League: Adran 1 Gogledd/League 1 North

Nant Conwy v Caernarfon

Nant Conwy 32 – 14 Caernarfon
Saturday saw Caernarfon visit Pant Carw for this top-of-the-table clash, the current leaders versus the second placed team. Caernarfon would have had great expectations for a good result in this game, being the only team to beat Nant Conwy in the league with a narrow victory last November. Added to the two draws between these teams last season, this had all the hallmarks of being a close and tense encounter.
Though 9 points separated the two teams in the league, Caernarfon had a game in hand and a favourable result could bring them within 4 points of Nant, still with the game in hand. Conversely, a favourable result for Nant would see them pull clear. This could prove to be an all-to-play-for match for both teams.
The match lived up to expectations with each side putting everything into the game of uncompromising rugby.  Twice Caernarfon led, twice Nant pulled back to take the lead; on the second occasion they did so, it would not be relinquished.
Caernarfon applied pressure from the start and got an early opening try and conversion after 4 minutes. Eschewing a simple looking penalty kick in front of the posts, the visitors opted for scrum. A switch move caught the defence out and the number 13 went over for the try
Nant reduced the score within minutes through an unconverted try in the corner. Again it came from a scrum close to the try line. Sam Hughes picked up and, though stopped short, the ball was recycled for Carwyn Davies to dive into the corner.
Nant took the lead on 18 minutes through a penalty by Caron Davies following a strong run by Tomos Williams giving them good field position. The lead was increased further within a few minutes with an unconverted try. A loose pass by Nant was cleaned up just inside his own half by Tomos Williams. From the ensuing ruck the ball was moved to Gruff Roberts, who slipped one tackle and handed off two more attempts on a 55 metre run to the line.
Caernarfon pressured Nant from the restart and again ignored a kickable penalty, instead going for the corner, planning to use the heavier pack to drive over. Nant resisted well but eventually ran out of cover allowing the kick-pass to the right wing for an unopposed run in. The conversion gave Caernarfon a lead of 13 – 14.
No score was added in the remainder of the half which was mostly played in the Nant half producing some tenacious defence from the home side.
After an even, if scrappy, start to the second half Nant began to gain the upper-hand in terms of possession and territory.  A line-out on the visitor’s 22 saw the ball moved out to Gwion Jones. His inside pass found Sion Pringle, whose run from the left wing to the right corner opened up the defence. Despite being tackled on the line he was able to set up the ruck and Deian Roberts, who had just come on at scrum-half, was on hand to grab the touch down. The conversion by Caron Davies put Nant ahead by 20 – 14.
Caernarfon tried to hit back immediately but conceded a scrum when the ball carrier was held up on the Nant 22. This resulted in probably the best move of the game. From the scrum Deian Roberts broke down the right wing. Having dummied the covering winger he got to the opposition 10 metre line, putting a kick inside to the 22 before being tackled. The kick was gathered by Ifan Williams and from the ruck the ball was passed to Ifan Pyrs. He drew several tacklers before popping the ball back to Roberts whose cross-field kick found Gruff Roberts to beat the last defender and go over. Though the conversion failed Nant were ahead 25 – 14.
With 10 minutes to go Caernarfon were enjoying a spell in the Nant 22. A seven point score here would have set the nerves jangling. However, an attempted quick penalty by Caernarfon resulted in a knock-on and a scrum for Nant. From here Nant were able to clear the ball through a 50/22 kick by Davies. Although Caernarfon got hands to it, Aron Jones went through to gather the loose ball. Eventually it found Sam Hughes who had joined the backline and he shrugged off several defenders to get the score. Davies’ conversion made the result more or less safe at 32 – 14 with a few minutes to go.
A great match to which both teams contributed immensely. Nant now face Bethesda on 7 April at Pant Carw.

Match ball Sponsor

                                   

Diolch yn Fawr i /A huge Thank You to

Tÿ gwyn, Rowen

am noddi y bêl i’r gêm yn erbyn Caernarfon/for sponsoring the match ball against Caernarfon

Mi fydd y pres yn mynd tuag ag ddadansoddi gêm a chasglu ystadegau o’r gêm er mwyn datblygu y garfan hŷn

The money will go towards analysing the game and collecting statistics in order to develop the senior squad

Ty Gwyn is a beautiful pub in the village of Rowen in the Conwy Valley close to the town of Conwy. It is near a campsite which is popular with walkers throughout the year, and so a perfect place for refreshments. Food is served daily. The pub is filled with character and has a large beer garden with outstanding views. The pub also has regular fuctions including a quiz. When the weather is good there is live entertainment in the gardens. A beautiful pub all year round.

Mae Tŷ Gwyn yn dafarn hardd ym mhentref Rowen yn Nyffryn Conwy, nepell o dref Conwy. Mae’n agos at safle gwersylla sy’n boblogaidd gyda cherddwyr drwy gydol y flwyddyn, ac felly’n lle perffaith i gael ychydig o luniaeth. Mae bwyd ar gael bob dydd. Mae’r dafarn yn llawn cymeriad ac mae ganddi ardd gwrw fawr gyda golygfeydd rhyfeddol. Mae’r dafarn hefyd yn cynnal digwyddiadau rheolaidd gan gynnwys cwis. Pan fydd y tywydd yn dda, mae adloniant byw yn y gerddi. Tafarn hardd drwy’r flwyddyn gyfan.

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Nant Conwy v Y Bala

NANT CONWY 45 – 18 Y BALA

Roedd y dechrau braidd yn ddi-drefn yn y gêm hon a hynny gan y ddwy ochr. Pasio anghywir, cicio blȇr cyflym, fflapio wrth daflu llinellau oedd bron pob peth ar y dydd. Fodd bynnag, cynhyrchodd Nant Conwy 30 munud olaf cryf, ac, yn ystod y cyfnod hwnnw bu iddynt sgorio 4 cais, i ychwanegu at y tri chais y bu iddynt eu sgorio‘n yr hanner cyntaf, gan gymryd mantais fawr yn y diwedd.

Roedd Bala wedi eistedd yn bedwerydd yn y tabl cyn y gêm hon, wedi colli dim ond un gêm ers eu cyfarfyddiad â Nant Conwy yr Hydref diwethaf, ac roeddent yn benderfynol o gael rhywbeth allan o’r gêm. Roeddent wedi dal y flaenoriaeth ddwywaith ond yn hytrach na gallu adeiladu ar hyn, dim ond helpu i gynyddu ymdrechion Nant welwyd.

Rhoddodd cic gosb gynnar y Bala ar y blaen ond tarodd Nant yn ôl o fewn 15 munud. Dau gais mewn cylchdroad cyflym trwy Cai a Gwion Jones a throsi gan Caron Davies yn rhoi mantais o 12 – 3 i Nant. Roedd hyn tra’r oedd rhif 10 y Bala’n y fasged cywilydd (Sin Bin), y cerdyn melyn wedi’i ddangos pan oedd tri chwaraewr o’r Bala yn dal ar chwaraewr Nant a gymerodd gic gosb gynnar.

Unwaith y cafwyd y chwaraewyr yn ôl i bymtheg, gostyngodd Bala’r flaenoriaeth gyda chais wedi’i drosi ac yna cipiwyd yr arweinyddiaeth denau 12 – 13 trwy drosi cic gosb.

Roedd yn ymddangos y byddai Bala yn mynd â’r arweinyddiaeth hon ymlaen i’r hanner amser ond cafodd eu hysbryd ei dorri pan estynnodd Brychan Dafydd tros y linell, gyda’r trosiad yn rhoi Nant ar y blaen o 19 pwynt i 13, ar chwiban diwedd yr hanner.

Dilynodd y deg munud cyntaf o’r ail hanner batrwm y hanner cyntaf yn sicr. Yna sgoriodd Nant y cais pwynt bonws drwy Carwyn Davies ac yn fuan wedi hynny daeth dau gais arall drwy Carwyn Ellis a Cai Jones, gyda dau wedi’u trosi gan Caron Davies.

Yna tynnodd y Bala un yn ôl wedi sawl cosb ger llinell Nant a hefyd gwelwyd chwaraewr Nant yn derbyn cerdyn melyn. Ymhen pedair munud ac, er eu bod yn chwarae gyda chwaraewr yn llai, estynnodd Nant y fantais unwaith eto pan ymestynodd Gwion Jones drosodd ar gyfer ei ail gais – un y gwnaeth Cain Jones ei drosi.

Trawsnewidodd gêm rhedeg Nant a’i chwarae cefnogol i fod yn wahaniaeth yn y gêm hon. Bu’r cynnig cyntaf gan Cai Jones yn ganlyniad i dorriad gan Sam Hughes a chefnogaeth agos gan Ifan Williams i roi Jones i mewn.

Cliriodd Gwion Jones bêl rydd ar ôl symudiad gan y tri chwarteri, ac er ei bod wedi troi ei gefn at y gwrthwynebwyr, anfonodd nhw i’r ffordd anghywir cyn cyffwrdd i lawr.

Daeth y cais cyntaf i’r Bala o chwarae agored ar ôl torriad canol cae cyn i Dafydd gael ei gais, gan dorri drwodd yn dilyn symudiad o’r chwith i’r dde.

Dilynodd cais Davies wrth daro cic glirio i lawr. Ar ôl sawl gyriad ymlaen ar y chwith gan y blaenwyr, symudwyd y bêl i’r adain dde ar gyfer y cais. Cais Ellis yn unig ddaeth o fod yn agos pan wnaeth ei redeg onglog, gan gymryd y bêl ar gyflymder, adael y gwarchodwyr yn dal awyr yn unig. Hwn yn gais arall I’r oedolyn ar ddydd ei benblwydd yn sawl degawd oed!

Dilynodd ail gais Cai Jones o rediad o ddyfnder hanner Nant gan Deian Roberts, a roddodd amser poenus i’w wrthwynebydd, ac a ddarparodd y pas sgorio tu fewn.

Roedd ail gais Bala yn ganlyniad i ymgyrchoedd gyrru parhaus yn agos at linell Nant.

Dilynodd ail gais Gwion Jones nifer o chwarae gam wrth gam a welodd y bêl yn cael ei hailgylchu’n gyflym ag ef yn torri drwy amddiffynfa’r gwrthwynebwyr i gyffwrdd wrth y pyst.

Y gêm nesaf i Nant yw’r gwrthdrawiad hollbwysig ar ben uchaf y tabl gartref yn erbyn Caernarfon ar yr 28ain Chwefror yn Pant Carw.

It was a somewhat scrappy start to this game from both sides. Stray passes, rushed kicks, flapping at line-out throws seemed to be the order of the day. However, Nant Conwy produced a strong last 30 minutes, during which they scored 4 tries, to add to the three they scored in the first half, to pull well clear in the end.

Bala sat fourth in the table prior to this game, having lost only one game since their encounter with Nant Conwy last October, and were determined to get something from this game. They twice held the lead but instead of being able to build on this it served only to increase Nant’s efforts.

An early penalty put Bala ahead but Nant struck back within 15 minutes. Two tries in quick succession through Cai and Gwion Jones and a conversion by Caron Davies gave Nant a 12 – 3 lead. This was whilst the Bala stand-off was in the sin bin, the yellow card having been shown when three Bala players held on to a Nant player taking a quick penalty.

Once restored to fifteen players Bala reduced the lead with a converted try and then took a slender 12 – 13 lead through a penalty conversion.

It looked like Bala would take this lead into half-time but were disheartened when Brychan Dafydd went over, the conversion putting Nant ahead by 19 points to 13, on the stroke of half-time.

The first 10 minutes of the second half initially followed the pattern of the first half. Nant then got the bonus point try through Carwyn Davies and this was soon followed by two more from Carwyn Ellis and a second for Cai Jones, with two being converted by Caron Davies.

Bala then pulled one back following several penalties near Nant’s line which also saw a Nant player shown a yellow card. Within four minutes and despite being a player down, Nant again stretched the lead when Gwion Jones went over for his second which was converted by Cain Jones.

Nant’s running game and support play proved to be the difference in this game. Cai Jones’s first try was the result of a break by Sam Hughes and close support by Ifan Williams to put Jones in.

Gwion Jones cleared up a loose ball following a three-quarter move, and despite having his back to the opposition sent them the wrong way before touching down.

Bala’s first try came from open play following a midfield break before Dafydd got his try, breaking through following a left to right move.

Davies’s try followed the charge-down of an attempted clearance kick. After several forward drives on the left, the ball was moved to the right wing for the try. Ellis’s try was the only one from close in when his angled run, taking the ball at speed, left the defence grasping at air.

Cai Jones’s second followed a run from deep within the Nant half by Deian Roberts, who had given his opposite number a torrid time, and who provided the inside scoring pass.

Bala’s second try was as the result of sustained driving close to Nant’s line.

Gwion Jones’s second followed a number of phases which saw the ball quickly recycled and him cutting through the opposition defence to touch down near the posts.

Nant’s next game is the all-important top of the table clash at home against Caernarfon on 28 February at Pant Carw.

     

 

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Bae Colwyn v Nant Conwy

Diolch i/Thanks to Ifor Glyn

Bae Colwyn Bay 0 – 78 Nant Conwy (31.01.26)
Sgorwyr NANT CONWY Scorers:
Ceisiau / Tries: Sion Pringle (2), Deian Roberts (2), Ifan Williams, Caron Davies, Tomos Williams, Cai Jones, Ellis Fôn, Carwyn Ellis, Sam Hughes & Cais Cosb / Penalty Try
Trosoiadau / Conversions: Caron Davies (8) & 1 trosiad cais cosb (& 1 Penalty try conversion)

Dechreuodd Nant y gȇm hon ar dȃn, Yn fuan wedi’r gic gyntaf, cafwyd sgrym ar ‘22’ y tîm cartref. Enillwyd y bȇl a phasiwyd hi allan ar hyd y linell cefnwyr gan adael yr asgellwr Sion osgoi tri thacl i dirio cyn i Caron drosi (yr un cyntaf o with trosiad llwyddiannus iddo). Hyn i gyd wedi tri munud yn unig.
Daeth yr ail gais wedi 10 munud yn dilyn sgrym i Fae Colwyn 5 metr o’u llinell. Bu iddynt ennill y bȇl ond, yn anffodus iddynt hwy goillyngwyd y bȇl wrth geisio rhedeg allan ag ymatebodd Ifan yn gynt na neb wrth godi’r bȇl rhydd a phlymio trosodd ger y pyst. Caron yn trosi eto.
Wedi 19 munud enillodd Nant y bȇl yng nghanol y cae a phasiwyd hi allan i’r chwith. I orffen y symudiad a sgorio cais gwelwyd Deian, yr asgellwr de yn troi’i fyny o unlle i gymryd y pas a thorri drwy’r tacl olaf i gael cais yn y gornel.
Gwelwyd Bae Colwyn yn taflu i fewn o’r linell ochr ar eu ‘22’ eu hunain wedi 24 munud. Cwblhawyd y symundiad hwnnw’n llwyddiannus ganddynt ond, unwaith eto, trawyd y bȇl i’r llawr gydag ymosodwyr Nant yn bachu ar y cyfle i basio i’r chwith eto gyda Sion yn tirio fel asgellwr chwith da.
Cyrhaeddodd y sgôr nesaf wedi 32 munud pan drowyd y bȇl drosodd ar ‘22’ Nant a bu i’r cefnwyr symud y bȇl yn gywrain o’r fan honno gan orffen gyda’r Capten, Caron yn tirio o dan y pyst ac yn trosi’i gais ei hun.
Dri munud yn ddiweddarach, wrth i Fae Colwyn gicio’r bȇl i lawr y maes wrth amddiffyn, casglwyd y bȇl gan flaenwyr Nant a bu iddynt gyd-chwarae nes cyrraedd y linell gartref yn y diwedd gyda’r ail reng Tomos yn plymio trosodd yn fuddugoliaethus. Trosiad llwyddiannus arall gan Caron.
Daeth cais olaf yr hanner cyntaf wrthj i’r cefnwyr ymosod i’r chwith cyn pasio’n ôl tua’r dde. Yng ngahnol y cae, bu i Ellis Fôn (rhif 10) gicio’n uchel tua’r asgell dde lle y bu i Deian gasglu’r bȇl o’r awyr a rhuthro trosodd am gais gyda Caron yn trosi.
Sgôr o 0 – 45 qr yr hanner felly!
Gwelwyd y tîm acrtref yn llawer mwy cystadleuol yn yr ail hanner er nad ymddangosai felly wedi 4 munud o chwarae. Cosbwyd y Bae ddwywaith wrth ymyl eu llinell a phan y bu iddynt droseddu am y drydedd waith, bu i’r dyfarnwr benderfynu rhoi cais cosb i Nant (cyfanswm o 7 bwynt, wrth gwrs).
Roedd 17 munud o’r ail hanner wedi’i chwarae pan godwyd y bȇl gan Nant ar eu ‘22’ eu hunian a gwelwyd symudiadau celfydd yn ôl ag ymlaen ymysg y cefnwyr gyda’r hannerwr, Cai yn gorffen y symundiad ar yr asgell dde gyda chais a droswyd gan Caron.
Gwelwyd sgoriwr arall newydd wedi 67 munud pan fu i Ellis Fôn ryng-gipio’r bȇl yn ddwfn yn ei hanner ei hun a rhedeg yn chwim i sgorio cais o dan y pyst gyda Caron yn trosi eto.
Wedi i Nant ddod a’u holl eilyddion ymlaen, braf oedd gweld yr hen ben, Carwyn yn cael cais arall i’w gasgliad enfawr wrth i bac Nant wthio trosodd o sgrym 5. Daeth trosiad arall gan Caron yma.
Cyrhaeddodd sgôr olaf y gȇm ddau funud o’r diwedd wrth i’r blaenwyr ymosod ar y linell yn ddi-baid gyda Sam y tro hwn yn plymio drwy dacl i sgorio cais.
Rhoddodd hyn sgôr derfynol o 0 – 78.
Bydd Nant yn chwarae nesaf ymhen pythefnos (14.02.26) pan groesewir Y Bala i Bant Carw.

This game of Nant started cleverly. Soon after the first kick, there was a scrum on the ’22’ of the home team. The ball was won and passed along the back line, leaving the winger Sion to evade three tackles to score before Caron converted (his first successful conversion). All of this happened in just three minutes.

The second try came 10 minutes later following a scrum on the Colwyn Bay 5 meter line. They managed to win the ball but, unfortunately for them, lost it while attempting to run it out, and Ifan reacted faster than anyone when picking up the loose ball and diving over by the posts. Caron converted again.
After 19 minutes, Nant won the ball in the middle of the field and passed it out to the left. To finish off the move and score a try, Deian, the right winger, was seen turning up from nowhere to take the pass and cut through the final tackle to score a try in the corner.
Colwyn Bay were throwing in from the sideline on their own ’22’ after 24 minutes. That move was successfully completed by them, but once again, the ball was knocked to the ground with Nant’s attackers seizing the opportunity to pass to the left again, with Sion scoring as a good left winger.
The next score arrived after 32 minutes when the ball was turned over on Nant’s 22 and the full-backs moved the ball skillfully from there, ending with the captain, Caron, grounding it under the posts and converting his own try.
Three minutes later, as Colwyn Bay kicked the ball downfield from defence, it was gathered by Nant’s forwards who played together until they finally reached the home line, with second-row player Tomos diving over in triumph. Another successful conversion by Caron.
The final try of the first half saw all the backs combine to attack to the left before passing back to the right. In the centre of the field, Ellis Fôn (number 10) kicked high towards the right wing where Deian collected the ball from the air and rushed over for a try with Caron converting.
A score of 0 – 45 at half time then!
The home team was seen to be much more competitive in the second half, although it did not seem so after 4 minutes of play. The Bay were penalised twice near their line, and when they offended for the third time, the referee decided to award Nant a penalty try (a total of 7 points, of course).

Seventeen minutes into the second half, the ball was picked up by Nant on their own ’22’, and there were skillful back-and-forth movements among the backs, with the scrum-half, Cai, finishing the move on the right wing with a try converted by Caron.
There was another new scorer after 67 minutes when Ellis Fôn intercepted the ball deep in his own half and ran quickly to score a try under the posts, with Caron converting again.
After Nant brought all their substitutes forward, it was nice to see the veteran, Carwyn, getting another try to add to his huge tally as Nant’s pack pushed over from a scrum 5. Another conversion by Caron came here.
The final score of the game finally came two minutes later as the forwards relentlessly attacked the line, with Sam this time diving through a tackle to score a try.
This brought the final score to 0 – 78.
Nant will next play in a fortnight (14.02.26) when Y Bala will visit Pant Carw.

 

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Nant Conwy v Llandudno

Diolch i/Thanks to Ifor Glyn

NANT CONWY – 45 v LLANDUDNO – 7

Sgorwyr Nant Conwy scorers:

Ceisiau / Tries : Gwion Jones (3), Ellis Fôn, Deian Roberts, Cai Jones & Caron Davies

Trosiadau / Conversions : Caron Davies (5)

Pan yn blentyn, roeddwn yn chwarae gemau ‘Ymosod ag Amddiffyn’ gyda chriw bychan o fy ffrindiau pȇl-droed. Tybiaf fod y term hwnnw o ‘ymosod ag amddiffyn’ yn hynod addas am y gȇm hon.

Yn ystod y chwarter cyntaf, gwelwyd Nant yn ymosod yn gyson a’r ymwelwyr yn ceisio’u gorau i amddiffyn. Wedi 4 munud o chwarae, gwelwyd rhif 13 Nant, Gwion Jones, yn sgorio’i gais cyntaf allan o dri. Nant yn pasio’r bȇl o’r chwith i’r dde rhwng y cefnwyr yn ‘22’ Llandudno ag yna, yn ôl i’r chwith lle bu i Gwion groesi’n y gornel.

Wedi 10 munud o chwarae, enillodd Nant dafliad i mewn, eto y nagos i linell yr ymwelwyr. Pasiwyd y bȇl ymysg y cefnwyr eto a bu i Ellis Fôn (rhif 10) ddod ar lŵp i groesi am yr ail gais – un a droswyd gan Caron Davies (12 – Capten)

Ar 17 munud, enillodd Nant sgrym fymryn yn eu hanner eu hunain a chyda phasio cywrain eto ymysg y cefnwyr, plymiodd Gwion trosodd am ei ail gais o’r gȇm.

Am ail chwarter yr hanner cyntaf gwelwyd newid yn y chwarae gyda Llandudno’n ymosod a Nant yn amddiffyn yn gadarn. Y duedd oedd i’r ymwelwyr gario’r bȇl ymysg y blaenwyr heb ennill fawr o dir. Ni sgoriwyd unrhyw bwyntiau’n y cyfnod hwn.

Am 10 munud cyntaf yr ail hanner, ni newidiodd y patrwm unwaith eto gyda’r ymwelwyr yn parhau i ymosod yn gyson. Ond, enillodd Nant y bȇl mewn ryc y tu allan i’w ‘22’ eu hunain ag i ffwrdd a’r cefnwyr gan orffen y symudiad wrth i Deian Roberts (14) sgorio ger y pyst a llwyddodd Caron gyda’r trosiad i ennill y pwynt bonws am sgorio 4 cais.

Dychwelyd i’r un patrwm wedyn gyda Llandudno’n chwarae ymysg y blaenwyr a Nant yn amddiffyn yn ddyfal. Ond, wedi 34 munud o’r ail hanner, bu i Nant gael gafael ar y bȇl yn eu hanner eu hunain a gwelwyd ymosodiad celfydd gan rai o’r cefnwyr ar yr asgell chwith a orffenodd gyda Gwion yn cael ei ‘hat tric’ o geisiau. Caron yn llwyddo gyda’r trosiad eto.

Dau funud yn ddiweddarach, bu i’r eilydd Cain Jones (22) ennill y bȇl mewn ryc yn dilyn cyfnod o bwyso ar linell yr ymwelwyr a phlymio trosodd am gais a droswyd gan Caron.

O’r ail ddechrau yn dilyn sgorio’r cais, gwelwyd blaenwyr Llandudno’n chware’n debyg i’r hyn a wnaethant drwy’r gȇm gyda’r gwahaniaeth y tro hwn i gais (a throsiad) gael ei sgorio yn dilyn cyfres o dair chwibanaid am gam ymddwyn gan Nant ychydig tu allan i’w llinel i roi sgôr o 38 – 7.

Ond nid dyma ddiwedd y sgorio. Yn eiliadau olaf y gȇm, gwelwyd chware tebyg i’r gwrthwynebwyr gan flaenwyr Nant y tro hwn gyda’r symuniad olaf, fwy neu lai, yn dod trwy bas hir i Caron a dorrodd drwodd i sgorio’r cais olaf a throsi’i gais ei hun.

Sgôr derfynol o 45 – 7 felly.

Dydd Sadwrn nesaf, gobeithia Nant chwarae y tîm arall o Sir Conwy sy’n chware yn Adran 1 y Gogledd,sef, Bae Colwyn. Bydd y gem honno i ffwrdd yn y Bae ag edrychir ymlaen yn fawr at ymweld ȃ’r Bae.

As a child, I used to play ‘Attack and Defence’ games with a small number of my football friends. I suppose that term ‘attack and defence’ is very fitting for this game.

During the first quarter, Nant was seen attacking constantly and the visitors trying their best to defend. After 4 minutes of play, Nant’s number 13, Gwion Jones, scored his first of three tries. Nant was passing the ball from left to right between the backs in Llandudno’s ‘22’ and then back to the left where Gwion managed to cross in the corner.

After 10 minutes of play, Nant won a throw-in, yet again close to the visitors’ line. The ball was passed among the backs again and Ellis Fôn (number 10) came on a loop to cross for the second try – one converted by Caron Davies (12 – Captain).

At 17 minutes, Nant won a scrum just in their own half and with some neat passing again among the backs, Gwion dived over for his second try of the game.

In the second quarter of the first half, there was a change in play with Llandudno attacking and Nant defending solidly. The tendency was for the visitors to carry the ball among the forwards without gaining much ground. No points were scored during this period.

For the first 10 minutes of the second half, the pattern did not change again, with the visitors continuing to attack consistently. However, Nant quickly won the ball outside their own ‘22’ and ran away from the defenders, finishing the move as Deian Roberts (14) scored near the posts, and Caron succeeded with the conversion to earn the bonus point for scoring 4 tries.

The match returned to the same pattern then with Llandudno playing among the forwards and Nant defending doggedly. But, after 34 minutes of the second half, Nant gained control of the ball in their own half and a clever attack was seen by some of the backs on the left wing, finishing with Gwion completing his ‘hat trick’ of tries. Caron succeeded with the conversion again.

Two minutes later, substitute Cain Jones (22) won the ball in a ruck following a period of pressure on the visitors’ line and dived over for a try which was converted by Caron.

From the restart following the scoring of the try, Llandudno’s forwards played similarly to what they had done throughout the game, but with the difference this time being that a try (and conversion) was scored following a series of three penalties for misconduct by Nant just outside their line to give a score of 38–7.

But this was not the end of the scoring. In the final moments of the game, similar play to that seen from the opponents was played by Nant. Nant’s forwards this time making the final move, more or less, through a long pass to Caron who broke through to score the final try which he converted himself.

Thus a final score of 45 – 7.

Next Saturday, hopefully Nant will play the other team from Conwy County who play in Division 1 North, namely, Colwyn Bay. That game will be away at the Bay and we are really looking forward to visiting the Bay.

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Wrecsam v Nant Conwy

Wrecsam 18 – 37 Nant Conwy

Roedd hon wastad yn mynd i fod yn gêm anodd a byddai angen i Nant fod ar ben eu gêm os oeddent am ennill a chael pwynt bonws hanfodol. Llwyddasant i wneud y ddau trwy sgorio mwy na Wrecsam, 5 cais i ddau, ond mae’n rhaid iddynt fod yn siomedig ynghylch sut y cafodd ceisiau tîm cartref eu sgorio. Daeth y ddau yn dilyn rhyng-gipio gipio pan oedd yn edrych fel pe bai Nant ar fin sgorio.

Er ei bod yn gêm heb ddim yn cael ei roi i ffwrdd gan y naill ochr na’r llall, chwaraewyd hi mewn ysbryd da, er bod pedwar cerdyn melyn a sawl achos o gosbau wedi cael eu symud 10 metr ymlaen.

Roedd y 15 munud agoriadol yn eithaf cytbwys er efallai bod Wrecsam wedi treulio mwy o amser yn hanner y ymwelwyr. Daeth y flaenoriaeth pan drosodd capten Nant, Caron Davies, gic gosb ychydig y tu hwnt i linell 10 metr Wrecsam. Dilynwyd hyn 10 munud yn ddiweddarach gan y cais agoriadol. Cafodd pas a syrthiodd gan Wrecsam yn eu 22 ei hadennill gan Nant ac, ar ôl ychydig o ryciau, aeth Tomos Williams drosodd am y cais, a droswyd gan Davies fel y disgwylid.

Daeth Wrecsam yn ôl gyda chig gosb eu hunain ond o’r ailgychwyn, pwysodd Nant ar amddiffyn y tîm cartref. Daeth trosiant i ben gyda scrym i Nant. Enillodd y pac sawl metr ac yna, o fewn dau bas, aeth Sion Pringle drosodd yn y gornel i roi Nant ar y blaen 15 – 3.

Roedd gweddill y hanner yn fater o fynd yn ôl ac ymlaen, yn bennaf rhwng y ddwy linell deg metr nes i’r cerdyn melyn cyntaf ymddangos ar glo’r hanner, pan wnaeth asgellwr Wrecsam ymosodiad di-law ar ryc.

Ymhen ychydig funudau i’r ail hanner ddechrau, cipiodd Nant y bêl o linell allan ar linell 5 metr Wrecsam. Symudwyd y bêl yn gyflym i’r dde a ymestynnodd Pringle drosodd am ei ail gais.

Yna sgoriodd Wrecsam gais i leihau’r flaenoriaetgh. Roedd yn ymddangos bod Nant, gyda chwaraewyr yn sbar gyda’r linell o fewn golwg, ar fin sgorio, ond cafwyd rhybng-gipiad a rhedodd y chwaraewr ar draws y maes cyfan am y cais a droswyd yn llwyddiannus wedyn.

Yn fuan wedyn, dangoswyd cerdyn melyn arall yn erbyn Wrecsam am ladd y bêl oherwydd pwysau gan flaenwyr Nant. Dewisodd Nant gymryd sgrym a gyrrodd Sam Hughes drwy’r tafcliadau am gais (a’r pwynt bonws). Gosododd trosi Davies Nant ar y blaen o 27 – 10.

Yna cyfnewidiodd y timau drosiadau ciciau cosb, a dangoswyd cerdyn melyn yr un i’r ddau dîm, cyn i Nant gael eu pumed cais. Casglwyd cic fer ymlaen gan Nant a symudwyd y bêl ymlaen i Ifan Williams sgorio. Unwaith eto, trosodd Davies.

Gwelodd y symudiad olaf y gêm un rhyng-gipiad arall ger llinell Wrecsam. Er yr ataliwyd y chwaraewr a ryng gipiodd, roedd gan y tîm cartref y momentwm ac, ar ôl sawl ryc, bu iddynt sgorio yn y gornel i roi sgôr derfynol o 37 i 18 i Nant.

Yr wythnos nesaf mae gan Nant gêm anodd arall pan fyddant yn cwrdd â Llandudno ym Mhant Carw.

This was always going to a tough match and Nant would need to be on top of their game if they were to win and to gain an essential bonus point. They accomplished both by outscoring Wrecsam by 5 tries to two but they must be disappointed as to how the home team’s tries were scored. Both came from interceptions when it looked like Nant were about to score.

Although it was an uncompromising game from both sides, it was played in a good spirit, despite there being four yellow cards and several incidences of penalties being moved forward 10 metres.

The opening 15 minutes was fairly even though Wrecsam probably spent more time in the visitor’s half. The breakthrough came when Nant captain Caron Davies converted a penalty from a little past the Wrecsam 10 metre line. This was followed 10 minutes later by the opening try. A dropped pass by Wrecsam in their 22 was retrieved by Nant and, after a couple of rucks, Tomos Williams went over for the try, duly converted by Davies.

Wrecsam came back with a penalty of their own but from the restart Nant pressurised the home team’s defence. A turnover ended up with a scrum awarded to Nant. The pack gained several metres then within two passes Sion Pringle went over in the corner to put Nant ahead by 15 – 3.

The remainder of the half was a back and forth affair, mostly between the two ten metre lines until, on the stroke of half-time came the first yellow card when the Wrecsam winger made a no-arms sortie into a ruck.

Within a few minutes of the second half starting Nant stole the ball from a lineout on the Wrecsam 5 metre line. It was quickly move to the right and Pringle stretched over for his second try.

Wrecsam then pulled a try back. It looked like Nant, with an overlap and the line within sight, were about to score, but an interception was made and the player ran the length of the field for the try which was then converted.

Shortly after, the second yellow card was shown against Wrecsam for killing the ball under pressure from Nant forwards. Nant chose to take a scrum and Sam Hughes drove through the tackles for a try and the bonus point. The conversion by Davies put Nant 27 – 10 ahead.

The teams then exchanged penalty conversions, and each had a player shown a yellow card, before Nant got their fifth try. A chip ahead was gathered by Nant and the ball was moved forward for Ifan Williams to score. Again Davies converted.

The final move of the match saw another interception near the Wrecsam line. Though the breakaway player was stopped, the home team had the momentum and, after several rucks, scored in the corner to give a final scoreline of 37 to 18 in Nant’s favour.

Next week Nant have another tough game when they meet Llandudno at Pant Carw.

 

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Nant Conwy v Llangefni

Nant Conwy 53 – 0 Llangefni

Cyfarfu Nant Conwy a Llangefni am y tro cyntaf y tymor hwn gyda Nant yn dod allan yn fuddugol haeddiannol. Bu iddynt sgorio 9 cais i gyd a sicrhau eu pwynt bonws erbyn hanner amser. Sgoriodd dau chwaraewr hatric o geisiau’r un, sef, seren-y-gêm, Deian Roberts, a Sion Pringle, gyda cheisiau hefyd gan Brenig Hughes, Ifan Williams a Cain Jones a gwblhaodd 4 trosiad llwyddiannus.
Mwynhaodd Llangefni eu cyfran deg o berchnogaeth ond, heblaw am ychydig o achlysuron, ni allent wneud llawer o rediadau i hanner Nant. Roedd yr ymosodiadau tiriogaethol ganddynt yn dod yn gyffredinol drwy eu blaenwyr.
Bu I Nant, o’u rhan hwy, redeg y bêl cymaint â phosibl. Yn y pen draw, cawsant eu gwobrwyo pan ryddhaodd Pringle yr asgellwr Roberts i ffwrdd ar y chwith ac roedd ar gael i dderbyn y bas ddychwelyd a sgorio yn y gornel chwith. Dilynwyd hyn gan y cyntaf o geisiadau Roberts pan fu iddo osgoi taclo gan rhyw dri gwrthwynebydd ger y llinell gyffwrdd i redeg drwodd a sgorio.
Yna cafodd Pringle ei ail gais pan gwblhaodd symudiad llyfn ar draws y cae i’r gornel dde.
Yna bu i Hughes bweru drosodd i sicrhau’r pwynt bonws a sgôr hanner amser o 22 – 0.
Yn fuan ar ôl yr ail-gychwyn, cynyddodd Nant eu blaenoriaeth gyda chais allan o unlle. Cafodd ergyd clirio i mewn i 22 Llangefni ei dal yn ddiogel, gyda’r cludwr pêl yn gweld chwaraewyr cymorth ar y ddwy ochr iddo. Yn lle clirio neu basio, targedodd y cludwr y chwaraewr yn carlamu tuag ato sef, Roberts, a gipodd y bêl oddi wrth y cludwr a symud trosodd heb wrthwynebiad am ei ail gais.
Yna cafodd Pringle ei gais hat-tric pan fu i basio’n agos a chwarae cefnogol da ar yr asgell chwith gynhyrchu symudiad y gêm.
Y cam nesaf oedd cais hat-tric Roberts. Cafodd cic ysgafn gan Caron Davies ei tharo i ofod yn 22 Llangefni a gwelwyd Roberts yn rhagori ar bob amddiffynnwr. Daeth codiad pȇl llyfn yn ystod y ras ei alluogi i fynd drosodd yn y gornel.
Yna bu i’r blaenwyr gael eu hail gais o’r gêm trwy Ifan Williams, er erbyn hyn, roedd wedi symud i safle’r asgell chwith. Pas a ollynwyd yn hanner Llangefni gafodd ei gipio gan Nant a chymrodd Williams y pas i drechu’r amddiffyn ar gyfer cais rhif 8
Daeth y cais olaf gan Cain Jones. Enillodd Nant linnell a yrrodd y tîm i ddyfnder 22 yr ymwelwyr. Symudwyd y bêl yn gyflym i’r chwith i Jones fynd dros y gornel.
Dyma fuddugoliaeth foddhaol gan Nant. Y gȇm nesaf fydd Wrecsam, i ffwrdd – tîm sydd yn cael tymor da ac, ar hyn o bryd, yn sefyll yn bumed yn y tabl.

Nant Conwy and Llangefni eventually met for the first time this season with Nant running out convincing winners. They scored 9 tries in all and had their bonus point secured by half time. Two players, man-of-the-match, Deian Roberts, and Sion Pringle each bagged a hat-trick, with tries also coming from Brenig Hughes, Ifan Williams and Cain Jones, who also slotted 4 conversions.

Llangefni enjoyed their fair share of possession but, apart from a few occasions, were unable to make much inroads into the Nant half. What territorial advantage they had was generally gained through their forwards.

Nant, for their part, ran the ball as much as they could. They were eventually rewarded when Pringle put Roberts away down the left and was on hand to take the return pass and score in the left corner. This was followed by the first of Roberts’s tries when he somehow evaded three opponents near the touchline to race through and score.

Pringle then got his second when he finished off a flowing cross-field move in the right corner.

Hughes then powered over to secure the bonus point and a half-time score of 22 – 0.

Soon after the restart, Nant increased their lead with a try out of nowhere. A clearing kick into the Llangefni 22 was safely fielded, with the ball carrier having support players on either side of him. Instead of clearing or passing, the ball carrier targeted the chasing player, Roberts, who ripped the ball from the carrier and went over unopposed for his second try.

Pringle then got his hat-trick try when close passing and support play down the left wing produced the move of the match.

Roberts’s hat-trick try was next. A chip by Caron Davies into space in the Llangefni 22 saw Roberts out-sprint all defenders. A smooth pick-up on the run saw him go over in the corner.

The forwards then got their second try of the game through Ifan Williams, though by now he had moved to the left wing. A dropped pass in the Llangefni half was pounced on by Nant and Williams took the pass to beat the cover for try number 8.

The final try came from Cain Jones. A line-out win saw Nant drive deep into the visitors 22. The ball was the moved quickly left for Jones to go over in the corner.

A satisfying win by Nant. Next up is Wrexham, away, who are having a good season and currently lying fifth in the table.

 

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Pwllheli v Nant Conwy

Pwllheli 8 – 15 Nant Conwy

Wedi bron a threchu Nant yn gynharach yn y tymor, ac wedi bod yn fuddugol yn y gêm Cwpan Cenedlaethol rhwng y ddau dîm, heb os nac oni bai, roedd Pwllheli yn mynd i’r gêm hon yn hyderus o gyflawni eu buddugoliaeth gyntaf yn y gynghrair yn erbyn yr arweinwyr presennol mewn mwy na 4 blynedd. Fodd bynnag, Nant yn unig a brofodd i fod y tîm mwyaf penderfynol, ac yn y pen draw, yn fuddugol.

Dau gais, trosiad a chic gosb, i gyd wedi’u sgorio yn y hanner amser cyntaf, oedd yn ddigon i Nant yn y gêm hon oedd gyda sgôr cymharol isel sydd wedi dod i nodweddu canlyniadau gemau diweddar rhwng y ddau dîm hyn.

Mwynhaodd Nant diriogaeth a mwy o feddiant drwy’r gêm gyda chyflymder eu llinell yn gosod y tîm cartref dan bwysau cyson. Yn enwedig yn yr hanner cyntaf, gwelwyd ychydig iawn o ymosodiadau i hanner Nant gan Pwllheli a dim ond ychydig o ennill tir a gafwyd o’r mwyafrif ohonynt.

Roedd Nant, gan fanteisio ar eu symudedd cyffredinol, yn benderfynol o symud y bêl gymaint ac mor gyflym â phosibl. Er i Caron Davies lwyddo gyda chicio cosb ar 10 munud, nid tan y degfed munud ar hugain y sgoriodd Nant eucais cyntaf. Bu cic gosb a gymerwyd yn gyflym ar y llinell hanner ffordd arwain at ail gosb am beidio â symud yn ôl. Rhoddodd y cicio linell taflu i fewn i Nant ar y llinell pump metr. Ar ôl sawl ryc, cafodd y bêl ei symud at gefnwr Nant, Gruff Roberts (15) ar y chwith, a dorrodd y tu mewn i’r amddiffynnwyr i fynd drosodd.

O’r ail gychwyn, daeth camdrafod i’r amlwg a gwnaeth Pwllheli sicrhau’r fantais a’r cyfle i roi Nant dan bwysau. Fodd bynnag, bu i gamdrafod ganddynt hwy arwain at  Nant dorri’n rhydd. Ar ôl sawl cam o fynd un ffordd ac yn ôl ar hyd y llall, aeth y bêl i’r chwith I’r canolwr, Gwion Jones (13), roddodd bas i roi Deian Roberts mewn gofod cyn i Jones gymryd y pas ddychwelyd i fynd drosodd o dan y pyst. Rhoddodd trosiad  Davies arweiniad o 15 o bwyntiau i Nant.

Unwaith eto, o’r ailgychwyn, camdrafododd Nant y bêl gan arwain at drosedd a chosb am gam sefyllian. Y tro hwn, gwnaeth Pwllheli fanteisio ar y pwysau, gan fynd drosodd ar eu hasgell dde i roi sgôr o 5 – 10 ar hanner amser.

Yn yr ail hanner, gwelwyd gêm fwy cytbwys o ran perchenogaeth a thiroedd. Treuliodd Pwllheli fwy o amser yn hanner Nant ar y dechrau ond dechreuodd yr ymwelwyr symud mwy i hanner y tîm cartref yn fuan, er nad oedd un ochr na’r llall yn bygwth llinell y ceisiadau’n ddifrifol chwaith. Roedd yn achos lle roedd y amddiffynfeydd yn dominyddu’r gêm.

Yn y pen draw, ar 60 munud, cafodd Pwllheli yr unig sgôr yn yr ail hanner trwy gic gosb a droswyd.

Collodd Nant y cyfle i adsefydlu’r arweiniad deng pwynt ond nhw oedd y rhai a orffennodd yn gryfach, gan greu ychydig o hanner-cyfleon sgorio a ddaeth i’r amlwg.

Ennilliad gwych i Nant i gynyddu eu blaenoriaeth ar ben y tabl ond mae dal llawer o ffordd i fynd.

Having narrowly missed out beating Nant earlier in the season, and being victorious in the National Cup match between the two, Pwllheli surely entered this game confident of achieving their first league win against the current leaders in over 4 years. However, it was Nant who proved to be the more determined, and ultimately triumphant, team.

Two tries, a conversion and a penalty, all scored in the first half, proved enough for Nant in this relatively low-scoring game that has come to typify the results of the recent games between these two teams.

Nant enjoyed greater territory and possession throughout the game with their line speed putting the home team under constant pressure. The first half in particular saw few forays into the Nant half by Pwllheli and most of these gained little ground.

Nant, making use of their all-round mobility, were determined to move the ball as much and as quickly as possible. Although Caron Davies was successful with a penalty kick on 10 minutes, it was not until the thirtieth minute that Nant scored their first try. A quickly taken penalty on the halfway line resulted in a second penalty for not retreating. The kick gave Nant a lineout on the five metre line. Following several rucks, the ball was moved to full-back Gruff Roberts on the left, who cut inside the covering defenders to go over.

From the restart, a fumble saw Pwllheli gain the initiative and the chance to put Nant under pressure. However, a fumble by them resulted in a Nant breakaway. After several phases of going one way then the other, the ball went left to centre, Gwion Jones, whose pass put Deian Roberts into space before Jones took the return pass to go over under the posts. Davies’ conversion gave Nant a 15 point lead.

Again, from the restart, Nant fumbled the ball resulting in a penalty for off-side. This time Pwllheli made the pressure tell, going over on their right wing to give a score line of 5 – 10 at half time.

The second half was a more even game in terms of possession and territory. Pwllheli spent more time in the Nant half at the beginning but the visitors soon began moving more into the home team’s half, though neither side seriously threatened the others try line. It was a case of defences dominating the game.

Eventually, on 60 minutes, Pwllheli got the one score of the second half through a converted penalty.

Nant missed the chance of re-establishing the ten point lead but it was they who finished the stronger, creating the few half-chances that came along.

A great win for Nant to increase their lead at the top of the table but there is still a long way to go.

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