Fixture

Dolgellau 81.v. 0 Menai Bridge
                            [North Div 2 West ] 17.12.2016

The race for Div 2 North West title is hotting up with only a single point separating the top three sides as Dolgellau amassed thirteen tries here to keep the pressure on leaders Llangefni.

Menai Bridge, with only the bare fifteen players, kept Dolgellau in check for the first quarter, where Dolgellau wing Rob Pugh’s try and Gerwyn Thomas’ conversion was the only scores separating the sides.  But from there on in the tries kept coming at regular intervals.   Prop Greg Smithies, centre Dylan Evans with a brace, skipper Gerwyn Thomas, scrum half Jac Roberts and centre Gareth Hughes all crossed the whitewash in the second quarter, the pick of the tries was centre Dylan Evans’ first, as Thomas’ perfect chip ahead was gathered by wing Rob Pugh to put him in for a great score.  Thomas was accurate with six of the conversions to put the hosts 47-0 ahead at the interval. A break out by Menai Bridge centre, Dave Williams was as close as the visitors came to scoring.

After Dolgellau left wing, Dafydd Elis crossed for Dolgellau’s first try of the second half, Dolgellau made changes as Danny Evans, Henri Roberts, Owain Thomas, Geraint Evans, and Dan Brazier came on, the result bringing five further scores.   A Jac Roberts chip ahead was gleefully gathered by younger brother Henri, who sprinted home, and prop Dan Brazier added the conversion to put Dolgellau 59-0 ahead. Wing Dafydd Elis scored a fine individual effort to cross for Dolgellau’s tenth try, his second of the game, to cap a fine afternoon for himself.

Despite some heroic defending from Menai Bridge especially no.8 and skipper Olly O’Brien, Dolgellau finished in style with wing Rob Pugh scoring his second, hooker, Geraint Evans crashed over, and the pick of the second half tries coming from flanker Iwan Pugh, following some nice inter-passing between skipper Gerwyn Thomas and  youngster Henri Roberts.   Dan Brazier added one further conversion to round off the scoring.

Referee : Haydn Owen