Can lightning strike twice for Seasiders?
LLANDUDNO will have fond memories of their last league meeting with Pwllheli. Four months ago the Seasiders beat the Lleyn Peninsula side 30-18 in a convincing display at Maesdu Road.
This weekend brings the return clash as Tudno make the journey to Parc Bodegroes.
It promises to be a difficult test for Jason Roberts’s side against a team currently lying second in Division One North.
That reverse at Llandudno back in September was Pwllheli’s last league loss.
Since then they have won eight and drawn one out of nine encounters.
However, Tudno can travel with confidence having beaten champions Bala 23-20 at Maesdu Road last weekend.
Llandudno built a match-winning score before half time but were forced to desperately cling on in the closing stages.
Bala put the early pressure on, resulting in Llan giving away a number of penalties, one of which was converted by Rhydian Jones.
The hosts began to put their game together and opened their scoring when from a grubber kick ahead behind the visitors’ defence by Ed Weston, Josh Roberts collected and crossed for his first try.
Bala held the upper hand in the set scrums with their heavier pack, while Llan had the better of the open play.
The Lakesiders hit back with a flowing movement from within their own half, rewarded with an unconverted try from second row Guto Lynch.
It was from open play, having gained clean ball from a lineout, that Llandudno centre Dave Davies then touched down near the posts, giving Luke Jones the easiest of conversions.
Tudno followed up with a driving maul from a lineout, allowing Roberts his second try to make it 17-8 to the hosts at the break.
The second half saw Llan make a number of changes, bringing on RGC‘s Rhodri Carlton Jones, who was on permit, and it was from a number of penalties conceded that he landed a brace for 23-8.
After this the Seasiders seemed to switch off, and they lost ball-carrying second row Billy McQueeney, who was yellow-carded for conceding constant penalties.
Bala began to apply considerable pressure and were rewarded with two more tries from prop David Yates and scrum-half Iestyn Jones, one of which was improved by Rhydian Jones, bringing them to within three points of their opponents.
Llan now put up a solid defensive wall and managed to cling on for a notable and important home win.
It was Tudno’s third narrow home triumph in a row and meant that have registered back-to-back wins after beginning the new year with defeat at Denbigh.