North and Mid Wales Issue 53: RUGBY June 4, 2016 This Publication for a Speedy Return Back Amongst the Big Boys
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North and Mid Wales Issue 53: RUGBY June 4, 2016 this publication for a speedy return back amongst the big boys. North & Mid Wales Pwllheli, what a finish! Needing five bonus point wins all away from home to secure the title. As each game went by with the needed bonus point, the pressure on those young Pwllheli boys must have been tremendous. I watched their final game at RUGBY Llandudno and once again, their never-say-die attitude saw them through and congratulations on a magnifiicent season. Welcome to the last issue of the 2015-16 season. Colwyn Bay, with the title in the bag, could watch like the rest of us the battle royale between Bro Ffestiniog and Shotton as they Thanks to all you subscribers for your patience whlle I put this fought for the treasured second spot and promotion to DIvision last bumper issue together. It’s been a learning curve for me this One. Congratulations to both sides on giving us another nail-bit- NEWTOWN, BUILTH WELLS, season and I very often thought that I’d bitten off far more than ing climax to the season. WELSHPOOL, LLANIDLOES I can chew with attempting to produce a magazine in my spare time away from my proper job. The last few weeks in May (remember when we had finished the season at the end of April?) was one Finals Extravaganza after However, the response from everybody, be it clubs, subscriberrs, another and what a pleasure it was to travel around and take in rugby folk, has been fantastic and the reports, pictures, news the North Wales Finals, the Mid Wales Finals, the Youth Finals items have been piling in which makes my life a whole lot easier. and the Clwyd Finals, all fought out with 100% enthusiasm, com- Saying that, I would like to remind all the clubs that this magazine mitment and sportsmanship. A credit to the game the lot of you. is your magazine, please continue to send in all your contributions amd share your news with the North and Mid Wales rugby folk. And so, a bit of a break... you’re kidding surely! What a season it’s been and this latest issue only goes a small I head off to New Zealand on 8th June and will be reporting back way in showing all that is good in the game we love in our vast from the three tests and the game against Waikato with a blog region. on both the Oval Zone and North Wales RUC websites. I’m not a journalist so be kind with your comments if you get to read the What drama in the final weeks as we watched the progress of blog and apologies in advance for going on a bit should we get a RGC in the Championship, Pwllheli in Division One North and Bro win over there... Ffestiniog. as they strove for that final promotion place from Divi- sion Two North back in to the elite of Division One. The tension Thanks for all your kinds words and support during last season was unbelievable and just what every neutral (if there is such a and see you in August when the friendlies start.. person) could have wished for. To RGC, heartfelt congratulations on the promotion, it was a Gary white-knuckle ride but you got there. The next chapter starts in Email: [email protected] September (actually only a few short weeks away) and what a Telephone: 07713 514 375 season in prospect. www.ovalzone.co.uk I do feel for Pontypool, missing out on promotion to the Premier- ship, but the way in which they have accepted this with such Gary Williams, Wylfa, Westwood Park, Welshpool, Powys SY21 7QP grace and professionalism is a lesson to us all. Best wishes from LIKE TO ADVERTISE? - PLEASE RING 07713 514 375 2nd April, 2016 - North Wales Division One 2nd April, 2016 - North Wales Division One 2nd April, 2016 - North Wales Division One 2nd April, 2016 - North Wales Division Two Llangefni 0 v Llandudno 8 COBRA 24 v Bala 3 Nant Conwy 45 v Abergele 23 Wrexham 0 v Colwyn Bay 45 Following match report kindly supplied by Colwyn Bay RFC. Following report kindly supplied by Llandudno RFC. Following report kindly supplied by Abergele RFC. Wrexham routed by bristling Bay This match was played on a pitch that was very nearly unplayable, and rain The sizeable crowd was treated to a highly entertaining match with 10 tries, a throughout increased it to a mud bath which did not suit Dudno”s running game. result of some enterprising rugby from both sides, the shame being for Abergele, After a log lay off Colwyn Bay were the visitors to Wrexham. Regard- their tally for the afternoon was just three of those tries. less of the recent weather conditions the the pitch was surprisingly firm Ryan Pike opened their scoring with a converted penalty, after they had put early under foot and conditions were good for running and exciting rugby. pressure on the home defence. Gele came out of the blocks far quicker than their hosts taking an early 10 point lead thanks to a penalty from Owain Davies and a determined try from Richie From outset Colwyn Bay dominated the game with Wrexham struggling Other than in the set scrums, Dudno held the upper hand throughout the match, Williams who was on hand to finish a well worked try by the Gele backs, Owain with the power of forwards and pacey backs. Within 4 mins Colwyn but unfortunately due to the pitch conditions their back division were unable to Davies added the extras. Bay was awarded a penalty which was well struck by Pat Atkinson & create any running rugby. provided him with his first of six successful kicks & got the Bay off the Nant were not to be denied and came back with 2 tries to bring the scores level, mark. Endless pressure, forward determination and excellent skills by The first half was fairly evenly contested,with both sets of forwards using pick both sides competed for every scrap with neither set of forwards managing to the backs saw Colwyn Bay continue to dominate throughout the first and drive from rucks and mauls to gain ground into the opposition half of play, dominate although the home side managed to get the ball away more quickly half & allowed the Bay to scorn several try scoring opportunities but still and it was Dudno at half time held a three point lead. from the contact area, giving their backs plenty of opportunity to probe the Gele go into the halftime break at 30 - 0 ahead. This also despite a red card defence. for open-side Lloyd Jones on the 31 minute - judged by the ref to have The second half saw Dudno take more control of proceedings, using their pack committed a dump tackle. First half try scorers were No.8 Sam Ryan to take them forward with pick and drive, with second row Johnnie Stokes being Gele again took the lead just before half time a good period of phase play allowed & Atkinson, 2. very prominent in both attack and defence, which earned him the Man of the the backs to spread the ball, a rare missed tackle in the centre allowed Gele to Match Award. Yn dilyn eu llwyddiant yn cyrraedd Dylai hyn fod yn rhybudd i’r Bala am break through and score close to the posts Davies again obliged. Wrexham had the advantage of the slope in the second half but for ffeinal y gwpan, mae’r Bala wedi dactegau COBRA ar gyfer y gêm ond most of it there was much of the same with the home side defending in Gefni other than winning the set scrums, did not threaten the Dudno try line at gorffwys ar eu rhwyfau yn y gynghrair yn anffodus gwelwyd y dacl gyntaf Gele can look back at the third quarter as the period the matched slipped away, their own 22m. any time during the match, and as the match reached the closing stages, Dudno ac wedi dioddef ambell golled. Doedd yn cael ei thorri’n aml a’r bêl yn cael Nant upped the pace and through a lack of concentration by the visitors and the were camped firmly inside of the Gefni twenty metre area, and eventually they pethau fawr gwahanol y Sadwrn ei hailgylchu drwy gydol yr hanner ability to turn a half chance into a try saw the home side cross for a further 3 Colwyn Bay scored 3 more tries on 49 minutes by Connah Harding, breached the home line defence, with an unconverted try by Bobbie Lee Davies, dwytha’, ‘doedd dim tân yn eu boliau cyntaf wrth i hogie COBRA ennill tries one of which was converted, the match was slipping away from Gele but Dan Lycett on 54 & finally blind-side flanker, man of the match & match which secured a very important away league win. nac egni yn eu coesau ac mi fyddai tir da a sgorio tri chais, er eu bod dan they kept up the pressure at every opportunity, tapping and going when penalties day Captain John Astbury on 59 minutes. Harding’s was an excellent rhywun yn meddwl eu bod wedi bwysau gan sgrym cryf Y Bala. 19-3 were awarded but were rewarded with only one further try by Richie Williams in score which saw him receive the ball through the hands some 45 me- ymlâdd ar ôl cerdded dros y Berwyn ar yr hanner. answer to a further two from Nant.