Llangefni lose battle of packs

AFTER six straight league defeats, Llangefni will hope for a case of lucky seven when they travel to Bro Ffestiniog this Saturday.

Last weekend saw Cefni crash 22-14 at home to Bala, leaving them next-to-bottom in Division One North, with Bro a place above.

Played in wet and windy conditions, the Bala game ended up a titanic struggle between the two packs.

Bala had the better of the early exchanges, but, when they kicked loosely up to halfway, Greg Horsman gathered the ball, wrong-footed the defence and scythed through most of the opposition on his way to a superb solo try. Rhys Hughes added the extras.

The visitors replied with a wave of attacks and, after Bedwyr Williams had been carded, the Lakesiders used the penalty to set up camp in the home 22.

Cefni stopped the forward drive, but were further stretched wide out on the left. Bala were held up but, from the ensuing scrum and drive, prop Dave Yates forced himself over for the try.

Further scrum pressure saw Bala’s Ilan Rowlands cross the whitewash.

Llangefni grabbed a second try when Gethin Andrews went over from close range. Hughes’s kick made it 14-10 to the hosts at the break.

The Anglesey side controlled possession very well for the first five minutes of the second period but when Bala got hold of the ball they looked dangerous.

They stretched the hosts, leading to a second sin-bin for Cefni when Sior Grieves was carded for a high tackle.

Bala took advantage, again through their scrum. Rowlands claimed his second try when Cefni were shoved off their own ball at a scrum near their line.

Llangefni then enjoyed good pressure, resulting in a close-range penalty.

Three points with the boot seemed the best option for a 17-15 lead, but the chance was spurned and Bala survived another frantic onslaught from the home pack without conceding.

It was the turning point, as Bala broke away for an Ifan Rowlands try, converted by Osian Jones.