Llangefni show great character in Pwll loss
DIVISION One North bottom side Llangefni can travel to leaders Llandudno this Saturday greatly encouraged by their performance in the last 60 minutes of last weekend’s 53-37 home defeat against Pwllheli.
The match at Cae Smyrna was won and lost in the first 20 minutes as Cefni made the most sluggish of starts and were simply not able to live with Pwll’s high tempo wide game early doors, as the visitors stormed into a 26-3 lead.
After that, however, the hosts found the resilience, character and skill to win the next hour of play 34-27.
Pwll’s first try saw ex-RGC stalwart Carwyn ap Myrddin race in at the corner. Two dominant scrums resulted in further tries for ap Myrddin and Deio Brunelli, the former converting both.
Cefni finally decided to change gear and some strong carries and inter-passing led to a three-pointer for Rhys Hughes.
From the long restart, the Anglesey side had time to clear upfield, but the ball was kept in hand. When the clearance kick was finally used, it did not find touch. Pwll’s left wing, Robin Hughes Jones, stood up his opposite number and sped down the outside channel to score the bonus point try, ap Myrddin adding the extras.
Facing humiliation, Cefni started to impose their game.
They penned Pwll in their 22 for several minutes before pivot, Tom Owen, timed his pass to Greg Horsman to perfection. The latter’s pace and chosen angle meant a try under the posts, improved by Hughes.
The islanders soon got their second try after going through multiple phases and stretching Pwll on the right flank before switching left, where Horsman fed Gethin Andrews, who showed the opposition a clean pair of heels from 20 metres. Another Hughes kick and it was now 26-17.
Llangefni needed to consolidate, but botched the catch from the restart, allowing Pwll to attack into their 22. This led to a converted touchdown for hooker Kevin Morris.
When Cefni regained possession, they used it well to stretch the away defence. A deliberate knock-on gave the home side the penalty momentum and, a few phases later, powerful scrum-half Aled Jones was unstoppable from closerange. That made the scoreline 33-22 in Ian Horsman Triple Effect Photography Pwllheli’s favour at the break.
The travellers got the next crucial score, a length-of-the-field move ending with Gareth Williams racing over wide on the left.
Hughes landed a home penalty before Pwll used their dominant scrum to allow Aled Jones the easiest of tries.
Llangefni responded with an excellent counter-attacking try through Andrews.
Any hopes of an upset, however, were soon dashed as Pwllheli exploited their stronger scrum to add two further tries.
Cefni had the last word when prop Bedwyr Williams forced his way over.
Dominic Owen had an excellent debut in the second-row for the hosts, Tom Owen showed up very well in his first game at fly-half and Andrews confirmed he can finish from all areas if given the service.