Fixture

Piazzola, Italy | Under 16s 14 - 26 Dolgellau RFC | Under 16s

Match Report
24 February 2017 / Team News

Piazzola 14. Dolgellau 26


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Dolgellau u16s played their second game of a two match tour of Italy. With it being the last night of the trip it was an emotionally charged evening, also due the the fact there was an unfortunate injury to second row Mathew Maslin in the warm up. Despite the fact he had to spend the evening in hospital Mat returned home with the team the next day safe and sound.
Piazzola started with intent, pressurising the visitors on their own line from the off. Dolgellau managed to clear their line and win a turnover  through Flanker Ifan Jones in the home sides half. The ball was quickly recycled and the excellent Tom Markham at fly half spotted the flat defence, he grubbered through and followed for the touchdown. 
A quick thinking Piazzola then pounced on a mistake by Dolgellau in their 22. They caught an awkward bounce off a well placed kick to score, and took the conversion also. The tourists were starting to stretch the visitors with centre pairing of Owain Thomas and Daniel Thomas showing great skills under pressure, this in turn allowed full back Rhys 'lightning Jones the opportunity to attack constantly. But despite this Dolgellau found themselves defending on their own line after a loose kick. They forced a turnover from open side Cai Lewis smith, but Piazzola intercepted a pass and dived over.
The welsh boys were in no mood to rollover and fought their way up to the home sides half. The forwards carrying hard and gaining ground through their bigger opponents. After several phases, abrasive hooker Ifan Malone picked up from a quick ruck to score under the posts. Daniel Thomas added the two points.
In the second half Dolgellau continued with an ferocious intensity that Piazzola found hard to contain. The scrum was coping admirably against the well drilled 
Italian unit, pushing them back on numerous occasions, even taking a few against the head. It was from a pinched ball in the scrum that No8
Ben Davies picked up from base and touch down with ease. Centre 
Gwion Jones duly converted.
The Italians began to gain a head of steam for a period in the second. Their big forwards offloading causing the visitors problems forcing their defence to back pedal. But Dolgellau's defence was so intense that Piazzola were being frustrated, the effort was led by tight head Jay Porter in tandem with the marauding back row of Jones, Smith and Davies. Second row Iolo Evans also made his presence felt carrying hard and defending stoutly.
The half back pairing of scrum  half Owain Kelly and Markham were exceptional. The crisp and accurate passing of Kelly allowing Markham to dictate at will. But it was no8 Davies who had the final try in typical fashion, putting his speed an strength to good use. Jones was successful with the kick, which allowed Dolgellau to take a well deserved win. The man of the match went to out half Tom Markham, his game management being exceptional which he should thank his forwards for providing him with such a solid platform to preform. 
Have to mention the front rowers of Porter, Malone. Davenport, Braiding and Hills. Their performance against some huge opposition was excellent.

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