Fixture

The Caernarfon faithful sensed from fairly early on that they were not facing the usual effective and clinical Nant outfit and consequently the confidence of the home team grew so as to finally record a narrow but deserved victory in this tense league encounter.

Despite the weather of late, the playing surface was in good condition with Caernarfon applying the early pressure. One penalty effort rebounded off the upright but the second attempt following a scrum transgression granted Dom Yau Caernarfon's opening points after ten minutes. This spurred Nant into life but their drives were thwarted by Adam Thomas and stand in Captain Bryn Granville who went on to play a pivotal role in the Cofi victory with his incisive running, quick distribution and enveloping tackles.

A shortened line ploy saw Carwyn Ellis on a gain line crossing charge  and when the forward momentum was halted illegally up stepped Delwyn Jones to draw the scores level with twenty minutes played. Nant's effort to gain supremacy from this point onwards faced stern opposition with numerous balls being lost and possession disrupted by the likes of Ilan Davies and Mac Jones. However there followed an excellent return kick from a tight angle by Cai Jones to put further pressure on the Cofis and when the line out was overthrown centre Ifan Jones and Carwyn Ellis nearly worked their magic but for an inspiring try saving tackle by flanker Mike Downey. The next visitor scrum, three minutes prior to the break was however within striking distance and the cohesive forward advance saw Carwyn Ellis collect and ground close to the posts thus affording Delwyn Jones the added conversion and a Nant halftime lead of 10 points to 3.

The Cofis first half thrusts had been thwarted confidently by Nant so it was against the norm when within minutes of the restart that Cofi Carwyn Roberts breached the defence and with opposite wing Dylan Gwyn  timing his incision to perfection enough confusion was caused to allow the winger to charge over the whitewash. The boot of Dom Yau drew the scores level yet again. From this point onwards the Cofis probably played one of their best halves of rugby of the season with each and every player contributing in both attack and defence.

Their enthusiasm on occasions meant that they spurned possible kickable penalties but after twelve minutes of the half Dom Yau was again summoned to slot over a penalty to nudge Caernarfon in front. Minutes later following a sustained try line onslaught Mike Downey could easily have been granted a grounding but Nant emerged intact. Such a deliberation could have proved costly for the Cofis for Nant once again mounted a challenge with second row Carwyn Roberts highly efficient in gaining good lineout ball.

As the rain returned a series of scrums and surges brought Nant into the danger zone and when the evergreen Carwyn Ellis once again marshalled his troops they paved the way for him to score his second of the afternoon to nudge Nant ahead with five minutes to play.

The pressure on all was evident from the restart but the Cofis succeeded to contain Nant within their twenty two and with time running out an offside call granted Dom Yau the one opportunity required to ensure that Nant were sent home to think again.