Hughes-Jones is Pwll's hat-trick hero in Bala win

Swalec League Division One North, East & West round-up

AFTER Ruthin beat Caernarfon by the slenderest of margins on Friday night to extend their lead at the top of the One North table, it was up to the rest of the early-season pacesetters to respond positively yesterday.

Bala, though, were one side that couldn’t do that as they slipped to a 29-23 reverse at Pwllheli although they did pick up a losing bonus point.

Robin Hughes-Jones was Pwllheli’s try-scoring hero as he crossed for a hat-trick and with Dafydd Myrddin and Deio Brunelli also going over the extra point was secured.

Clwyd Edwards and Sion Lynch crossed for Bala and George Davies and Huw John added the rest of their points.

Bro Ffestiniog overturned a 9-0 interval deficit against Llangefni to come through 18-9 at the final whistle and stay hot on the heels of Ruthin in second place.

Dewi James touched down quickly after the restart and Daniel Jones crossed in the closing stages to seal the victory while Carwyn Milburn landed three penalties for Llangefni.

Bethesda and Dolgellau had to settle for a share of the spoils after their encounter ended in a 17-17 draw and Nant Conwy cruised to a 31-7 win over Mold. Grant Jones (2), Iolo Hughes, Wyn Roberts and Aaron Jones bagged tries for Nant with Steve Quinton getting a consolation score for Mold.

Down South in One East, it’s a North Wales club, RGC 1404, that is out in front at this early stage of the season.

They collected a third win from three yesterday but were given a tough ride by Ynysybwl as the hosts tried to keep their unbeaten start going after a win and a draw.

There was to be no bonus point for RGC but tries from Harry Evans, Richard Hopkins and Bryn Williams were enough to see them home 27-17. Ricky Thomas (2) got Ynysybwl’s tries.

The Pitmen of Penallta beat Rhydyfelin 31-18 and after a win and draw in previous weeks they too have yet to lose this term. And they were handed a huge boost by the form of kicker Jonny Wright who landed seven penalties to go with tries from Rhys Silcox and Gareth Edwards.

Rhys Chinnock and Liam Watton found their way over the Penallta try-line but they were a clear second best on the day.

There were no concerns for Mountain Ash as the Cynon Valley club easily swept past Tredegar 32-7 with Craig Evans scoring not one, or two, but three of his side’s five tries. Matthew Dixon and Chris Edmunds got the others while Craig Lloyd made his way over for the hosts’ sole reply.

Up in the Rhondda, Rumney kept their try-line intact during a 17-9 win at Treorchy, for whom Celyn Ashton responded with three penalties. Soloman Matthews and Ryan Fenton were the try scorers for Rumney with Danny Clark on target with two conversions and a penalty.

Former Glamorgan Wanderers No 8 Mazin El Azzawi was the only try-scorer in Ystrad Rhondda’s 16-12 defeat of Heol y Cyw and the other One East fixture, between Merthyr and Gilfach Goch, was postponed.

Following on from his man-of-the-match performance last weekend, Tondu’s Paul Smithson was at it again yesterday as he orchestrated a 33-32 win against Ammanford in One West.

He scored 18 points, including two tries, to go with a try each for Matthew Davies, Matthew Murphy and David Griggs. And just like last weekend, a player playing against Tondu scored a hat-trick of tries and ended up on the losing team.

Rhydian Morris did that for Ammanford as Emrys Price and Llyr Morris also crossed but Ammanford just missed out by the closest of margins.

The leaders are Cwmllynfell and they beat Skewen 30-15 and bagged an extra bonus point thanks to tries for Gareth Drewson, Alex Wilkins, Liam Gallagher and Alan Sturl.

Another side going well is Llangennech but they needed all their mettle to come through 17-12 victors at Glynneath, thanks in the most part to Ricky Williams’s accuracy in front of the posts. He slotted four penalties to go with Mikey Davies’s try. Rhodri Cole kicked all of Glynneath’s points.

Kenfig Hill got a first win of the season with a 27-10 verdict against Aberavon Quins. David Williams, Nicky Giles, Mark Fitzgerald and a penalty try also secured the extra point with Adam Dawe crossing for the Quins.

Five Gareth Rees penalties were good enough for Kidwelly to beat Waunarlwydd 15-10 and Loughor edged past Carmarthen Athletic 17-16 as tempers flared towards the end of the game. Tristan Davies and Aled Thomas were yellow-carded for Loughor and Athletic respectively but it was four Andrew Williams penalties and a try by Richard Thomas that gave the hosts the points.

However, it could well have been Athletic going home the winners as after Ifan Beynon-Thomas had scored the second of his two tries, Mike Sauro missed the match-winning conversion.