Youth 43 Pwllheli 8

Sat, 28 Jan 2012

With a resounding win the week before playing against Wrexham, Llangefni were looking forward to playing Pwllheli to win at home and maintain their position as league leaders. With referee Mr. Chris Yeardsley in charge, Llangefni kicked off for what turned out to be 80 minutes of tough competitive play between two sides wanting the spoils.

Pwllheli were the first to threaten the Cefni touch line; they had received the ball from a kick up field by the hosts, and from the ruck which had sucked in most of the Cefni defences, Pwllheli cleared the ball wide, leaving open field for their winger to make inroads into Llangefni territory and ran a good 75 meters before being tackled down by a chasing Cefni defender. A wake up call for Llangefni who seemed to settle down after the scare.

Play continued with ball coming to centre half Sior Hughes who kicked up field gaining valuable territory to find line out, Pwllheli throw in; but for taking too long to throw in were penalised by referee Mr. Yeardsley and advantage given to Cefni, Sior Hughes took the quick tap and passed out to his forwards to take the drive, Pwllheli were found to be offside and Llangefni opted for the scrum some 10 meters from the Pwllheli try line and under the posts. Playing uncontested scrums at the request of Pwllheli, the ball came out to the hosts, passed wide to outside centre Rhodri Parry who ran through the defences for a try some 10 meters away from the goal posts. Successfully converted by Parry, 7 – 0.

Play continued with Llangefni taking to game to their visitors Pwllheli; some 15 meters from the Pwllheli try line, a knock on by Cefni awarded the scrum to Pwllheli. The ball was kicked clear of danger and back to Cefni possession who retained the ball, passing from hands to hands, across the field to the hands of inside centre Dafydd Jones who saw the gap, went through for the second try to Llangefni, but with a failed conversion kick the score 12 – 0.

Play continued and with Pwllheli penalised for being offside, Cefni Sior Hughes kicked up field and out gaining valuable territory and Cefni throw in at the line out. The ball was cleanly taken and driven forward by the Cefni pack, taking in the Pwllheli defences, Llangefni flanker Ieuan Evans saw the gap, picked up the ball and went through the defenders for the third try, successfully converted by outside centre Rhodri Parry, 19 – 0.

Pwllheli came back at their hosts and were making good inroad through Cefni defences and were camped in the Llangefni 22 meter box. A ruck was formed and for wrong use of hands in the ruck Pwllheli were penalised, loosing possession after all their hard work to get to where they were and threatening the Cefni try line. Llangefni responded retaining possession of the ball moving quickly up field, with good passing of the ball to safe hands and into the Pwllheli 22 meter box. Pwllheli defended their touch line, with Llangefni trying all moves to get through. Eventually and by brute strength Cefni prop Paul Owen drove over the line in the corner, earning the fourth try and bonus point, successfully converted by Rhodri Parry 26 – 0.
Play continued with Pwllheli looking slick and threatening, Cefni defences were not for lying down though and every attempt to break through was met with a wall of players denying the advancement. From a ruck situation though, Llangefni were penalised for hands in the ruck giving an opportunity for the hosts to add some points to the score board, scrum half Daniel Williams taking the penalty kick, cleanly through the posts, 26 – 3 which was the score at half time.

Pwllheli kicked off the second half and were almost immediately awarded a further penalty, Llangefni being found offside, with Daniel Williams taking the second opportunity to put extra points on the score board, but going wide of the posts the score remained 26 – 3.

There followed a period of play where there were infringement after infringement according to referee Mr. Yeardsley and penalties and scrums awarded to Pwllheli. Llangefni came back and from a scrum awarded to Cefni, the ball came out and from simple play of passing the ball going from player to player, eventually back to flanker Ieuan Evans who went for the corner, rolling over the defence and successfully touching down, his second try which was successfully converted, 33 – 3.

Play continued; with Pwllheli coming back at Llangefni at every opportunity, with sometimes some slick phases of play, it was the Cefni might at forwards, defending well that thwarted their several attempts to get the ball over the line for the try. Llangefni came back at Pwllheli and from a line out Llangefni put in, the ball was simply fed out to player to player, simple football but with safe hands to centre Gethin Parry Jones who went over the line in the corner, Cefni`s 6th try, but with a missed conversion, the score 38 – 3.

The second half continued in much the same fashion with Pwllheli eventually piercing the Cefni defences when their centre William Philby received the ball from a quick tap penalty that had been awarded against Llangefni for being found off side, Philby seeing the gap charged over and placed the ball for their first try; with a missed conversion the score 38 – 8.

Not to be outdone, Llangefni quickly responded when flanker Ieuan Evans scored his third try in the corner; from a ruck situation under the posts at the Pwllheli try line, drawing in all the defences, Llangefni quickly fed the ball out and to the hands of flanker Evans who went over the line, try to Llangefni; with missed conversion the score 43 – 8 which was the score at the final whistle.

Llangefni youths next play at home on the 18th February 2012 when they play Rhyl and District in what is promising to be an exciting and entertaining game.

Llangefni RFC celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and on the 18th February the Club President, Chairman and Committee invite ALL ex players to join them for an afternoon and evening of playing entertainment and nostalgia.

The day will start off at the club house at 1.30p.m., a chat before watching a game kick off 2.30p.m. Following the game and into the evening, there will be a players evening, with food provided it will be an opportunity for all our ex players to meet the youth of today, tomorrow`s seniors and for them to meet the players who made the club what it is today, a community rugby football club, who has seen its many successes, its ups and downs, an evening of nostalgia and old stories talking with your old playing mates.

We need to know numbers, and Dafydd Lloyd, the Club Chairman is collecting the names of all ex-players likely to attend. Please e-mail the club contact@llangefnirfc.com or speak directly to any member of the committee, whose contact numbers are available on the club website www.llangefnirfc.com we look forward to seeing you ALL then.