Pwllheli up for the Plate
PWLLHELI tuned up for their last 16 WRU Plate trip to Llanishen this Saturday with a bonus point victory away to Bethesda in Division One North.
The game ended 20-3 to the Lleyn side, who remain three points behind leaders Nant Conwy with a game in hand.
Pwll will defend their 100 per cent record in all competitions this season when they travel to Division Two East Central side Llanishen for a place in the quarter-finals.
Last Saturday saw the Lleyn men visit Pesda with a much changed side, with only three of the backs who featured in the North Wales Cup win against Nant Conwy the previous weekend on duty.
From the outset it was apparent that both teams would ask for no quarter and tackles came in fast and furious.
The young Pwllheli side adjusted well and although there were handling errors the visiting 15 played as a team.
The first try came from a usual source for Pwllheli.
Eighteen minutes in they took the ball into Bethesda’s 22.
Rather than opening up they kept the ball tight.
Organised Bethesda defending kept them at bay but Pwllheli continued to recycle the ball.
On the 10th foray they managed to pierce the cover for Pwllheli’s No 8 Tom Parry to claim the try.
The score did not subdue the home team. They kicked effectively to pin Pwllheli back in their own 22 and launched attack after attack but made no headway.
After being camped in the Pwllheli red zone for five minutes their patience deserted them and they opted for a drop goal to cut the deficit to 5-3.
Pwllheli gradually forced Bethesda back and on 27 minutes were rewarded with yet another pushover try through flanker Harry Roberts, making it 10-3 at half time.
The second half in many ways mirrored the first. It was an arm wrestle with the players storming into each other.
Prop Alwyn Trenholme had his best outing for many a year and new centre Gary Lloyd Williams can be proud of his efforts.
Twenty minutes in Pwllheli scored their third try.
Scrum-half Robin Hughes Jones capitalised on the work of his pack to touch down wide on the left.
For a third time the conversion missed but at least there was now a clear two-score lead.
Bethesda were not done. They attacked strongly on the flanks and their full-back was always a threat.
It was, however, an error in their three quarters that saw the ball go loose 40 metres out.
Robin Hughes Jones latched on to the ball and raced through to score his team’s vital fourth and try bonus score.
The kick missed and the whistle went shortly after.
Pwllheli will now need to regroup as they prepare for the tough Plate match away at Llanishen. Kick off is at 2pm.
The players and supporters’ bus leaves the club at 7.30 promptly on Saturday morning.