IN a high quality encounter, between two teams who are both a credit to the north Wales community rugby, it was visitors Nant Conwy who held their nerve to come through for a narrow 24-21 victory at Pwllheli in the race for the Division One North title.

The game had started off well for Pwllheli as wing Osian Parry Jones slotted a penalty goal after only two minutes of play.

Nant, however, immediately countered from a loose Pwllheli kick and Sion Pringle finished off a fluent movement which cut through the home side’s cover to score wide out. The conversion attempt missed.

The visitors varied their play with a mixture of testing fly kicks and moving the ball well between forwards and backs.

Nant extended their lead on nine minutes when a fine kick took them deep into the home twenty two. The line-out ball was Pwllheli’s, but a misinterpreted call saw Nant’s second row Ifan Pyrs gleefully gather claim possession and canter over.

Arthur Lennon’s successful conversion was the icing on the cake for the visitors.

To Pwllheli’s credit, they quickly regrouped and despite some committed tackling they fought back to score a try.

Taking the ball into Nant’s twenty two, they kept the ball tight and inched their way towards the try line. The ball came to Huw Williams, who used his strength to crash over for the try. Jones’ successful conversion cut the deficit to two points.

The home side then lost prop Alwyn Trenholme to an injury, and he was replaced by former Nant player Elgan Davies.

Pwllheli’s revival continued apace, and on 23 minutes they took the lead for the second time with a Parry Jones penalty.

With both teams giving their all, there were regular injury stoppages. Pwllheli’s flanker Harry Roberts received a cut to the head, but he was patched up to play on.

Pwllheli had an opportunity to increase their lead, but the penalty drifted wide.

Jones, however, made amends on 37 minutes as he successfully slotted a kick.

The neck and neck nature of the match continued, and on 40 minutes Arthur Lennon reduced his side’s arrears with a well taken penalty to make it 16-15 at the break.

The second period saw both sides throw the kitchen sink at each other, and Lennon restored his side’s lead with an early penalty, before giving his side a five point buffer with another kick on 21 minutes.

Both kickers had an additional opportunity to score, but both kicks were short.

Pwllheli upped a gear and after a concerted attack Elgan Davies was put in to score wide on the left. With the conversion missing, the scores were tied at 21-21.

The coup de grace then came in the 42nd minute of the second period. Nant were awarded a penalty, and Arthur Lennon held his nerve to slot the winning kick.

Pwllheli were given one last opportunity when they were awarded a penalty in their own half, and Osian Parry Jones’ kick took them into the Nant twenty two.

Their Achilles Heel on the day - their line-out - again let them down, however, and Nant stole possession and kicked the ball dead to seal a crucial away victory.

• Pwllheli’s day of woe continued as their Seconds also lost their key Division Three North clash with Holyhead 13-16 - on the last kick of the game. Pwllheli Youths lost 44-12 to Dolgellau Youths.

Pwllheli Seconds are away to Bangor on Thursday, whilst the first team has a two week break, before facing Maesteg Celtic away in the WRU Plate on 9 December.