Fixture

                                [Div 1North] 06.01.2018

Dolgellau and Bala fought out another nail-biting derby encounter, that could have gone either way, on a cold but dry afternoon, on a heavy Marian surface. Bala, just about edged it, and scraped home, moving up to second position in the League, whilst Dolgellau secure a fourth successive losing bonus point for another commendable effort against their high flying neighbours.

Bala went ahead after seven minutes with a penalty to stand-off, Owain Aled, when Dolgellau were penalised at a scrum 30 metres out. However after a period where Dolgellau enjoyed possession and territory they levelled matters after twenty minutes. The Bala backs strayed off-side just inside the Dolgellau half and Dolgellau centre Henri Roberts calmly put over a monster kick from two metres inside his own half to make it 3-3.

Bala fought back immediately and were pressing, and following a couple of penalties worked forward from a five metre line-out and hooker Endaf Jones surged over for the try to make it 3-8. Five minutes later, from a quickly taken penalty from half way, wing Chris Roberts chipped ahead down the right touchline and won the race for their second try and stretch the visitors lead to 3-13.

However Dolgellau responded strongly towards the end of the half, and with two minutes remaining their reward finally came.  Prop Greg Smithies and skipper Rhys Roberts made hard yardage deep into Bala red zone, stand-off, Gerwyn Thomas’ miss-pass found wing Rhys Lewis who squeezed over for the score.  Henry Roberts made no mistake with the extra points and the half ended evenly poised at 10-13.

Bala kept Dolgellau under constant pressure during the third quarter, and Owain Aled eased them to a nine point lead with two penalties on fourteen and twenty five minutes. The second infringement saw Dolgellau no.8, Rob Lewis, harshly Yellow carded for handling at a ruck.

Despite being down to 14 men, a tense last ten minutes was guaranteed when Dolgellau stand-off Gerwyn Thomas slotted over a penalty to narrow the gap to six points after Bala were penalised whilst running form their own 22.  But it was Bala who finished stronger, and several forward drives were repelled by a determined Dolgellau defence, and a dart up the left touchline by Dolgellau centre Henri Roberts, in the last minute, was snuffed out by the visitors’ swarming defence to hold on for the win.

Referee: Stephen Buncombe