Fixture

Five weeks ago Nant Conwy made this same trip to Bala for a National Cup match which they won by 33 points to nil. This league game had the same outcome as that match, even the half-time score was the same. The big difference was that Bala were not allowed to dominate possession and territory this time.

The first game had Nant in front from the very start, this time they had to wait thirty minutes. A devastating last 10 minutes, at least for Bala, saw Nant score three tries. Second row Sion Williams was first to touch down, taking the inside pass from Carwyn Davies whose stop and go left his opposite number flat-footed.

Scrum-half Deian Roberts was next to score. Following several rucks close to the Bala line, his dummy pass sent the defence one way while he went the other to touch down.

In the last move of the half, fullback Cain Jones joined a three-quarters move and his arcing run enabled him to go through to the line without any tacklers getting near him. All were converted by Caron Davies, to give the visitors a solid half-time lead of 21 points.

Fifteen minutes into the second half Nant increased their lead to 26 points to nil through an unconverted try by Ifan Williams. This try was the result of close support play and great off-loading in the tackle as Nant went from their own 22, all the action taking place within the 15 metre line. The last score, a fourth converted try, by Gwion Jones, came a few minutes from the end. This again was the result of close support and off-loading with Jones taking the last pass at speed to go over. Cain Jones added the conversion.

The game itself saw the contrasting styles of both teams. Bala used their big forwards, and backs, to try to bludgeon their way to the try line. Nant, though not averse to such tactics themselves on occasions, were more eager to move the ball at speed through the backs. Unfortunately, it must have been frustrariing for the coaches to see a number of promising moves come to nothing through mis-passes or handling errors.

Bala's forward dominated game almost produced an opening score but Nant were able to hold the ball up over the line. Bala were able to mount this pressure due to Nant conceding too many penalties. Bala also had a 5 minute spell mid-way through the first half when phase after phase saw them move from their own half to within a couple of metres of the Nant line. However, uncompromising defence and a knock-on allowed Nant to clear the ball.

On 30 minutes, however, Nant got their passing spot on and the tries started to be notched up.

The second half saw Bala again briefly put Nant under pressure, or rather Nant put themselves under pressure due to conceding penalties. Having overcome this it was Nant's running game that looked the the most likely to provide scores.

The last action of the match came in the minute following the restart from the final try. The ball was gathered and passed to Sam Hughes who, after beating or pushing aside several of the opposition, looked like he might go all the way from inside his own 22 for try number six. He was eventually pulled down on the Bala 10 metre line. The ball was then put in touch and the match brought to an end.