1st XV 20 Mold 14

Sat, 21 Jan 2012

With Llangefni just 6 points ahead of Mold who stand second to bottom in the league, it was a must win game for both sides, but only one side can take the spoils which Llangefni claimed, though Mold took consolation from a losing bonus point. The point’s difference increasing to 9, but with Mold having two games in hand, it is far too early to declare that Llangefni are clear of the relegation zone.

With Llangefni kicking off the game, the first 10 minutes saw the ball passing from one team to the other, with possession being lost in slippery conditions of play. Llangefni were pressing at the Mold defences some 22 meters from their own touch line, Cefni knocked on giving the scrum to Mold, an opportunity to clear the ball up field. However, for not binding in the scrum, Mold were penalised and penalty awarded to Llangefni, quickly taken by scrum half Mark Gray, who passed out to his captain No. 8 Iestyn Dafydd who took on the Mold defences, forming a ruck, feeding the ball back to Gray who passed out to Cefni winger William Samuel Owen who saw the gap and ran in for the first try of the game. With a failed conversion the score Llangefni 5, Mold 0.

Game continued with an opportunity for Mold to put points on the board. Coming from a penalty awarded to Mold, Llangefni were found to be offside. Centre half Steve Quentin kicking for goal, but with the slippery conditions, the ball went wide of the posts, the score remaining 5 – 0.

A further opportunity for Mold came some minutes later, with Cefni penalised for going over the top in the ruck, a penalty to Mold, who went for the posts, again going wide, the score remaining 5 – 0.

Play continued with Mold putting some pressure on the Llangefni defences. Cefni were seen going over the top in the ruck, gave the penalty to Mold who kicked up field for territory and line out. The line out was cleanly taken and passed from hands to hands across the field, and passed back to the charging full back Richard Hopkins who saw the gap in defence and was able to cross the line just outside the posts. Successfully converted by centre half Steve Quentin, 5 – 7.

A wake up call for Llangefni, who were the dominant side throughout the game. For hands in the ruck infringement by Mold, Llangefni were awarded a penalty from a kickable distance, but with the slippery playing conditions centre half Carwyn Milburn just missing the posts, the score remaining 5 – 7.

Play continued with Llangefni pressing hard on the Mold defences and camped in the Mold 22 meter area. From a scrum awarded to Llangefni, scrum half Mark Gray took possession of the ball and with a long pass out to his centres they were able to make inroads into the Mold defences, a ruck formed and the ball was passed back to Cefni second row Mark Pritchard who charged over the try line and score. Successfully converted by Carwyn Milburn, 12 – 7 to Llangefni which was the score at half time.

Mold kicked off the second half giving possession to Cefni. Llangefni took on the defences and time and time again were seen to infringe in the ruck, going over the top or use of hands, giving penalties away to the visitors. Mold were able to kick for territorial advantage, with none of the penalties being within kickable range for goal. Llangefni dug in and came back at Mold. From a ruck situation some 33 meters from the Mold try line, the ball came out to the Llangefni forwards who went through the phases pick up and drive and eventually passing out to Cefni winger William Samuel Owen who accelerated up field, ball in hand seeing the gap, second try to Owen, but with a missed conversion the score 17 – 7.

Mold kicked up field deep into Llangefni territory and behind the defences, with the chase on, Cefni managed to cover the ball and form a ruck, passing the ball out to the supporting forwards and kicked up field clear of the danger zone, but referee Mr. David Drury declared the kicker had been blocked from a Mold attacker and awarded a scrum to Mold. The ball was fed in and picked up by flanker Alex Green seeing the gap he went for the line and touched for the try. Successfully converted by Steven Quentin, 17 – 14.

The game continued with both sides being awarded penalties for infringements in the ruck but neither side capitalising. From a scrum situation Mold were found not binding and penalty awarded to Llangefni. Centre half Carwyn Milburn deciding to have another go at goal, successfully taken and widening the score line 20 – 14.

The game continued and in the dying minutes of the game Mold came back hard at Llangefni and in the Cefni 22 meter box Llangefni were penalised for hands in the ruck, penalty to Mold. Realising three points were not enough they took a quick tap passing from player to player across the field to a player who failed to keep hold of the ball in the wet slippery conditions, knock on and final whistle, Llangefni 20, Mold 14.

Llangefni have a break in play now with SWALEC competitions being played Saturday 28th January, 6Nations February 4th. Saturday 11th February Llangefni travel to Bethesda for their next league game and to stay comfortably out of the relegation zone a must win game.