Fixture

Pwllheli made the long trek down to Ynysddu via the awful A470.but arrived in time to stretch their legs before this key Welsh Plate match. Pitch conditions were excellent if a little greasy from recent rain.

The visitors started the stronger and took the game to the home side. Forwards and backs linked well and after five minutes fly half Kalim Kelemete was provided with a platform to slot a neat drop goal.Two minutes alter Ynysddu were caught offside and Osian Parry Jones slotted an excellent long distance penalty.This stirred the home side. They used their bulky pack to make ground and they gained possession and territory. Pwllheli yielded an eleventh minute penalty which Ynysddu's fly half Jamie Roberts duly slotted.From the kick off Ynysddu kept possession and probed the Pwllheli defence. Pwll absorbed the pressure and on fifteen minutes scored a classic long distance try.Latching on to loose ball deep into their own half forwards and backs inter-passed and cut through the cover for second row Geraint Parry to score from fully eighty metres. Osian Parry Jones's conversion put his side into a thirteen to three lead. The next quarter belonged to Ynysddu. They began using their backs effectively and it was no surprise after twenty two minutes when their pacy full back Ryan Evans was put in the clear wide out on the right.The kick missed. Even before Pwllheli settled Ynysddu attacked again. They created a well worked overlap for Ryan Evans to touch down. With Jamie Roberts' successful conversion Ynysddu took a slender fifteen to thirteen lead. This was the time for Pwllheli to show team spirit and this is what they did. They reclaimed the lead on thirty minutes with a mammoth long distance penalty by Osian Parry Jones. With both teams now at full throttle big hits were the norm. Referee Tim Davies was confident in his officiating and although the game increased in intensity it never became dirty. Half time came on forty two minutes with Pwllheli holding onto their one point lead.

The home side were rattled after only two minutes of the second period. Winning the ball just outside their own twenty two wing Robin Hughes Jones rounded his opposite number. He passed to flanker Tom Parry whose pace took him fully forty metres up-field. His timely pass to second row Ifan Roberts put Roberts in the clear to score in the left corner much to the delight of Pwllheli's excited supporters. The ebb and flow of the match continued unabated with both sides threatening. Eight minutes in Jamie Roberts cut the deficit with a neatly struck penalty. The contest was stalemated for the next ten minutes until Ynysddu drew level with another Roberts penalty. It was now all about stamina and commitment. Ynsyddu worked hard to keep their longstanding unbeaten home record while Pwllheli knew that they had to up the ante if they were going into the draw for the next round. As it transpired Pwllheli showed a resilience and sheer hard work to get the edge in all facets of play. The last quarter saw Pwllheli edging the scrums and their line out was secure.With their back row getting to the loose ball faster than the opposition the Lleyn side were able to produce quality possession. With Nick Butterworth's effective use of the box kick Pwllheli pressed. Something had to give and it was the Gwent side who yielded a series of penalties. With Osian Parry Jones in superlative form penalties were added on nineteen minutes, on thirty one minutes and on thirty seven minutes to give the visitors a thirty to twenty one lead. The game was finally secured with a late breakaway converted try by Robin Hughes Jones and the ensuing conversion was the final score of the contest.

Ynysddu provided stern opposition and it was only the fitness ,organisation and commitment of all involved which gave Pwllheli the spoils. The mobility of the Lleyn side's pack is epitomised by the fact the two long range tries were finished off by supporting second rows. Pwllheli RFC wish to formally acknowledge the warm welcome which greeted the Lleyn side's players, coaches ,officials and supporters before and after the fixture at Ynysddu.

Pwllheli's next first team league fixture is against Abergele RFC at Bodegroes on Saturday November 12. Kick off is at 2.30.