Fixture

With Pwllheli riding high at third place whilst Dinbych languished at the foot of the table the hosts were aware of the difficult task which faced them in this Division 1 North encounter at Caeau Les Phillips FIelds. Both teams also had to overcome the difficult playing conditions of a strong wind blowing straight down the pitch with frequent rain showers affecting an already semi saturated playing surface.

Pwllheli had first advantage of the wind at their backs and soon made good use of it through astute tactical kicking which kept Dinbych pinned in their own territory for most of the first half. Although Dinbych competed well in all aspects the Pwllheli pack edged the set pieces and gained the lion’s share of possession at the breakdown. As a result Dinbych spent most of the half on the backfoot defending desperately against waves of Pwllheli attacks. Whilst the collective defence held firm for most of the time individual missed tackles were capitalised on for each of the four first half tries scored by the visitors.

Pwllheli opened the scoring after only five minutes when the forwards developed a driving maul from a short range line out for lock Elgan Strain to crash over for a try converted by outside half Now Williams. Dinbych then held out until midway through the half before former Leicester Tigers centre Jack Roberts got possession 30 metres out to  break down the right hand touchline beating several defenders before crossing in the corner for an unconverted try. 

Dinbych again managed to hold out until the final ten minutes of the half with good kicking against the wind by full back Dan O’Sullivan and  half backs Alex Jones and Robyn Cartwright relieving the constant Pwllheli pressure. The visitors eventually increased their lead with a second  try by Elgan Strain after Dinbych had been forced to restart with a drop kick from their goal line. His second row partner Osian Humphries then completed the first half scoring with an unconverted try near the corner after breaking from a ruck close to the Dinbych line.

Trailing by 22 point at the interval Dinbych were handicapped early in the second half as they went down to fourteen with a player in the bin for a high tackle. Pwllheli soon Iean took advantage with flanker Ieuan Williams going over in the corner for an unconverted try  after 53 minutes. Dinbych secured more possession in the second half but their tactical kicking was not as successful as the visitors had been in the first so were unable to sustain any prolonged territorial pressure. They showed their character as they attempted to attack from any position but were punished in the 65th minute when a counter attack from under their own posts broke down allowing wing Dave Owen to close the scoring with a try converted by Williams.