Cofis edge to first victory
CAERNARFON travel to Llandudno this Saturday looking to build on last weekend’s first win of the season in Division One North.
Having drawn their opener 12-12 at Abergele, the Cofis went one better seven days later with a narrow 18-16 success over Mold at Y Morfa.
Caernarfon started the brighter and on eight minutes a Dafydd Lloyd charge, ably supported by the forwards, saw hooker Gareth Pritchard collect and charge over from close range, Guto Pierce adding the conversion.
Mold’s enterprise eventually led to an offside call and their first three points from the boot of Jack Martin.
On the cusp of half time a 10-phase passage of play saw the Cofis yet again in the danger zone and despite lively scrum-half Gareth Patchett being hauled down just short, hooker Pritchard repeated his earlier feat by picking up, leaping over his team-mate and grounding to establish a 12-3 advantage at the break.
Mold began the second half in more determined fashion but were undone when a neat incursion by wing Iolo Hughes caused enough disarray in their ranks to concede a penalty that Pierce duly dispatched.
The visitors reverted to keeping the ball tight and began to get the measure of the Cofi scrum. A handling infringement at scrum time brought a five-metre lineout with the consequent catch and drive ending with hooker Aron Jones credited with the touchdown.
This spurred Mold on, and an uncalled for indiscretion granted them another danger zone lineout that eventually brought the same result, with Jones freeing himself to score his second try.
The Cofis tried manfully to gain parity in terms of possession and territory in order to preserve their slender lead and kept the Mold back-line on their toes throughout.
Mold flanker Chris Ellis was a constant thorn, being quick to the breakdown and apt at securing turnovers.
With the Cofis on defensive duties, a not-releasing call saw Wil Davies slot the penalty that meant Mold were ahead for the first time at 16-15.
Caernarfon rallied and after forcing an away error, Pierce slotted what ended up the match-winning penalty.
The Cofis held on heroically for the eight added minutes to record a morale-boosting victory.