Fixture

Caernarfon RFC | 1st Team 5 - 45 Pwllheli RFC | 1st Team
Osian Jones
6 Conversion
1 Penalty
Gareth Williams
1 Try
Nicholas Butterworth
4 Try
Huw Owen Williams
1 Try

Match Report
09 October 2017 / Team News

Caernarfon RFC 5 Pwllheli RFC 45

Matches between these two local clubs are always tense and competitive with both teams requiring no motivation to give of their all. Though the pitch surface was good the weather was not with the playing time punctuated by regular drizzle and the occasional downpour. The Plate match was preceded by a very enjoyable contest between Caernarfon Under 10s and Pwllheli's Under 10s. Pwllheli edged the encounter by three tries to one.
Pwllheli elected to play with the pronounced slope and quickly took the game to the hosts. With captain Nick Butterworh reverting to scrum half Caernarfon were soon bombarded with a series of high kicks to the corners. Generally Caernarfon coped well with the aerial blitz but Pwllheli ensured Caernarfon were kept in their own half. Pwllheli had the greater amount of possession and territory but the Caernarfon defence was well organised and committed.The Lleyn side took the lead with an early penalty by wing Osian Parry Jones. Caernarfon had the opportunity to equalise with a ninth minute penalty opportunity but the kick drifted wide.
Pwllheli's pack was much quicker to the loose ball and both set scrums and lines out went well. Heavy tackles were the norm as the home side combined well to keep Pwllheli out.The  Caernarfon line  held until the twenty fourth minute when Pwllheli's number eight Huw Williams finally breached the Cofi defence. Parry Jones' conversion give the visitors a ten point lead. The visitors kept the ball tight and the plan paid dividends when ,in the thirtieth minute, Butterworth crashed over to major. Parry Jones neatly slotted the wide angled conversion. On forty six minutes Caernarfon had a player yellow carded for killing the ball as Pwllheli drove towards the line. It took the visitors one minute to take advantage as Butterworth again used his pace and power to cross the whitewash. The conversion was a formality.
With the half punctuated by a series of injuries to Caernarfon players the first period stretched to forty eight minutes.
Half time came with Pwllheli leading by twenty four points to nil.
The second period saw Caernarfon under severe pressure from the restart.  Pwllheli had the edge in all departments . After only three minutes Butterworth took advantage of a quick penalty to outwit the home defence ti score his hattrick of tries.Again Parry Jones added the two points.  Caernarfon were kept under the cosh and on nine minutes captain Butterworth again beat the cover at short range to touch down. Jones added the conversion. Pwllheli retained their focus and the home side did well to retain their defensive shape. The players worked hard  to keep  the game flowing as the weather deteriorated and both defences were generally on top. It was not until the twenty first minute of the second half before the crowd were treated to another score.   Once again Pwllheli broke from deep. The ball was passed between forwards and backs and it was Butterworth again who was there to inflict the coup de grace. Parry Jones' conversion took the score to thirty eight nil.
With Pwllheli on top it was centre Gareth Lloyd Williams  who scored Pwllheli's sixth try as he scythed through for a sharp individualist try. Jones kept up  his immaculate conversion record.
To their credit Caernarfon raised their efforts one last time and were rewarded with a try by hooker Darren Jones   in the corner on thirty five minutes. Pwllheli came back strongly in attempt to reach the half century of points. Though they crossed the whitewash two times they were called back by the  referee on both occasions. The whistle for full time went after forty two minutes.
This was the most comprehensive victory over close neighbours Caernarfon in recent years.The win was based on efficient game management and good teamwork. Pwllheli would accept that there are areas which could be improved but players and coaches deserve their places in Round 2 of the WRU Plate.
The referee Mike Jolley of Shotton RFC had a good game and allowed the game to flow whenever he could.
Pwllheli Seconds fought hard away to Shotton in the WRU Bowl second round match but eventually succumbed by 17-15. In a change to the advertised venue they are away,rather than home as advertised, to Menai Bridge on Saturday.
The Youths won away by 27- 5 in a friendly against Bethesda. They are at Bodegroes on Saturday against LLangefni RFC Youths.
The First XV have a home fixture on Saturday as they welcome LLangefni RFC  to Bodegroes. Matchday sponsor is Harlech Food Services.
Kick off time for all matches in 2.30.
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