After a few weeks off due to the autumn internationals and cup rugby weekends the Cobra boys were enthusiastic to return to the playing field.
Buoyed by the return of twinkle toed trio Sion Wyn Williams, Llew Williams and Harry Jukes the Cae Cobra men welcomed Bethesda to Meifod. With a clubhouse full of past players celebrating the home stag do of Cobra legend Wyn Astley and a touchline full of loyal supporters - the stage was set.

Cobra went into the match with only one victory to their name so far this season. Iwan Vaughan and his men knew that a win was essential in order to clamber up the Division 1 North league table.

Whenever 'Pesda come to town the Cobra players and coaches know that they are in for a tough battle. The experienced and uncompromising pack always offer a huge physical threat and the Cobra 1-8 knew that they would have to more than match their opposite number to come away victorious. With key half backs Jared Mitchell and Matthew Parry absent from the visitors' line-up Cobra knew that if they secured enough clean ball then they had the weapons in the artillery out wide to cause problems.

The first half was a closely fought contest with both packs battling for dominance. Cobra raced into an early 6-0 lead with the reliable boot of Llew Williams splitting the uprights with two penalties. The home crowd was silenced shortly after when two long passes caught the home defence far too narrow, allowing the Bethesda winger to race over in the corner. The try was converted giving the men from Snowdonia a 6-7 lead.

The visitors' lead was only short lived when a further indiscretion in the ruck area allowed Williams to slot over his third penalty of the half.

The home side were making good inroads in attack with the forward and backs combining well. It was however two of the big men of the pack who combined to score the first try of the match. Outstanding number 8 Jack Jukes smashed his way through the 'Pesda defence before being halted short of the line. As the backline waited patiently for the ball to be recycled, powerful hooker Steven Isaac seized his moment of glory as he picked the ball from the base of the ruck and drove over in the corner, giving Cobra a 14 -7 lead at half time.

The majority of the second half was played in the Bethesda half with the home side executing the game plan to perfection. Lively half backs Llew Williams and Bryn Davies enjoyed front foot ball allowing the speedmen out wide such as Richard 'Redders' Jones, Sion Wyn Williams and Frazer Roberts to show off their attacking ability. Reliable centre pairing Iwan Vaughan and Harry Jukes also put in a faultless 40 minute display in both attack and defence.

However, it was the men up front who secured the second Cobra try of the afternoon. The pack showered their power in the set piece with a series of 5 metre scrums driving the opposition backwards. With front row veterans Andy Evans and Chris 'Vissy' Davies watching from the balcony, the front row union of Edwards, Isaac and Jones were clearly enjoying themselves at scrum time. The pressure eventually told as the 'Pesda scrum splintered and collapsed over their own line, giving Jack Jukes the simple task of placing the ball over the whitewash.

The visitors' discipline began to suffer and their frustration boiled over at certain points in the match. Second row stalwart Rhodri Evans was the victim of a high tackle which saw the visitors reduced to 14. Unfortunately for the gentle giant from Foel, the referee felt that he also merited 10 minutes in the sin bin for his reaction- much to the bemusement of the home players and fans.

With only 12 minutes left on the clock a bonus point seemed a big ask for the home side. A lineout in the opposition 22 was claimed by Lloyd Bright and after surges by both Nico Williams and impressive youngster Lee Hughes, prop Hywel Jones drove his way over the try line from 5 metres out. Llew Williams added the extras.

The men from Snowdonia were back under their posts within seconds of the resulting kick off. Richard Jones and Harry Jukes combined down the touchline with the latter diving under the posts to claim the valuable bonus point try. Llew Williams again added the conversion.

The man from Newbridge Farm then turned from hero to villain as he and a Bethesda player were sent to the sin bin for getting a little too physical on the ground. The men from Snowdonia finished the match with 13 as their number 8 decided to giving a harsh critique of the referees performance which was greeted by a red card in response.

When the final whistle was eventually blown, the delight was evident on the Cobra players, coaches and fans faces.

Cobra now turn their attentions to the North Wales Cup when they travel to Division 1 strugglers Ruthin before recommencing league duties away at Nant Conwy on the 26th November.