Fixture

This WRU Plate, 1st Round match, provided more than its fair share of thrills and spills as two young, evenly matched and relatively inexperienced sides provided their loyal band of supporters with an exciting brand of all out attack. Both sides had phases of dominance but all too often the initiative gained was surrendered due to inexperience at pivotal moments.

It was the Cofis with the wind at their backs that had the better of the opening exchanges with centre Dafydd Lloyd Williams constantly on the charge. Two penalty efforts came Caernarfon's way with stand off Aled Jones opening the scoring with his second effort after eight minutes. However Llangefni responded with an excellent try when stand off Sior Grieves deceived and wrong footed the defence to bring centre Greg Horsman onto the ball at pace, together with a clear path to the line. Richard Foulkes duly added the conversion.

The arrears were again reduced by another Aled Jones penalty on the half hour  but  from the restart constant pressure by the home pack saw them approach the red zone and with good ball retention they created the space required for Grieves to waltz through and score and afford Foulkes the added extras once again.  Some uncertainty in execution saw some opportunities lost but eventually a neat chip through by scrum half Gareth Patchett was well anticipated by wing Tomos Huw and he duly won the chase to ground successfully. Jones's conversion drew the Cofis to within a point once again. However, as had happened on numerous occasions previously, a lack of concentration granted Llangefni yet another foothold deep in Cofi territory, ending with Dion Oliver crashing over to become their third converted try of the half with Foulkes's contribution.

Once again, with half time looming, the Cofis conjured up a reply when a Dafydd Lloyd Williams charge from former lineout possession saw him take numerous defenders with him to ground over the line with Jones's boot again adding the extras.

The second half followed the same pattern with fresh legs being added early by the Cofis. Prop Pedr Jones, on his first team debut, showed a desire and experience beyond his years with fellow front rower Shaun Owen also effective in the loose.

The issuing of two yellow cards created more space in general with a Carwyn Roberts break from within his own half being continued by Mac Jones from the half way line. His deceptive pace left a trail of would be tacklers in his wake as he ran in to score a fine individual try after some sixty minutes to grant the Cofis a lead that they had not held since the eighth minute.  

Again the cushion could not be protected, for a series of errors from the restart gave Cefni the initiative and their onward rush did not stop until flanker Eifion Roberts had duly crossed the try line. Richard Foulkes again converted and it appeared that he could have secured a home victory when he slotted an additional penalty with ten minutes to play.

Many had given a good account of themselves but the work ethic of both openside flankers, Eifion Roberts and Michael Downey deserved special praise. The Cofis then sensed a chance when a clever Roberts chip to the corner created pressure followed by another yellow card reducing Cefni to fourteen for tackling within ten meters following a quick tap and go. Soon Patchett's repeat quick tap routine  found the safe hands of Armando Morgan who deftly offloaded to Mac Jones who once again had the pace and strength to squeeze over. With time running out Cefni were caught in possession and from the resultant scrum wing Dylan Gwyn gained sufficient yardage to bring his side to within striking distance. One further offside transgression finally gave the Cofis the opportunity to snatch victory and Aled Jones once again came to his sides rescue as he slotted the all important tie winning penalty.