Cefni edged out by Bro Ffestiniog

LLANGEFNI were edged out 18-14 by Bro Ffestiniog in a game of very contrasting halves.

The hosts were the sharper and hungrier in the first half, and deservedly led 18-7 at the break.

However, the half time pep talk worked for the visitors, as they totally dominated territory and possession in the second period.

It was 18-14 with about 30 minutes to play: the fact that Bro did not concede any further points speaks volumes for their determination and willingness to put their bodies on the line.

It took an early Bro try to spur them into attacking mode.

5-0 down Cefni regathered the ball from the kick-off via a Dion Oliver interception.

The forwards carried powerfully through several phrases, creating the space for winger Gethin Andrews to exploit out wide for a try converted by Rhys Hughes to give Cefni a 7-5 lead.

Bro then added a penalty three-pointer to go 8-7 up and then caught Cefni napping from a line out at 25 metres.

The result was a second Bro try out on the left flank to make it 13-7.

Cefni again responded quickly and came within a whisker of a second try.

The pack again set the platform for pivot Sior Grieves to launch his centre towards the posts.

However, the ball was spilled within diving distance of the whitewash.

Bro then broke again into Cefni territory, and stretched the Cefni defence on the blind side several times.

Although Cefni had the upper hand in most of the scrums, the Bro number nine managed to launch his backs on most occasions.

His pace off the scrum gave Cefni problems, and when he threw a dummy as he broke from a scrum 25 metres out, a huge gap opened up and Bro scored their third try wide out on the right.

It was a soft try to concede, and even worse right at the half-time whistle.

After about five minutes of the second half, Cefni took the game by the scruff of the neck as they proceeded to dominate through the pack.

After a period of double figure phase play, Dion Oliver bulldozed over for the try.

Rhys Hughes again added the extras to make it 18-14 with about 30 minutes to play but Cefni couldn’t complete the comeback.