Fixture

Nant Conwy completed their league programme for the season with an eight tries to two victory over Caernarfon. In doing so they ensured a 100 percent winning league season for the second time in succession. It is a great credit to the players and the coaching staff that, in achieving this winning run, they have maintained the highest standard of play and never taken anything for granted. The team have been unbeaten in the league since losing to Llandudno in the shortened 21/22 season following covid, a run of 49 games.

This game, at long last played on a dry pitch on a sunny day, was a great finale to a season so often spoilt by the weather, with both sides prepared to run the ball as much as possible, but also prepared to do the hard work when necessary.

The spectators were still settling in when Nant scored their first try after two minutes. A loose kick by Caernarfon following a scrum was gathered by Carwyn Davies just inside his own half. Brushing off two tackles his straight run for the line and Caron Rhys Davies' conversion gave Nant the early lead. 

Stright from the kick-off, Ifan Wiliiams gathered the ball running at speed. He covered 40 metres before being hauled down on Caernarfon's 22. Quick transfer of the ball found Cain Jones on the left wing and he sprinted in to give Nant a twelve point lead with just 4 minutes played.

This seemed to galvanise the visitors who then seemed to shake the travelling out of the system and spend the next period in Nant's half. From a line-out on the five metre line, Caernarfon set up the driving maul and gained the touched down. The conversion brought the score back to 12 - 7, much to the delight of the small, but vocal, band of supporters.

From the restart, it was Nant's turn to put the pressure on. Another poor kick by Caernarfon was gathered by Carwyn Davies, a couple of passes saw Sion Pringle break down the right wing where Ifan Williams was on hand to leave the last defenders flat-footed before going over for the try. Davies converted to make it 19 - 7. Twenty two minutes gone,three kicks gathered, three tries scored.

From the kick-off, the ball was again gathered by Nant who after a number of phases drove to Caernarfon's 22. From a line-out, Cain Jones came in from the left wing to take the pop pass to go in for the bonus point try. The conversion gave Nant a 26 - 7 lead.

Both sides strived for the next score but most of the promising moves fell down following dropped passes or penalties. This was the case when, in the last move of the half, Pringle was denied a score when the referee deemed his stretch for the line to be a double movement.

The second half was a to and fro affair to begin with. The first significant event was a yellow card against Nant for lifting above the horizontal. Nant made light of being a player down and after a good run by the backs Cai Jones drove over from a short distance.

There followed a period of sustained pressure from the visitors which was helped by the number of penalties conceded by Nant. Something had to give and Caernarfon eventually drove over under the posts. The conversion giving a scoreline of 33 - 14.

Nant soon restored 5 of those points, when, following another poor kick by Caernarfon, the ball was moved along the backs for Caron Davies to go over in the corner. This seemed to knock all resistance out of Caernarfon, with missed tackles and mistakes now coming more into their game. Nant were dominating all aspects of play now which resulted in Elis Fôn touching down under the posts. The conversion made the score 45 - 14.

Within a couple of minutes the 50 points was reached. Running the ball from their own 22, Nant were soon within a few metres of the try line. Fast hands through the backs saw Roberts caught just short of the line but his off-load was taken by Rhydian Jones to snatch the try.

From the restart Nant again moved the ball quickly to the Caernarfon 22, but a knock-on saw the opportunity missed and the final whistle for a 50 - 14 win.

At the end of the match the team were presented with the league one winners trophy. They were then joined by the Teirw team whose win against a strong Shotton Steel side saw them finish as runners-up in Division 2 North. A huge congratulations to them on their achievments for the season.

Both teams now face away games on 27 April in their respective cup competitions. Nant play Wrexham away in the North Wales League 1 cup semi-final, while Teirw are away to Colwyn Bay in the North Wales League 2 cup.