PWLLHELI came through for a 14-8 derby victory against Caernarfon, although the match was eclipsed by the opening of an improved facility at the ground as a long-term memorial to Robin Llyr Evans.

The new extension to the stand was a poignant occasion for the family and friends of Robin Llyr Evans, a former captain of the Pwllheli Youth team, and popular with his peers and coaches alike.

Tragically, he died in an accident while working in China at the age of 20, and the Club and Robin’s parents, Gareth and Menai Evans, have worked together to complete the changes, which include the installation of 40 seats and an extension to the length of the stand to over 100 feet.

The formal tribute was undertaken by Dr Dewi Roberts and witnessed by scores of family, friends and supporters, with a one minute’s silence before the kick-off.

During the match, the saturated pitch cut up badly and it made it difficult for the players of both teams, and contributed to a high number of handling errors.

Caernarfon had prepared well, and they deservedly took the lead with a sixth minute penalty from full back Aled Jones.

Pwllheli came back strongly and were rewarded with a try from prop Elgan Davies, converted by Osian Parry Jones.

Caernarfon lost a flanker via a yellow card on 30 minutes, but the home side were unable to take advantage, and it was still 7-3 to the home side at the interval.

The visitors held the ascendancy in the third quarter, in terms of territory and possession, and Pwllheli responded by making a raft of changes from the bench - and the fresh legs made a difference.

There was no score until the 30th minute when Pwllheli, for virtually the first time in the second period, took the play deep into the Caernarfon half, and were rewarded with a scrum some 30 metres out.

Pwllheli edged the set piece, and it gave scrum half Gwilym Parri the opportunity to snipe to the right. He caught the visitors’ cover off guard as he crashed through to score under the goal posts. Osian Jones’ kick gave Pwllheli a 14-3 lead.

Caernarfon then forced the home side onto the back foot, but it was a Pwllheli error in the 44th minute, via a misplaced kick, that gave them the opening for a well taken try by fly half Carwyn Roberts.

Amazingly, play continued for a further six minutes, but the homesters held out.

Pwllheli now take on Maesteg Celtic away in the WRU Plate on Saturday. The match had been postponed before Christmas because of the adverse weather.

• A much changed Pwllheli Seconds team lost heavily in their away Division Three North fixture to Machynlleth.