure from Bro culminated in a try for scrum half Aron Roberts, who dummied a pass before scything through, and winger Gareth Davies converted.

A successful penalty kick in stoppage time from Horan gave Nant a strong lead going into the break, with the score 7-20.

From the re-start Nant crossed the try line twice, but the referee Simon Dignam called them back for prior infringements.

The visitors’ fourth try, which was unconverted, came soon after through strong running second row Gethin Vaughan.

From then on, Bro had most of the possession and using the advantage of playing down the slight slope centre Daniel Jones went over for an unconverted try.

Bro’s player-coach Edwyn Roberts scored the last points of the match when the home backs combined well, before Roberts side-stepped his way over, and he converted his own try via a drop goal.

The match ball was sponsored by D&C Jones Ltd. • Bro’s Under 19’s beat Holyhead 23-15, with a try from Ioan Evans, a try and two conversions from Callum Evans and three penalties from man of the match Elgan Hughes. Gerallt Thomas very happy with his first win as coach.