Fixture

With Nant Conwy on Swalec Plate duty Pwllheli knew that this match could be pivotal in determining their fortunes for the season. They had prepared well for the fixture as they knew Mold would be smarting after their heavy North Wales Plate loss at Pwllheli a month ago. Conditions were difficult for both teams with a strong wind running lengthwise down the pitch. With Mold winning the toss they took the bold decision to play against the wind in the first half. Pwllheli knew that if they were to have any chance of taking the league points they had to build up a first half lead. The visitors started strongly with the wind and pronounced slope in their favour. Mold were able to retain possession in the opening minutes but it soon became apparent that Pwllheli posed a threat with ball in hand. With the team being orchestrated effectively by scrum half Butterworth Pwllheli varied their options. Five minutes in the Pwllheli forwards took the ball into contact. They recycled and set up four quick phases. On the fifth the ball reached flanker Tomos Billington Parry who beat the cover to reach the line. Given the windy conditions it took an excellent conversion by Osian P.Jones to add the two points.With Pwllheli's defence being structured and organised Mold found it difficult to create clear cut chances. When they shifted the ball wide Pwllheli's centres Ianto Parri and Ifan Roberts made tackle after tackle to limit Mold's progress. Fifteen minutes in Mold dropped the ball close to the half way line. Pwllheli fly half Owain Williams chipped ahead and won the race for a well taken score. Once again Jones added the conversion. Mold again consolidated but conceded a third try on thirty mintes. Once again the score resulted from neat inter passing between forwards and backs which created an overlap for prop Alwyn Trenholme to crash over. The touchline conversion by Osian P. Jones took Pwllheli twenty one points clear. In virtually the last move of the half Pwllheli conjured up a fourth and bonus point try scored by. Moving the ball quickly to the left Chris Studt was put into space and his pace took him beyond Mold's cover.The conversion attempt went narrowly wide. Half time came with Pwllheli twenty six points ahead but they were well aware of the challenge to come. As it transpired Mold did not utilise the advantage of the wind as effectively as the visitors. They favoured the blind side option time and again but this made it easier for Pwllheli to defend. It was Pwllheli who looked the more dangerous as the used their cutting edge to threaten Mold on several occasions. Mold rallied with pride and gusto. They were camped in the Pwllheli twenty two for a full five minutes but could not cut through the defensive line. Pwllheli gradually eased Mold's stranglehold and made ground. The game was made safe for the Lleyn side with fifteen minutes to go as flanker Tomos Billington Parry broke from a maul to beat the cover and score under the posts. Jones took Pwllheli's score to thirty three points. Eight minutes later Butterworth cut through the Mold defence with a searing fifty metre break. He passed inside to the unmarked Owain Williams who cantered over Mold's line.Incredibly, with Mold's nearest player fully twenty metres away, Williams dropped the ball in the act of touching it down in a gaffe that he is unlikely to be allowed to forget for some time.The final whistle went shortly after. This was a top notch away result against a committed Mold side. With Pwllheli missing a clutch of regulars it was important that Owain Roberts, Chris Studt and Arwel Thomas stepped up to the plate and they did so with some aplomb. With Ruthin the visitors at Bodegroes on Saturday the team know that a good performance is essential if Pwllheli are going to give Nant a run for their money in chasing League honours this season. Pwllheli's seconds lost by twenty seven points to five to a strong Mold side.The second fifteen also face Ruthin at home on Saturday.