Fixture

Dolgellau 16 .v. 3  Harlech 
                               [Div 2 North  West] 03.09.2016

Dolgellau handed new head coach, Cellan Lewis, a winning start to new season, but they had to  overcome a stubborn Harlech side, and came from 0-3 down at the interval to clinch a deserved victory.

It was the visitors, with the aid of a blustery autum wind, who started the brightest, and full back Aeron Griffith missed a penalty after only 3 minutes played. However he made ammends on the  half hour mark by putting over a penalty after Dolgellau were put under presssure at a five meter scrum.

Five minutes later Dolgellau came close, with flanker Dylan Llewelyn and young replacement Danny Evans, making his senior debut for the injured Carwyn Hughes, being stopped inches from the line. However Harlech had the edge at breakdowns with No.8 Alex Evans and both his flankers in fine form. They could have edged further ahead in last action of the half as their forwards drove over, but the referee deciding to favour Dolgellau's heoric defence.  0-3 to the visitors at the interval.

The second half belonged to Dolgellau, their forwards gaining the upperhand, and superbly marshalled by skipper, Dewi Thomas and stand-off Jac Roberts' boot, pinned the visitors in their own half. The pressure began to tell and Harlech were being penalised with increasing regularity. Inevitably Dolgellau came level with Centre Dan Brazier slotting a penalty after ten minutes.

Harlech second row, Ewart Williams, saw yellow, and  Dolgellau took advantage with Brazier putting Dolgellau ahead for the first time in the match after 18 minutes. The pressure was unrelenting now and Brazier put over his third penalty to make it 9-3  going into the last quarter of the match.

With five minutes remaining Dolgellau secured victory with a trade mark catch and drive five meters out, and prop Geraint Evans making it over to score the try.  Brazier added the extras from a difficult angle on the left touchline to make it 16-3.

So a much changed Dolgellau, with youths Bryn Jones & Danny Evans both making commendable debuts, secure the spoils, but the Castlemen will be pushing to feature in the playoffs later in this re-arranged league structure, on this evidence.