Pwll can afford no more slip-ups
PWLLHELI travel to Cobra this Saturday knowing they cannot afford to lose any more ground in the WRU Division One North title race.
Last weekend saw Pwll’s 35-match unbeaten league run at Parc Bodegroes – dating back to September 2013 – ended when they lost 28-15 to title rivals Nant Conwy.
That result leaves Pwll seven points behind leaders Nant but with a game in hand.
Last September, the Llŷn Peninsula side annihilated Cobra 100-0 at home and will be targeting another big win on Saturday.
Around 1,000 spectators saw Pwll welcome Nant last weekend and it was the visitors who made the better start.
They struck first when, following good work by the Nant pack and quick ball distributed by the backs, Jack Moriarty crossed over the tryline in the corner.
Eight minutes in, Pwllheli were penalised for a high tackle and Delwyn Jones extended the lead with a successful penalty kick.
Soon after the hosts were awarded a penalty for a similar offence and Osian Parry Jones split the sticks.
Both teams attacked and countered with ferocity and on the 26-minute mark it was the Pwllheli defence that was breached.
Excellent play by the Nant eight released Moriarty, who sped down the left wing, leaving a trail of defenders behind him to score his and the away team’s second try.
Delwyn Jones converted, but in first-half added-on time, Parry Jones pounced on a Nant error to score a try, making it 15-8.
Four minutes into the second period, Delwyn Jones landed a penalty for the Pant Carw outfit.
Pwllheli now showed what they were made of, and after nine minutes the home pack drove over for a try plundered by Dafydd Anwyl, Parry Jones’ conversion cutting the arrears to just three points.
Delwyn Jones soon put over another penalty for Nant.
With everything to gain and nothing to lose, both teams attacked, defended and counter-attacked as if their lives depended on it.
Eighteen minutes in, Pwllheli suffered a big blow when Nant captain Carwyn Ellis scored a brilliant individual try under the posts.
Delwyn Jones boosted with the boot and that ended the scoring with no more points added in the final quarter, meaning Pwll’s amazing home record was halted.