Pwll leave it late to grab vital victory
DIVISION One North champions Pwllheli again displayed their uncanny ability to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat when a late Osian Parry Jones penalty secured a 20-19 home win over Bala.
The visitors dominated much of the first half, taking an early lead with a penalty by fly-half Owain Aled.
Pwll were rocked after 14 minutes as they lost key back rower Tom Parry with ligament damage and a broken ankle.
Owain Aled kicked a second away penalty before Bala struck again on 22 minutes with a try from No6 Owain Pugh.
Pwllheli did not want for effort or commitment, but on 39 minutes Bala hooker Garin Davies finished off a concerted attack. Crucially the conversion attempt again missed. Pwll dug deep and Parry Jones kicked a vital penalty in the last play of the half to make it 16-3.
The home interval team-talk must have worked as they came out much stronger in the second period.
Fourteen minutes in, after going through 12 phases, space was created for right wing Parry Jones to crash over and then convert.
From the restart Pwllheli reasserted pressure on the visitors, who eventually had a player yellow-carded.
After a series of attacking moves were illegally prevented the referee awarded the hosts a penalty try which Parry Jones improved to edge them ahead 17-16.
Bala rallied and Owain Aled coolly landed a penalty to put them back in front with five minutes left.Two minutes before the end the champions pressed Bala into conceding a penalty which Parry Jones put between the sticks to win it. Pwllheli seconds beat Denbigh seconds 26-5 in Division Three North, while Pwllheli Youth defeated Bethesda 27-12.
This Saturday sees Pwllheli firsts visit Mold. Team coach leaves the clubhouse at 11.15am.