Bethesda eyeing change in fortunes after being edged by Caernarfon
BETHESDA will be anxious to avoid a third straight defeat in Division One North when they welcome bottom side Mold to Dol Dafydd this Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm).
After beginning the season with a pair of wins, Pesda lost heavily at leaders Llandudno before being pipped 13-10 at Caernarfon last weekend.
Although the weather was awful, the pitch was in excellent condition thanks to the hard work of the Morfa groundsmen.
With both teams endeavouring to play rugby, the wind and rain also played their part and, with the Cofis facing downfield for the first half, and into the gusts, Gareth Patchett and Carwyn Roberts aimed to get the ball out wide to wingers Dylan Gwyn and Tomos Jones, the latter able to make good ground on a few occasions.
After an attacking spell, Caernarfon won a penalty which Aled Jones converted.
Within 10 minutes, the visitors were back on level terms when Gethin Long kicked a penalty, making it 3-3 at half-time.
With the wind behind the Cofis in the second stanza, the tactic was to pin their opponents back in their own half and secure good attacking ball from the ensuing set play.
Following a thumping tackle by Dafydd L Williams, No.8 Mac Jones broke through the stubborn Pesda defence and passed to Carwyn Roberts.
He then offloaded to Shaun Owen, who dived over under the posts for the first try of the match on 48 minutes, which Aled Jones improved with the boot.
Play continued to be mainly in the visitors’ half and, following another penalty awarded to the home side, Aled Jones split the sticks to make it 13-3.
This seemed to spur the visitors and the last 10 minutes of play nearly all took place within the Cofi 22.
Following some intense pressure on the home line, the visitors were awarded a converted penalty try to make it 13-10, but the Caernarfon defence held out until the end to secure the win. Richard Birch