Fixture

With both Dolgellau and Caernarfon unbeaten in their opening fixtures it was time for the first floodlight game of the season when the Cofis travelled south to Dolgellau on Friday night. With a number of key players unavailable, the visitors squared up to what looked like a very strong Dolgellau side, knowing full well they would have to be at their very best to take anything from the game. The early stages of the game were played in the middle of the park with a succession of elementary errors cancelling out both teams efforts to play attacking, running rugby.

It was a change of tactic, however, that would bring about the first score of the evening when a speculative kick ahead saw an infringement by the home side on their own 22 metre line. The resulting scrum saw outside centre Owain 'butch' Williams run a perfect line, shrugging off several attempted tackles to score near the posts. With Williams himself adding the extras it appeared that the young Cofis were finally settling into their game. What then became apparent, however, was that Dolgellau were up for this contest and sustained pressure from the kick-off eventually saw flanker Cai Lewis Smith crash over near the corner flag. With the conversion attempt unsuccessful it was the Cofis turn to put pressure on the home sides defence, but once again poor handling allowed the hosts to regain possession and launch a counter attack. On this occasion it was the home sides No 13, Owain Thomas,who was to provide the inspiration when a clever kick ahead allowed him to show his pace in a foot race to the try line. Co-center Gwion Jones added the extras giving the home side a slender 12 -7 lead.

With time running out in the first half, the visitors were clearly becoming frustrated, and this frustration soon turned into indiscipline when they were reduced to 14 men following a yellow card. With the home side looking to take full advantage of the extra man it was to take some excellent tackling by the Caernarfon backs to prevent them from extending their lead.
With only moments of the half remaining, a rare foray into the home side half of the pitch saw the referee produce another yellow card, on this occasion reducing the hosts to fourteen men.

It appeared that the half time team talk had had the desired effect as the visitors then began to play with considerably more intent than shown during the first period. With Caernarfon now in the ascendancy a quickly taken penalty again allowed centre Williams the opportunity to show his strength, powering over to restore the visitors lead. With the bit now firmly between their teeth the Cofis clearly wanted more and a surging run by the ever present number eight (and man of the match), Llew Williams, allowed him to provide the perfect off load for supporting scrum half Rhys Williams to score under the posts. Centre Williams was again successful with his kick, giving the visitors a slender seven point lead going into the final quarter of the game.

With Caernarfon seemingly determined to consolidate their lead further attacks ensued on the home sides defence. On one such occasion, however, a poor pass saw an interception and allowed the home sides number eight to sprint in unchallenged.

With the conversion successful the game entered the final stages with the scores level and all the indications that the spoils were to be shared. There was more drama to unfold, however, when a penalty to the visitors resulted in the visitors regaining a three point lead.

With the referee signalling the last play of the match the watching supporters could have been excused for thinking that the young Cofis had continued their winning run. Indiscipline was once again to prove their downfall and a final penalty of the game allowed the home side to slot over and salvage a creditable 22- 22 draw.

While this performance will have afforded encouragement to the coaches, it is evident that there is some hard work to be done in preparation for the visit to the Morfa of league leaders Nant Conwy next week.