PWLLHELI were brought back down to earth after their Swalec Plate triumph as Division One North title rivals Nant Conwy notched a crucial 28-15 win at Bodegroes.

After 10 straight league wins, Pwllheli’s superb run was finally ended, and the title race now looks set to go to the wire.

On beautiful winter’s day, with the sun shining and good playing conditions, two very talented sides had provided the expectation of a feast of high quality rugby.

After work by the Nant pack, and quick ball distributed by the backs, the visitors were ahead by five points within less than two minutes when Jack Moriarty crossed over the try line in the corner of the field.

Eight minutes in, Pwllheli were penalised for a high tackle and Delwyn Jones extended the lead with a penalty kick.

Two minutes later, the home side were awarded a penalty for a similar offence, and Osian Parry Jones converted successfully to narrow the deficit to five points.

Both teams attacked and counter attacked with ferocity and on the 26th minute mark it was the Pwllheli defence that was breached following excellent work by the Nant pack to release Jack Moriarty, who sped down the left wing, leaving a trail of defenders behind him to score his and Nant Conwy’s second try of the afternoon. A successful conversion brought Nant’s score to fifteen points.

The hosts hit back within minutes of half time when, following an unenforced error by Nant, Pwllheli’s forwards capitalised on the mistake and scored their first try of the day through Osian Parry Jones, to make the half time score 15-8.

Soon after the restart a successful penalty kick by Jones, following another high tackle, extended their lead to 10 points.

Five minutes later the Pwllheli forwards drove over the Nant try line for Dafydd Anwyl to score their second try, to bring them back within three points of Nant.

With all to gain and nothing to lose, both teams attacked, defended and counter attacked as if their lives depended on it.

Eighteen minutes in, Pwllheli’s hearts were broken when the Nant captain, Carwyn Ellis scored a brilliant individual try under the Pwllheli goal posts. With the successful conversion bringing Nant’s total of points to 28, the game became more open, and it was to Nant’s advantage.

A number of Nant scoring opportunities were thwarted either by last minute defending or unforced errors as the visitors notched up a crucial away triumph.