Fixture

WRU Bowl Round 4 
Saturday 8th December 2018
 
Dolgellau are through to the 5th round draw of the WRU Bowl, the only North Wales side to do so, following this stern challenge from a very competent visiting XV, overcoming a rocky 30 minute period each side of the break, where it looked as if the visitors might overcome a slim, three point advantage Dolgellau had,  to deservedly book their place in the last 16.

Dolgellau elected to play into a very strong breeze, and torrential rain as the match got underway. Their forwards got the upper hand immediately, and hooker Celt Lewis created a scoring opportunity for prop Greg Smithies to be driven over for the try after only three minutes.  Bryncethin stand-off, Lloyd Bradley then spurned two kickable penalty attempts, before Dolgellau went further ahead after twenty three minutes. A clean catch by No.8, Dewi Thomas at a line-out resulted in a 20 metre drive, scrum half, Lewis Jones, spotted a gap in the visiting defence to dart over from 5 metres out to make it 10-0.

However straight from the re-start, the ball squirted loose towards Dolgellau’s left hand corner flag, the scrambling try saving cover from Dolgellau stand-off, Jac Roberts, was hounded by the visiting pack and ultimately penalised for not releasing, and duly yellow carded.   From the resulting penalty Bryncethin scrum half, Cai Bradley, lofted a perfect cross field kick, which was pounced upon by full-back, Shane Howells o score on the right. Stand-off, Lloyd Bradley converted to make it 10-7.  

Dolgellau lost both flankers Iwan Pugh and Dylan Llewelyn and centre Carwyn Pugh to injuries, as the youthful visitors were growing in confidence, which they carried over to the second period.  With the wind in their favour Dolgellau were unable to build on their slender lead, despite Marius Jones, and wing Rhys Lewis being hauled down on the try line. Wing James Owen’s interception after ten minutes saw him trip only yard short of the line.

When Dolgellau centre, Henri Roberts, saw yellow for a loose tackle fifteen minutes in, the visitors’ backs and forwards were combining well in the blustery conditions, as Lloyd Bradley came close to scoring. However Dolgellau weathered the storm and thirty five, nervous, second half minutes had elapsed when, Dolgellau scrum half, Lewis Jones, broke from a five metre scrum, their forwards combining to put skipper, Rhys Roberts in for the try, that Henri Roberts converted to give the home side some breathing space at 17-7.

Dolgellau had come good, and scored a deserved fourth try five minutes into injury time, but not before losing replacement flanker, Cellan Evans, to a shoulder injury. Scrum half, Lewis Jones, the creator again, and no.8 Dewi Thomas’ perfect timed pass to Rhys Roberts to barge over for his second try of the game. Henri Roberts added the extra points to seal a great win for the Meirionnydd side.

Referee : Mark Butcher [Cross Keys]

Dolgellau :1.Dewi Pugh, 2.Celt Lewis, 3.Greg Smithies [Huw Jones], 4.Rhys Roberts [cap], 5.Marius Jones, 6.Dylan Llewelyn [Tim Jones], 7. Iwan Pugh [Cellan Evans], 8.Dewi Thomas, 9.Lewis Jones, 10.Jac Roberts, 11.Rhys Lewis, 12.Carwyn Pugh [Dafydd Ellis], 13.Henri Roberts, 14.James Owen, 15.Rob Pugh.      Reserves Jake Hinge

Bryncethin : Darian James,Ellis Andrews,Ieuan Davies, James Woods, Leon Sylvester, Nathan Morgan, Ryan Morgan, Sam Jarvis, Steven James, Will Thomas, Aled James, Cai Bradley, Dafydd Jones, Dan Howells, Dan Lockyer, Gavin Parsons, Gruff Davies, Josh Evans, Liam Morgan, Lloyd Bradley, Ryan James, Shane Howells.