SWALEC Bowl
Bethesda 34 Machynlleth
FINE individual performances from Matthew Parry and Iwan Hywel helped Pesda into the last 16 of the Swalec Bowl on Saturday with a convincing win against Machynlleth.
After observing a minute’s silence to president Brian Williams, who died on January 6, the Dol Dafydd outfit went ahead in the 15th minute with a try from wing Iwan Hywel, with Parry converting.
Mach replied with a penalty before Parry set up David Thomas for a try and added his second conversion.
Parry then took advantage of some slack defending to increase his points tally with a try of his own, only for Mach to again reply with a penalty.
Following the break Hywel warmed the crowd with a scintillating run to touch down from 35 meters with Parry converting, and he was on target again after Dylan Williams touched down from a scrum.
Pesda took their foot of the gas in the closing moments as Mach scored a converted try, but with the final whistle pending Parry slotted over a penalty to cap a fitting tribute to Brian Gogs Williams.
As a result Pesda will host either Bettws or New Tredegar in the fifth round.
This weekend the club have a free slot, and would like anyone who is looking for a game to get in touch.
North Wales Division Four
Menai Bridge 45 Wrexham Seconds nil
MENAI put on their best performance of direct running and powerful rugby of the season as they rolled over their visitors.
By the break the contest was virtually over with five tries on the board for the hosts through some positive support play and direct running.
Centre Sam Williams crossed twice whilst fullback Jamie Hughes sprinted from his own 22 to score under the posts.
Skipper Ieuan Vaughan also got on the scoresheet as he drove over from 40m out and prop forward Jac Owen gained a touch-down from a powerful drive at a five metre scrum.
Bridge’s scored was aided but out half Iwan Jones who added three conversions, and after the break he extended the host’s lead as he followed a kick ahead to score a try before converting.
Menai's final score came from scrum half Mark Jones, who outwitted Wrexham’s defence as he forced his way over following a five metre scrum before Jones added his fifth conversion.
Llangoed nil Bala 20
LLANGOED’S first home defeat of the season came at the hands of a Bala side strengthened by their first 15 having their match cancelled at Rhyl.
The visitors went in front in the tenth minute as Gareth Owen kicked a long range penalty.
Soon after, man of the match, Gwion Jones, scored in the corner for Owen to convert and moments before the break Ynyr Jones added a fine a fine individual try.
Llangoed, with the advantage of the slope, tore into their more experienced hosts and eventually Robat Roberts finished off industrious work by the home pack, only for the ref to be unsure of seeing the ball grounded.
Euros Jones, at scrum-half for Bala, steadied the ship of the senior club and set up Gwion Jones for his second try and in the dying minutes Llangoed's stand-off, Owen Humphreys, was forced out in the corner, leaving Llangoed disappointed but by no means disgraced.
Next week, Llangoed visit neighbours Benllech.
Gwynedd League
Bangor Second XV 27 Holyhead 5
HOLYHEAD visited Bangor rugby club for the first time in 20 years only to come away with a defeat following a tough test.
Bangor seconds are a much improved side these days, and went ahead in the 21st minute through Joe Brogden as he followed a kick into the corner to touch down.
The visitors replied as Gary Owen went over from two metres out, but the score galvanised Bangor to regain the lead as Brogden got his second of the game and outside half Darren Brace, playing his first senior game, added the conversion.
The hosts began the second half in the best way possible as they scored a try straight from kick off through youth teamer and centre Llyr Roberts, with Brace again converting.
A Brace penalty further extended the lead before Bangor added a final try and conversion to round off the contest.
Holyhead’s next match sees them host Dolgellau on Saturday (2.30pm k.o.).