Pwllheli off to a flyer -
DIVISION One North champions Pwllheli began the season in style with a 50-0 home victory over a Bethesda side which gave the hosts a tougher battle than the scoreline suggests.
In difficult conditions, it was soon apparent Pesda would rely on their experienced pack.
They took the game to the hosts but whenever Pwllheli’s backs got the ball they looked threatening.
The breakthrough came in the 18th minute when Pwll won the ball from a scrum and captain and scrum-half Nick Butterworth saw the gap and dashed over to score under the posts, also adding his own conversion.
From there the visitors persisted in driving forward play but despite having the bulk of possession they lacked the required cutting edge.
Come the interval, the champions were just 7-0 ahead.
The second period opened with a try blitz by the Lleyn side.
On four minutes second row Carron Jones charged down a would-be clearance kick to score.
Three minutes later wing Robin Hughes Jones took advantage of some slick speedy passing to beat the despairing cover to touch down.
With new Kiwi fly-half Kalim Kelemete orchestrating matters it took only two further minutes for Butterworth to notch his side’s fourth and bonus point try.
Butterworth’s extras put his side 24-0 up.
The rampage continued with flanker Dafydd Anwyl being put in the clear and outpacing the defence to score try number five after only 12 minutes.
Pwllheli then brought on Harri Roberts to replace young flanker Ifan Owen, who had been outstanding.
Kelemete was brought off for the versatile Mathew Butterworth.
The changes worked as centre John Pugh soon latched on to a dropped pass to outpace the cover to score under the sticks.
Butterworth added the two points for 36-0.
Despite countless thrusts by their heavyweight pack Bethesda could not penetrate Pwllheli’s stout defence.
The hosts soaked up the pressure and on 36 minutes broke from deep.
Clever inter-passing saw them outflank Pesda’s retreating players and it was Pugh again who crashed over and supplied the conversion.
Three minutes later a classic play by Pwllheli left the opposition floundering as No8 Tom Parry scored his side’s eighth and final try.
He too converted his own touch down.
Pwllheli face a tough test this Saturday when they visit a Nant Conwy outfit which has been their toughest rival over the past two title-winning campaigns. ● Pwllheli Youths beat Bethesda Youths 10-0 in a friendly match that was hastily organised after Denbigh Youths postponed the scheduled league fixture as they were unable to raise a team.