Pugh powers Pwll to spoils
PWLLHELI maintained their quest for a fourth successive Division One North title with a 62-0 thrashing of Bro Ffestiniog.
The Llŷn side trail leaders Nant Conwy by 16 points but have three games in hand. They still have to visit the Conwy Valley on March 24.
Last Saturday’s meeting with Bro served as a league encounter and Conwy Landrover North Wales Cup quarter-final combined.
On a difficult surface, Pwllheli showed their intent early as they utilised their exciting back-line whenever they could. After only two minutes they created space for full-back John Pugh to use his pace and touch down wide out.
Bro stood firm and both their for- wards and backs brought physicality into the encounter. Pwllheli’s organised defence stayed solid and kept their width.
On 10 minutes a searing move put centre Ianto Parri in the gap and his pace and power did the rest. Pugh added the two points with a pinpoint conversion.
Bro did well in the set-pieces but in broken play the home side were able to recycle the ball quickly. In the 13th minute a quick release of ruck ball allowed the three-quarters to give Pugh the room to outpace the cover to score his second try. Bro upped the tempo and pressured Pwllheli, using their pack effectively to punch holes before releasing their backs.
The hosts, however, kept their shape and did well to keep the Quarrymen out. It was not until the 28th minute that Pwllheli scored their fourth and bonus-point try, Gwilym Sion grounding and Pugh converting.
A series of scrums saw Pwllheli able to generate a nudge. Several scrums collapsed under pressure and finally referee Elliott Mayer’s patience ended and he awarded a penalty try, making it 31-0 at the break. The second period saw the Llŷn outfit start at a blistering pace. Pugh scored first when completing his hat-trick of tries – and he added the extras. Three minutes later flyhalf Mathew Parry scored a welltaken try – his first for the club.
Only three minutes later Pugh made it four personal tries and eight for the team. Pwll then brought on three substitutes – Osian Parry Jones, who had been off with flu, Harri Roberts went to the back row, as did experienced ex-captain Dafydd Anwyl.
The home team immediately lost a prop with a yellow card, but there were still two more tries to come, both scored by left wing Robin Hughes Jones. One was a typical long-range score which particularly enthused the large crowd. Parry Jones added two conversions.
Pwllheli’s first now face another enforced lay-off until March 3, when they visit second-placed Bala.
Pwllheli’s 2nd XV lost by 17-3 to a determined Nant Conwy side in Division Three North last Saturday.
In the North Wales Youth Cup, Pwllheli triumphed 17-8 at Caernarfon.