Fixture

Pwllheli arrived at Bro and were welcomed by rain, wind and the cold. Many of Pwllheli's one hundred and fifty supporters wisely viewed the match from the clubhouse balcony but those who ventured out would testify that the weather had a big impact on the game.

Bro started the game the stronger. Pwllheli mis-fielded a kick ahead in the swirling wind and the home side took advantage. Their hard running bulky centres were a handful throughout the game. In defence too they played very close to the offside line and were able to stop Pwllheli at source. With both teams highly committed the game saw several stoppages for injury but as time passed Bro grew in confidence. Gone were any thoughts about relegation and they saw the opportunity to take Pwllheli’s scalp.  On ten minutes Pwllheli lost the ball in a tackle. The ball went loose and was latched on to by Bro’s flanker Rhys Williams whose pace took him fully fifty metres to the try line for an excellent individualist score. The conversion drifted wide. Pwllheli gradually came into the game but Bro stood firm and Pwllheli's handling errors were increasingly apparent. The Lleyn side reduced the arrears with an Osian P.Jones penalty. There was no further score in the first period as the sides cancelled out each other’s threats.

Half time came with Bro rightly holding the lead by five points to three. 

A rejuvenated and more cohesive Pwllheli came out in the second period. Six minutes in they won loose ball on the half way line. They moved it left blind side and slick inter passing saw captain Dafydd Anwyl crash over to finally give Pwllheli the lead. By now any thoughts of Barbarian style rugby had disappeared and Pwllheli kept the ball tight. The tactic paid off. On sixteen minutes they won a line out on the right. They went through the phases before setting up a driving maul which trundled inexorably towards the Bro line. It was Dafydd Anwyl again who got the final touchdown. Osian P.Jones got the conversion.

By now Pwllheli's victory seemed secure and they mounted a series of attacks to get the elusive bonus point. A combination of stout Bro defence and understandable handling errors added to Pwllheli's frustration as the time was ticking away. The third try came from dogged perseverance and good fortune. Bro won good line out ball on their twenty two. Their fly half's clearance kick was charged down by Owain Tegfan. The ball seemed destined for touch but hit the corner flag and bounced back into play. Owain Tegfan had followed up his charge down and his pace beat the cover to touch down for an invaluable score.. The conversion missed . Pwllheli now had the nudge in the scrums but Bro's line out was effective throughout the game. Their stubborn and effective defence showed the potential calibre of their team.

As the clock neared full time Pwllheli kept their composure. They now had control of most aspects of the game. It was three minutes into extra time  and with what transpired to be the final movement in open play Pwllheli set up a driving maul fifteen metres from the Bro line. They made ground towards the try line and the Bro defence were forced to collapse the maul. The referee was on the spot and had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try. In the excitement Osian P.Jones missed the conversion and the whistle went for full time.

The Pwllheli section of the crowd was elated with the result of course but players and supporters had to wait a further fifteen minutes before getting the result from Llandudno. With Nant being unable to secure a bonus point the best Nant could hope for would be to tie with Pwllheli on league points. Given that in the event of a tie the team that had won most matches would take the League, Pwllheli's status as Champions for 2014-2015 was confirmed..

Pwllheli are of course delighted to have won the League trophy for the first time since the early 1990s. It certainly gets the monkey off its' back as they had been close so often over the years. The glory on the day was rightly for the players and captain Dafydd Anwyl. They in turn realise that Pwllheli united the efforts of many people to achieve this goal. Players, the head coach IDLL Jones, backs coaches David Martin and Michael Chapman, manager Robin Elias and First Aider Edwin Jones, members of the Committee and especially our steadfast supporters and our many generous sponsors and Vice Presidents all played their part. This was joint effort from the people of the Lleyn and the club are proud of the achievement.

Pwllheli now need to keep their foot on the throttle as they face Bro again on Saturday. Parc Eirias is the venue of the North Wales Plate Final which has an early 11.30 kick off. Our seconds then play, again at Eirias, at 4.15 against Llangefni in the Final of the North Wales Second team  Cup competition.

Pwllheli Ladies lost their semi-final WRU Vase match at Wattstown RFC on Sunday  by 22-7. This inexperienced team has come a long way this season and their progress augurs well for the future.