PWLLHELI’s Osian Parry Jones held his nerve to kick a last-gasp penalty and secure a hard-fought 10-8 home win over Mountain Ash, to book their place in round four of the National Plate competition.

In the last minute of the game, and trailing 7-8 in a closely-fought encounter, their pressure was finally rewarded when the visitors transgressed by killing the ball - and Parry Jones held his nerve to convert a match-winning 40 metre kick.

Despite the bitterly cold weather and frequent heavy downpours, a crowd of almost 300 came to watch the match.

The pitch held up well given the incessant rain for days prior to the match, and Pwllheli made a perfect start to the tie.

After just three minutes they broke through the visitors’ cover to release captain Tom Parry to dash 20 metres for a try under the posts, and full back Carwyn ap Myrddin then added the conversion.

Mountain Ash came back almost immediately when, using their heavyweight pack to very good effect, they made ground through the centre of the pitch.

Pwllheli dropped a driving maul and Ash’s fly half Jones scored a penalty.

The visitors were determined to keep the ball in hand and deny Pwllheli possession, and although they had a strong wind at their backs, they did not utilise it.

The tactics worked as they exerted sustained pressure on the Pwllheli defence and created space on the left for winger R Davies to breach the despairing cover and score an unconverted try wide out.

The visitors’ pack outweighed and outmuscled the home side, but Pwllheli’s heads did not drop, and they secured territorial advantage for sustained periods.

Playing conditions were difficult, and the number of scrums reflected the conditions as much of the game was an arm wrestle, and though both teams did attempt to move the ball on occasion it was not the day for Barbarian style rugby.

Mountain Ash were 8-7 ahead at the interval, and the bulk of the second period mirrored the first half as both teams made a huge effort, but rarely threatened.

As the weather worsened the game was littered with stoppages, but Pwlleli’s fitness came to the fore and the hosts more than held their own in the set pieces.

With 30 minutes of the half gone Pwllheli had a gilt-edged chance to score.

Mountain Ash’s defence was breached following quick ball from a ruck, and two passes later they were in the clear with only one man to beat. Unfortunately, the potential match winning score was lost as the final pass was deemed to be forward.

Osian Parry Jones was brought off the bench, and less than a minute later he was asked to kick for the posts when the visitors were caught offside. His attempt, however, drifted wide in a swirling wind.

The visitors then kept the ball tight and were successful in retaining possession for phase after phase. Pwllheli were frustrated, but they maintained their focus.

Finally, on 40 minutes, with Pwllheli earning scarce possession, they drove hard and set up a ruck. The visitors transgressed by killing the ball, and Parry Jones was asked to take a 40 metre kick.

He held his nerve and focus and slotted the kick, much to the delight of his team mates and most of the watching crowd.

The visitors did themselves no favours when their restart did not go the required 10 metres, but although Pwllheli were down to seven men in the pack, they managed to win the scrum to kick the ball into touch, before the final whistle went.

Pwllheli next play away at Caernarfon on 29 December in Division One North.

• Pwllheli Seconds’ valiant efforts against the bulkier and more experienced Llanilleth side were not enough to secure the win as, despite tries from Owain Williams and Iwan Davies, and a conversion and a penalty from captain Alan Roberts, they eventually went down by 26-15.