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04 April 2016 / Club News

Merched Caernarfon 15 - Merched Whitland 19

Caernarfon ladies 15  Whitland Ladies  19.

 

Caernarfon lost this double header, being both league and cup quarter final fixture during the last play of the match. Ironically they lost a league encounter last week at Cardiff Met to the same scenario.

The game itself was a tense affair from start to finish with neither side being able to dominate and keep possession for any substantial period of time. Caernarfon probably had the best of the opening exchanges through driving at the heart of the Whitland defence and recycling well with Number 8 Olwyn Jones being a prominent handful. However it was centre Alaw Davies who made the initial break for the first try before feeding Jones who released scrumhalf Jess Kavanagh Williams who outsprinted the cover and then converted to record the first seven pointer on ten minutes.

Sadly Caernarfon relaxed and on Whitland's first incursion into Cofi territory a Nat Walsh angled run from a feed from the back of the scrum saw them draw level almost immediately. Composed and dependent fullback Karen Mayze added the conversion to tie the score. Some twenty minutes followed with few opportunities being created by either side. Caernarfon's breaks close to the scrum were being stifled by solid tackling from flankers Jenny Collins and Angharad Williams whilst space out wide was limited to both sides.

The encounter called for the unexpected and on the half hour a quickly taken penalty by Kavanagh Williams caught Whitland unaware as she weaved her way to the try line but not close enough to the posts to slot the conversion. The Whitland scrum was functioning well with Sara Davies marshalling her pack effectively. As half time loomed a scrum close to the Cofi line afforded good quick ball and fullback Karen Mayze joined the line to create the required addition to outnumber the defenders so as to ground out wide and tie the scores at the break.

The second half was equally as cagey with everyone aware that a minor error could prove very costly. Neither team appeared to have the ability to undo the others defence but Whitland were a little more composed when closing in on the Cofi line. However it was a kick up field and combined chase that led to a holding on call that nudged Caernarfon three points clear with Kavanagh Williams's successful penalty conversion with ten minutes remaining.

Whitland were reliant on their senior players to claw their way back into the game. Makeshift centre Natalie Walsh had two effective charges that found her brought to ground inches short whilst standoff Rachel Norris also came close after a powerful run. With time running out and nerves frayed Whitland got possession and Norris found Mayze at her side to deal the knockout blow as she waltzed through to ground between the sticks and once again slot the conversion. For Caernarfon there was no way back as full time was signalled, meaning that a coveted cup run was not be.

 

Bethesda, Nant Conwy, Caernarfon Under 18's,  0.  Whitland Under 18's,  47.

 

  1. The Whitland under 18 squad travelled with their senior counterparts to face a combined and inexperienced team from Bethesda, Nant Conwy and Caernarfon. The gap in experience soon became apparent as Whitland were able to spin the ball wide and constantly find players in support to score at regular intervals. Winger Marged Williams was supplied with a constant supply of ball scoring the first and creating a number of others. Forward charges brought two tries for effective Number 8 Amy Morgan with hooker Lauren Morgan's good support work bringing her a deserved grounding. Powerful Libby Jones secured two tries as a result of her charges whilst scrumhalf Ceulyn Davies  drifted through to score the final try. One other impressive feat was the place kicking of standoff Lleucu George who slotted six from seven  attempted conversions, with some from distance and from an acute angle .

The home teams best contributions came from the tackling of Elin Owen, the charges and stealing of Ruby Roberts and the running of  Gemma Owen and Ela Thomas. However this was a valuable experience for the home squad as the number of fifteen a side matches that they have had the opportunity to play has been very limited.

 

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