A DRAMATIC last-gasp drop goal by Mathew Parry ensured that Pwllheli edged past old adversaries Nant Conwy 21-20 to set up a place in the Conwy Land Rover North Wales Cup Final against Bala.

As Nant’s defenders put their bodies on the line, the coup de grace finally arrived in the 44th minute of the second half.

With Nan’t defensive line lying flat, a quick pass from scrum half Nick Butterworth gave outside half Mathew Parry the time he needed to slot a neat and very well-taken drop goal to snatch victory.

In freezing conditions, Pwllheli went ahead after just two minutes with a penalty by Osian Parry Jones, after Nant were adjudged to have killed the ball in a ruck.

Pwllheli then dominated possession, but they were thwarted by solid defence and a high penalty count against them.

Nant gradually came more into the game and began utilising their potent back line, but with the packs cancelling each other out and both sets of players fully committed to their cause, it needed something special to break the impasse.

Nant finally broke through the midfield on 24 minutes and prop Gwynfor Morris crashed over for a try, successfully converted by full back Arthur Lennon.

The penalty count against Pwllheli continued, and it was no surprise when Lennon increased the lead with a penalty to make it 10-3 to Nant at the interval.

A rejuvenated Pwllheli came out after the half-time break, and began edging both the line-outs and the set scrums.

Nant remained a huge threat on the counter, however, and 10 minutes into the half they attacked Pwllheli from deep.

Having breached the cover, centre Ifan Lloyd Jones received the inside pass to score a fine try, and Lennon added the kick to give his team a healthy 17-3 lead.

Pwllheli patiently went through the phases and made ground deep into the Nant 22. They recycled the ball time and again and finally hooker Kevin Morris went over under the posts, with the conversion reducing the deficit to 17-10.

Pwllheli changed both props, with ex-Nant captain Elgan Davies and Tudur Griffiths giving their pack fresh impetus.

Pwllheli had the bit between their teeth and when they were awarded a penalty, they went for goal rather than frantically chasing the game. The decision was validated as Osian Parry Jones coolly reduced the deficit by a further three points.

Both teams dug deep as the tension increased, and it was not until the 35th minute that centre Ianto Parry broke from deep, making over 30 metres, before passing to supporting left winger Robin Hughes Jones, who outpaced the despairing cover to touch down wide of the left.

The missed conversion meant that Pwllheli now had a tenuous one point lead.

Nant threw the kitchen sink at Pwllheli and they were rewarded on 40 minutes, when a penalty was given, and Lennon’s successful kick gave them a 20-18 lead.

With the clock against them, Pwllheli kicked deep, and Nant’s relieving kick gave a line-out. They took the ball cleanly, and edged to the line - and eventually Parry won it with his last-gasp drop goal.

The whistle for full-time went seconds later to confirm Pwllheli’s place in a second consecutive North Wales Cup Final .

The Conwy Land Rover Man of the Match was awarded to second row Geraint Parry, proudly watched by his son.

On Saturday, the two sides meet again in Llanrwst in a match that could have a massive impact on the destiny of the league title, before Pwllheli’s rearranged match with Dolgellau next Wednesday.