Thomas hat-trick in Holywell’s hiding
BRO Ffestiniog ended a run of four league defeats with an emphatic 43-8 bonus point win against struggling Abergele last Thursday.
The Quarrymen will now look to build on that result when they visit Mold in another Division One North fixture this Saturday.
On a very wet and muddy surface, Ffestiniog’s first try came on seven minutes through Simon Kalafusz.
Another scrum saw Bro recycle well but after six phases Abergele were awarded a penalty for holding on.
The kick missed touch and Bro attacked once more through backs and forwards, culminating in prop Dylan Jones scoring a try.
Bottom side Gele went close through a strong run from scrumhalf Joel Stirling, but the ball was knocked on in a tackle.
On 25 minutes a turnover by Bro on their own 10-metre line was passed out through the backs, centre Aron Aspden unselfishly feeding full-back Mathew Hayden to score under the posts, wing Ian Roberts adding the conversion.
Abergele landed a penalty, but before the interval Bro recorded their bonus point try through No8 Dewi James, Roberts adding the extras for a 24-3 midway score.
From the restart Gele won a scrum against the head and the ball was whipped out through the backs to left wing Jack Gronow, but only meters from the try-line he was tackled into touch.
This spurred the visitors and another well-worked attack saw full-back Kgosi Ngwenyo go close.
Ngwenyo later intercepted a Bro pass and would have had a clear run for the try-line but for a knock-on.
Steve Lay crashed over in the corner for an unconverted try to Bro, but Gele scored next after some good rucking and mauling, No8 Josh Woods dotting down.
Dylan Jones and Dewi James added further home tries, Hayden converting both.
CAERNARFON Town will look to make it seven league games without defeat when they visit Mold Alexandra this Saturday, reports Paul Evans.
The Canaries were in brilliant form last weekend when they hammered in-form Holywell Town 6-2 at The Oval.
There was already a celebratory air around the ground with the heroes of Town’s 1986/87 run to the FA Cup third round presented to the crowd as part of a special reunion event.
And the 2016/17 version of Caernarfon Town showed they are a pretty special bunch too.
Holywell arrived in their best form of the season, having won their last four matches and they started full of confidence, settling down well and trying to push Caernarfon back into their own half.
There was an exciting parity to the early stages but it did not last long as the home side struck in the seventh minute.
A slick move saw Jamie Breese beat the offside trap to cut into the box before sliding the ball across the sixyard area where Darren Thomas lashed into the roof of the net.
Nathan Craig was denied by an impressive stop from Wellmen keeper John Rushton soon after.
The Cofis did not have to wait long to double their lead, Thomas showing his predatory instincts to reach a great delivery by Danny Brookwell and finish coolly past Rushton.
The Canaries were in complete control and in the 25th minute Thomas completed his hat-trick, the Cofi magician lashing the ball in from the edge of the penalty area.
Caernarfon again took advantage of the visitors’ confusion at the back when Breese fed Brookwell in the penalty area, and the young winger’s strike gave Rushton no chance.
It was 4-0 at half time and Breese did finally find the target soon after the break when Brookwell played him into the box and the striker finished impressively to give his side an unassailable lead.
Cofis manager Iwan Williams gave former Wrexham captain Lee Fowler a second appearance for the club after the break as he looked to give him minutes on the pitch in preparation for the Welsh Cup semi-final in two weeks’ time and also introduced Kevin Lloyd and Kevin Roberts off the bench later on.
The change of personnel seemed to slow Town’s tempo slightly but they still dominated possession and Rushton had to pull off three fine saves to stop Leigh Craven and Lloyd twice from adding to the score.
Former Town player Matty Hurdman pulled one back for the visitors in the 77th minute and Phil Lloyd got a second for them after 83.
But the final word belonged to the Cofis and Kevin Roberts struck three minutes from time when Thomas found him with a short delivery and the popular postman did the rest from two yards out.
An outstanding home performance.