Fixture

Dolgellau RFC | 1st Team 9 - 14 Nant Conwy RFC | 1st Team

Match Report
22 January 2018 / Team News

Dolgellau v Nant Conwy

Dolgellau 9.v.14 Nant Conwy 
                                [Div 1North] 20.01.2018
 
Dolgellau gave the runaway league leaders an almighty scare and pushed their illustrious opponents all the way, with the result in the balance up to the final whistle. The match switched to the School playing field because of the condition of the Marian pitch, and with both teams missing several first team regulars, this added to the tension throughout this highly charged encounter.

With three youth team regulars in their starting XV Dolgellau went ahead after six minutes. Wing, Gareth Hughes’ run resulting in a Nant infringement at the breakdown, and stand-off Gerwyn Thomas put over the penalty to make it 3-0.  The Nant response was immediate. No.8 Carwyn Ellis’ run ending with the ball being moved to right hand side for centre and man of the match, Caron Davies, to go over.

However after fifteen minutes, Dolgellau re-gained the lead. Scrum half, Lewis Jones’ sneaking run taking play deep into Nant territory, and Nant were penalised at the break down to give Gerwyn Thomas the opportunity to put Dolgellau deservedly ahead by 6-5. Dolgellau had Nant rattled and after half an hour their talisman no.8 Carwyn Ellis was penalised for a raised foot going into a tackle. Thomas put over the penalty to give Dolgellau a 9-5 lead.
However straight from kick-off Dolgellau were penalised at the maul and centre Caron Davies made it a single point game at 9-8. Gerwyn Thomas had the opportunity to stretch Dolgellau’s lead, but his penalty in the last seconds of the half, went agonisingly under the cross bar.

Nant went ahead eight minutes into the second period with Caron Davies’ second penalty to give them a narrow 9-11 lead, and with the tension mounting stretched their lead to 9-14 with his third penalty after quarter of an hour. 

Dolgellau responded with no.8 Rob Lewis and 2nd row Bryn Jones probing runs that fully tested Nant’s cast iron defence, but they could not maintain territory due to lack of ball from a miss-firing lineout. However another run from wing Gareth Hughes going into last ten minutes, resulted in a kickable penalty for Dolgellau, but they elected for the line-out which Nant duly won and cleared.
Nant closed out the match to end Dolgellau’s brave effort, but the performance of their  youngsters is something to savour, and both full back, Dafydd Roberts and scrum half, Lewis Jones did exceptionally well, debutant winger, Jake Hinge had several darting breaks and hooker Celt Lewis also came on to make his debut.

Dolgellau Ball Boys :  Sid Roden, Ellis Rogers, Owen Davies & Kane Triggs

Referee: Stephen Buncombe

Players Fixture player info not published.
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