Champions Pwll host Bala eyeing fifth win in row
WRU Division One North champions Pwllheli will have a fifth straight win in their sights when they entertain Bala this Saturday (2.30pm).
The Llŷn side continued their awesome start to the season with a 10-try, 66-13 thrashing of hosts Colwyn Bay last weekend.
Chasing a third successive title, Pwll had already rattled up 100-0 and 50-0 victories before their latest demolition job at Brookfield Drive.
Bay took the lead with a Pat Atkinson penalty, but after 10 minutes Pwll benefited from a spilled ball and captain Nick Butterworth caught the home defence napping as he cut through from 30 metres to score.
Colwyn missed a second penalty before, from the restart, the away side regained possession and the ball went through six pairs of hands as they opened up the home defence.
Supporting No8 Tom Parry was the beneficiary as he scored his side’s second try, Butterworth adding the extras.
Atkinson landed a second home penalty, but straight after the pace of Pwllheli fly-half John Pugh took him past four would-be tacklers to score wide left, Butterworth improving with the boot to make it 19-6 at the interval.
It took Pwllheli 30 seconds from the second half kick-off to earn their bonus point as centre Deio Brunelli raced through for his team’s fourth try.
Two minutes later Tom Parry notched his second, then Butterworth crashed through to dot down and convert, making it 38-6.
On 12 minutes Bay were surprisingly awarded a scrum penalty. Their tap-and-go saw David Hocknell crash over under the posts, and Atkinson added the straightforward kick.
Pwllheli then made a block substitution, taking four players off to be replaced with fresh legs.
The visitors were now dominant in most areas, their inter-passing sometimes sublime.
Nineteen minutes in Colwyn had a player yellow-carded for a high tackle as Pwllheli were through and within 20 metres of the try line.
They maintained their focus and within a minute full-back Danial Williams beat the cover to touch down. Butterworth converted and soon after the number nine improved his own try for 52-13.
In the closing minutes, Pwllheli added a fine blindside try from substitute hooker Alan Roberts and in virtually the last move of the game Robin Hughes-Jones notched his team’s 10th touchdown. Butterworth added both conversions.
Pwllheli extended their lead at the top to four points, but however gratifying the current situation they are wholly aware so much can happen in the coming months and they will remain pragmatic, continue to pay attention to detail and ensure the effort is still put during training.
Despite the victory Pwllheli had serious concerns as to some aspects of the game. They were confused as to the interpretation of some of the new laws, and felt constant stoppages took away from the momentum of the game.
But the visitors admirably kept their shape and discipline.
Pwllheli’s seconds host Dolgellau in only their second game of the season this Saturday. Pwllheli Youths have an away league fixture against Bala.