Pwllheli edge cup tie
PENRHYNDEUDRAETH kept their hold on second place in Welsh Alliance Division One with a 2-1 victory at home to Llanberis.
Tom Smith and Meilir Williams found the target for the hosts, Guto Llywelyn replying for the Darans.
Pwllheli edged a 3-2 win in a thriller at Nantlle Vale.
Mark Jones (2) and Rhodri Scott (penalty) provided the away tally, Kevin Barlow and Aaron Hughes hitting back.
Llanrug United put up a good battle at Trearddur Bay United in a 4-3 defeat.
‘Rug trailed 3-0 at one stage, but had their Anglesey hosts hanging on in the second half.
Bryn Roberts’ powerful 10th minute strike edged the islanders ahead, then on 12 Craig Moore rounded off a good run with a fine finish for 2-0.
Trearddur were well in control at this stage and on 16 minutes Ian Williams added a home third.
The visitors gave themselves hope when Jon Sadler made it 3-1 with an easy finish just before the interval.
Llanrug earned a penalty early in the second half for a foul by home keeper Bryan Roberts.
Dylan Owen’s kick was saved, but the home celebrations were short lived as in the 52nd minute Luke Phillips reacted quickest in the box to fire home and reduce the arrears.
It was now end-to-end stuff and Bay were relieved to restore their two-goal lead on 70 minutes through a Bryn Robers curling free kick from 25 yards.
Llanrug responded strongly and in the 80th minute Alan Mark Owen found the bottom corner at the second attempt.
But for some fine stops by home custodian Bryan Roberts, the visitors could have got a draw.
Y Felinheli took the spoils 3-1 at Llanllyfni in Division Two.
Callum Macdonald, Connor Japheth and Gruff John were the away marksmen, Gareth Roberts with the sole home reply.
PWLLHELI ended Nant Conwy’s two-year grip on the Conwy Land Rover North Wales Cup by beating their great rivals 21-12 at Parc Bodegroes last Saturday.
Nant edged the opening minutes and it was no surprise when fly-half Delwyn Jones gave them the lead with a penalty.
Pwllheli’s set-pieces were steady and from the outset their scrum had the nudge on the visitors.
With Nant trying to spread the ball a telegraphed pass was intercepted by Pwll’s No10 John Pugh and he raced through to score under the posts, Osian Parry Jones converting.
Pwllheli’s lead was cut to a single point on 15 minutes as Jones added his second penalty.
The home pack dominance was negated on 28 minutes when Nant declared they were unable to continue with contested scrums.
This changed the focus of the tie for the duration as set-scrums are an integral part of Pwllheli’s attacking game.
Parry Jones added two more penalties and Delwyn Jones replied for the visitors, making it 13-9 for the Lleyn men at half time.
Pwllheli began the second half much the stronger, Parry Jones adding a long-distance penalty to his collection.
Home pressure mounted and it was no surprise when Nant had a player yellow-carded on eight minutes for killing the ball.
There were several appeals for a penalty try as Pwllheli turned the screw. Pwll’s reward came on 11 minutes as stalwart second row Geraint Parry crashed over.
The conversion was missed, but the home team had an 12-point lead.
The home side then suffered a blow when centre Deio Brunelli endured what turned out to be a fractured and dislocated ankle.
Jones put over his fourth penalty for Nant, but Pwllheli responded with a series of concerted attacks.
They were camped on Nant’s line but the away defence did not concede.
The visitors raised their game and the closing stages of the match – which ran over with a long period of injury time – were quite frenetic.
Nant had another shot at goal and Parry Jones hit the post with a penalty attempt, but there was no further score.
Pwllheli play Caernarfon away in the next round.
Home wing Osian Parry Jones was deservedly awarded the Conwy Land Rover Man of the Match Bottle of Champagne, not only for his 11 points through the boot but also his allround play.
Pwllheli face another difficult task on Saturday as they travel away to Bethesda.
The following weekend ( January 14) Pwll travel to Llanishen in the last 16 of the WRU Plate.
The team bus for the South Wales trip is filling fast. To secure one of the dwindling number of seats contact Wil Martin at the club.