Cobra 15 v 13 Dolgellau

Derby matches between these two local rivals are normally tight uncompromising contests, and this bruising encounter was no exception.

Cobra edged it curtesy of a second half performance that took full advantage of the breeze in their favour and Dolgellau’s mounting injury list during a torrid 2nd half for the visitors.

Cobra that drew first blood with stand-off Will Worthington slotting over a penalty after four minutes. The hosts were working the tight channels well and Dolgellau’s young halfbacks had to cope with the pressure, but eventually stand-off Dafydd Roberts had to leave the field with a dislocated shoulder after quarter of an hour, replaced by Carwyn Puw with Jac Roberts moving to no.10

A sniping run by Dolgellau’s Lewis Jones ended with a penalty that wing Gareth Hughes put over to tie the score at 3-3 after twenty-five minutes. Dolgellau enjoyed the territorial advantage throughout the half, but could not break down a resolute home defence, but only a minute form the break, a lapse in concentration between the home back three saw Dolgellau flanker, Guto Jones pounce on a loose ball to scurry under the posts for an opportunist try. Hughes skewed the conversion wide form in front of the posts, leaving the half time score 3-8.

Ten minutes into the second period, as Cobra were beginning to make some serious in-roads into Dolgellau territory, flanker Lee Hughes came close to scoring, but prop Nico Williams finished off in style near the posts, and with Will Worthington’s conversion, the hosts led 10-8.

Dolgellau lost Marios Jones, try scorer, Guto Jones, Dylan Llewelyn and Eon Williams with injuries, and the pressure mounted, but to their credit they gallantly held on, but with ten minutes remaining a Dolgellau clearance failed to find touch, and Cobra left winger Ieuan Williams broke through two tackles to score a fine individual try out on the left to make it 15-8.

With less than a minute remaining Dolgellau wing Gareth Hughes broke into cobra territory, he was hauled down illegally, and from resulting penalty line-out, cleanly won by youngster Arron Jones, skipper Rhys Roberts was driven over to bring Dolgellau within two points. However Hughes’ conversion with the last action of the match was way off the target, much to the relief and joy of the home fifteen.