Fixture

Harlech RFC | 1st Team 0 - 3 Dolgellau RFC | 1st Team

Match Report
10 December 2016 / Team News

Last gasp Drop Goal

Harlech 0.v.3  Dolgellau

A dramatic last grasp drop goal from the boot of Dolgellau stand-off, Gerwyn Thomas, right at the death, was enough to clinch this tense local derby encounter, when it seemed likely that the game would end in stalemate between two evenly matched sides.

Dolgellau came here hoping to complete a hat-trick of victories against their near neighbours to cement their play-off spot. For Harlech, they desperately needed a victory to close the gap on 4th placed Bangor and that last crucial play-off spot, the result was a fierce, high tempo, error strewn, frantic encounter with virtually no clear cut chances.

The closest either side came to breaking the deadlock in the opening period was a missed penalty to Dolgellau’s Gerwyn Thomas and a similar effort by Harlech centre, Alex Evans, both in the last minute of the half.

 Evans missed a simpler chance only two minutes into the second half, and as the match wore on it looked likely that a single score would settle it. Just as it seemed that Dolgellau were gaining a foot hold on territory, they were set back with injuries, and both wings, Dafydd Ellis and Rhys Lewis had to leave the field with knee injuries. Indeed both physios were busy all day in this bruising match.

Dolgellau replacement, Osian Morris and centre Gareth Hughes almost carved an opening down the right touchline, but Hughes was hauled into touch well short. As the match was heading for a draw, with a minute remaining, Dolgellau were awarded a penalty 35m out. Skipper, Thomas, put the penalty wide of the right post, but an uncharacteristic  wayward drop out from Alex Evans, who had kicked so well all day, fell to the grateful hands of Dolgellau prop, Rhys Roberts, who surged forward, and centre Jac Roberts took it on to drop goal range and this time Thomas made no mistake, and struck it clean through the posts to clinch it with virtually the last kick of the match.

Players Fixture player info not published.
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