League: Adran 1 Gogledd/League 1 North

COBRA v Nant Conwy

Though the majority of this game was dominated by Nant Conwy, it was two dazzling spells of try scoring, one in each half, that stood out. These two spells accounted for seven of the eleven tries scored on the day.

From the start of the match until the end, Nant were intent on playing open, attacking rugby. There were times in which they were called on to defend but there was no way through for Cobra and their attacks often ended with Nant running the ball out of defence or hoofing it deep into the opposition territory.

Nant received the opening kick-off and were soon on the attack. However, it was Cobra who took the lead after 10 minutes through a penalty conceded far out but then moved ten metres nearer because of too much talking.

This served to focus Nant and within two minutes they had their first try through Gruff Roberts. Five minutes later the first half try-scoring spell took place. Deian Roberts went over on the left. He was followed by Gwion Jones and soon after, Brychan Dafydd. The three tries were scored in 5 minutes of each other and the bonus point was secured in the first quarter. With a conversion by Caron Davies they had established a lead of 3 – 22.

The rest of the half saw Nant striving to increase their score. They were too fast for Cobra but often too fast for themselves, conceding penalties for holding on when isolated.

The second half saw the introduction of Siencyn Metcalfe and Brenig Hughes, the latter getting the fifth try within 2 minutes of the restart.

Cobra then had one of their best periods of possession but this was mainly centred around Nant’s 22. This was soon broken and on 54 minutes Sam Hughes was on the score sheet with the sixth try.

Deian Roberts claimed his second try after 60 minutes. This was followed by a period of even play before the second-half try-scoring spell. Metcalfe claimed the first and second scores, followed by Roberts and Caron Davies resulting in 4 tries within eight minutes.

Davies converted the last six tries to give the final score of 3 – 69.

 

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Caernarfon v Nant Conwy

Ychydig yn brin o bedair blynedd oed wedi mynd heibio ers i Nant Conwy golli gêm gynghrair a honno oedd un galed yn erbyn Llandudno. Ers hynny, maent wedi ennill pob gêm gynghrair ddilynol ac eithrio dwy gêm gyfartal yn erbyn Caernarfon yr hydref diwethaf, gyda’r ystadegau yn dangos 75 o enilliadau a 2 gyfartal. Felly, mae’n debygol mai ffawd y byddai Caernarfon yn dod â’r rhediad hon i ben. Gwnaethant hynny ddydd Sadwrn mewn gêm hynod agos, gan orffen yn fuddugol gyda 30 pwynt i 27. Roedd y canlyniad mewn amheuaeth hyd at y diwedd pan gafodd ymosodiad Nant ei atal un llath o’r llinell pan benderfynwyd fod y cariwr pêl wedi camu tros y linell ochr cyn i’r bêl gael ei rhyddhau.

Roedd yn bilsen anodd i’w goddef gan ystyried bod Nant wedi sgorio mwy na’u croesawyr gyda 4 cais i 3. Ond mae’n dangos y gall cosbau benderfynu gêm ac mae hyn yn union yr hyn a ddigwyddodd gyda Chaernarfon yn trosi tair cic gosb i un gan Nant. Yn rhy aml, roedd Nant yn rhoi eu hunain dan bwysau neu roedd symudiadau addawol yn dod i ben trwy roi cosbau i ffwrdd.

Yn gyntaf, gosododd y ymwelwyr eu hunain dan bwysau pan roddodd cwymp yn fuan ar ôl y dechrau fantais diriol i Gaernarfon a rhoi iddynt y cais cyntaf wedi hynny ar ôl 5 munud, gyda’r trosiad yn eu rhoi 7 pwynt ar y blaen. Trawodd Nant yn syth gyda’r ymateb, ac gostyngodd cic gosb gan Caron Davies y fantais. Yn fuan wedyn, aeth Nant ar y blaen pan aeth Brychan Dafydd, gan dderbyn pas tu mewn, dros y llinell gan ei gwneud yn 8-7.

Fodd bynnag, trodd y cymhelliant yn ôl at y cartrefwyr a gwelwyd cic gosb yn eu rhoi nhw ar y blaen. Wedyn cafodd Davies ergyd cic gosb yn taro’r post. Roedd Dafydd yn gyntaf at yr adlamiad ac, o’r ryc, symudwyd y bêl allan yna’n ôl i Brenig Hughes fynd drosodd.

Ymddangosaai y byddai Nant yn mynd I mewn ar y hanner amser ar y blaen ond eto fe roddon nhw eu hunain dan bwysau gyda wrth fethu gyda thaclo a’r cosbau anorfod yn cael eu rhoi i ffwrdd. Caernarfon, wedi methu gyda thaflu i mewn o’r llinell, yn llwyddo wrth ddewis chwarae sgrym, gan ennill y cais wrth wthio trosodd a trawsnewid y sgôr i arwain 17 – 15.

Ar ôl chwarae’r hanner cyntaf yn erbyn goledd y cae, rhaid bod Nant wedi bod yn hyderus wrth fynd i’r ail hanner yn chwarae i lawr y bryn. Fodd bynnag, y tîm cartref a wnaeth gynyddu eu harweinyddiaeth drwy gic gosb lwyddiannus. Daeth Nant yn ôl gyda chais gan Gruff Roberts a osododd y sgoriau ar 20 – 20.

Gyda 20 munud i fynd, aeth Caernarfon ymlaen eto gyda rhediad i, a chais yn y gornel dde. Cafodd hyn ei drosi a dilynwyd hynny gan gôl cosb arall i roi Caernarfon ddau sgôr ar y blaen. Daeth Nant yn ôl eto a gostyngodd rhediad a chais Siencyn Metcalfe a throsiad Davies y gwahaniaeth i 3 phwynt.

Gwelwyd methiant cic gosb gyda munudau i fynd oedd yn golygu bod cyfle Nant i ddod yn gyfartal wedi mynd ar goll cyn i symudiad olaf y gêm bron arwain at sgôr ddramatig.

It was a little short of four years since Nant Conwy narrowly  lost a hard fought league match to Llandudno. Since then they had won all their subsequent league games apart from two drawn games against Caernarfon last season, the statistics being won 75, drew 2. So it was probably fated that Caernarfon would bring this run to an end. They did so on Saturday in a close match, running out winners by 30 points to 27. The result was in doubt right to the end when a Nant attack was stopped a yard from the line when the ball carrier was adjudged to have gone into touch prior to the ball being released.

It was a bitter pill to swallow given that Nant had outscored their host by 4 tries to 3. But it shows that penalties can decide a game and this is exactly what happened with Caernarfon converting three penalties to Nant’s one. All too often Nant put themselves under pressure or had promising moves come to an end through penalties being conceded.

The visitors initially put themselves under pressure when a knock-on soon after the start gave Caernarfon territorial advantage and they subsequently got the first try after 5 minutes, the conversion putting them 7 points ahead. Nant immediately hit back and a penalty by Caron Davies reduced the lead. Soon after, Nant went ahead when Brychan Dafydd, taking an inside pass, went over making it 8- 7.

However, the impetus swung back to the hosts and a penalty saw them take the lead. Davies then had a penalty hit the post. Dafydd was first to the rebound and from the ruck the ball was moved out then back for Brenig Hughes to go over.

It appeared that Nant would be going in ahead at half-time but again they put themselves under pressure with missed tackles and the inevitable penalties. Caernarfon, having failed from the lineout, were successful from opting for a scrum, gaining the pushover try and conversion to lead by 17 – 15.

Having played the first half against the pitch inclined, Nant must have been confident entering the second half playing downhill. However, it was the home side who increased their lead through a penalty. Nant came back and a try by Gruff Roberts put the scores at 20 – 20.

With 20  minutes to go, Caernarfon went ahead again with a try in the right corner. This was converted and followed by a penalty to put Caernarfon two scores ahead. Nant came back yet again and Siencyn Metcalfe’s try and Davies conversion reduced the difference to 3 points.

A penalty miss with minutes to go saw Nant’s chance to draw level go begging before the final move of the match almost resulted in a dramatic score.

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Y Bala v Nant Conwy

Gwnaeth y gêm hon, a gafodd ei symud o ddydd Sadwrn, 1af Tachwedd, weld Nant Conwy yn dychwelyd i ben Adran 1 y Gogledd.

Chwaraewyd y gêm ar gyflymder brwd, i ddechrau o leiaf, a chynhyrchodd 10 cais ar y noson, gyda saith ohonynt wedi’u sgorio gan Nant.

Roedd y ceisiau gan Nant wedi eu dosbarthu’n gyfartal rhwng y cefnwyr a’r blaenwyr, gyda’r cefnwyr yn cael pedwar drwy Gruff Roberts, Cai Jones, Carwyn Davies a Caron Davies. Cafodd Tomos Williams a Carwyn Ellis y ceisiau gan y blaenawyr.

Agorodd Gruff Roberts y sgorio, yn dilyn symudiad llifo’n dda gan y tri chwarteri. Rhoddodd y trosiad, a ddilynwyd yn fuan gan gic gosb, gan Caron Davies, arwain Nant I fod ar y blaen o 10 pwynt ar ôl 12 munud. Cynyddwyd hyn i 17 gyda throsi y cais cyntaf gan Tomos Williams lle gwthiodd nifer o amddiffynwyr posibl i ffwrdd i sgorio ger y pyst.

Cipiodd Bala gais o’r gwrthwyneb, gan sgorio yn y gornel dde ar ôl i Nant roi eu hunain dan bwysau drwy roi cosbau i ffwrdd. Fodd bynnag, sefydlwyd y blaen yn ôl gyda chais Cai Jones; ac ail drosiad gan Davies; wedi cydweithio gwych a chadw’r bêl yn fyw.

Daeth Bala yn ôl eto a sgorio cais wedi’i drosi pan, eto, gosododd Nant eu hunain dan bwysau trwy ildio cosbau. Rhoddodd hyn sgôr hanner amser o 12 – 24 o blaid  Nant.

Gwelsom y crynodiad yn yr hail hanner wrth i’r ddau dîm ymdrechu i gael y sgôr nesaf. Bu cyfle i Bala ond yr oedd cic cosb yn methu. Ar ôl hanner cyntaf mor gyflym, roedd y cyflymdra’n gostwng a gallai Nant manteisio ar y bylchau oedd yn dechrau ymddangos. Tri chais mewn 10 munud trwy Williams, Ellis a Carwyn Davies welodd blaenoriaeth Nant yn cynyddu i 12 – 39.

Ymddangosodd Bala wedyn fel pebaent wedi dod o hyd i ail wynt ac yn cynnal pwysau cyson ymlaen, gyda chymorth cosbau, a gwelwyd trydydd cais yn cael ei sgori gan y tîm cartref yn y pen draw.

Wrth i’r gêm agosáu at y diwedd, roedd Bala’n benderfynol o gael pwynt bônws am sgorio 4 cais o leiaf. Nid oedd hyn i fod, gan weld Nant yn torri allan gyda Caron Davies yn llifo i mewn am gais olaf y gȇm a buddugoliaeth o 17 – 44.

This match, brought forward from Saturday, 1 November, saw Nant Conwy go back to the top of League 1 North.

The game was played at a frenetic pace, to start off with at least, and produced 10 tries on the night, seven of which were scored by Nant.

The Nant tries were evenly spread between the backs and the forwards, with the backs getting four through Gruff Roberts, Cai Jones, Carwyn Davies and Caron Davies. Tomos Williams and Carwyn Ellis got the forwards tries.

Gruff Roberts opened the scoring, following a flowing three-quarters move. The conversion, followed shortly by a penalty, by Caron Davies gave Nant a 10 point lead after 12 minutes. This was stretched to 17 with the conversion of Tomos Williams’ first try whereby he pushed away several would-be tacklers to score near the posts.

Bala pulled a try back, scoring in the right corner after Nant put themselves under pressure by giving away penalties. However, the lead was re-established with the Cai Jones try, and a third conversion by Davies; the culmination of great interplay and keeping the ball alive.

Bala came back again and scored a converted try when again, Nant put themselves under pressure by conceding penalties. This gave a half-time score-line of 12 – 24 in Nant’s favour.

The second half saw both teams striving to get the next score. An opportunity fell to Bala but an attempted penalty kick was wide of the mark. After such a fast first half the pace was falling and Nant was able to take advantage of the gaps that began to appear. Three tries within 10 minutes through Williams, Ellis and Carwyn Davies saw Nant’s lead stretched to 12 – 39.

Bala then seemed to find a second wind and sustained forward pressure, helped by penalties, eventually saw a third try being awarded to the home side.

As the game neared the end, Bala were determined to at least get a try bonus point. This was not to be, as a breakout by Nant  saw Caron Davies glide in for a final try and a win by 17 – 44.

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Nant Conwy v Bae Colwyn

Cafodd Bae Colwyn dymor gwych yn 2024/25 lle y gorffennon nhw’n ail yn Adran 2 y Gogledd, ac ennill Cwpan Adran 2 – Gogledd Cymru. Fodd bynnag, maent wedi canfod Adran 1 fel amgylchedd llawer mwy heriol nag yr oeddent efallai’n ei obeithio a chyn y gêm hon, nid oeddent wedi cyrraedd eu pwyntiau cyntaf yn yr Adran. Fodd bynnag, maent wedi wynebu rhai o dimau cryfaf yn yr adran.
Yn anffodus, ddydd Sadwrn cawsant eu herio gan dîm Nant nad oedd mewn hwyliau i gyfaddawdu, nail ai wrth ymosod nag wrth amddiffyn. Y canlyniad oedd i Nant sgorio tri chais ar ddeg, gyda naw ohonynt wedi’u trosi, ac nid oeddynt yn rhoi unrhyw gyfleoedd i’r Bae sgorio.
Roedd yr hanner cyntaf ychydig yn wrthgynhyrchiol ar adegau, gyda phasio anghyson a gollwng y bȇl yn aml. Yn wir, digwyddodd y cais cyntaf gan Nant, gan Sion Pringle, ar ôl chwe munud, yn rhannol oherwydd eu pasio anghywir a oedd yn twyllo amddiffynfa’r Bae. Yr ail gais ar ôl 10 munud oedd canlyniad pas wedi’I gollwng gan y ymwelwyr ag ymateb cyflym gan Nant, gan arwain at Deian Roberts yn croesi drosodd.
Yna daeth cyfnod o bymtheg munud yn dilyn ble roedd Bae gyda mantais tir heb fygythiad i linell Nant. Daeth hyn i ben pan wnaeth Gwion Jones redeg a dau wrthwthiad llaw gref gynhyrchu cais rhif tri. Yn fuan wedyn, aeth Gruff Roberts I mewn ar y chwith i sicrhau’r cais pwynt bonws.
Yna cafodd y Bae gyfnod da arall o feddiant a thir, ond ni allent gynhyrchu unrhyw gyfleoedd sgorio pwysig.
Roedd trosglwyddo a handlo Nant erbyn hyn wedi gwella’n fawr ac roedd y Bae’n dechrau cael anhawster i ymdopi gyda chyflymder y tîm cartref a chwarae cefnogaethol cyffredinol. Fe’i dangoswyd am y pumed cais wrth gyrraedd yr hanner. Roedd y Bae’n dal yn taclo’n frwd ond roedd gan y tîm cartref bob amser chwaraewr yn cefnogi ac roedd Ifan Williams ar gael i gyffwrdd i lawr. Gyda Caron Davies yn cael 3 trosiad, roedd y timau wedi cyrraedd hanner amser gyda Nant yn arwain 31 – 0.
Roedd yr ail hanner yn perthyn i Nant yn llwyr. Fe wnaethant redeg asgorio 8 cais arall, gyda hynny ar gyfnodau rheolaidd a nifer ohonynt yn deillio o’r cefnwyr yn dal ciciau clirio a rhedeg yn syth yn ôl tuag at y gwrthwynebwyr. Cafodd Deian Roberts ei ail gais heb oedi, gan ddilyn gydag ail gais gan Pringle. Yna cafodd Roberts ei drydydd.
Roedd Bae Colwyn bellach yn ceisio rhedeg popeth ac roedd rhyng-gipiad pas gan Brychan Dafydd yn gweld ef yn gwthio oddi wrth sawl chwaraewr i fynd tros y linell.
Yna cafodd Gruff Roberts ei ail gais wedi rhedeg ar lwybr sig-sag ar yr asgell.Daeth y sŵn mwyaf gan y dorf pan aeth Carwyn Roberts drosodd gyfer y nawfed cais.
Cyrhaeddodd ail gais Brychan Dafydd wedyn, a’i ddilyn yn fuan gan Ifan Williams gyda’i ail gais yn ogystal. Gyda chwe throsiad pellach gan Caron Davies, roedd y sgôr derfynol yn 83 – 0.

Colwyn Bay had a great 2024/25 season in which they finished second in League 2 North, and won the North Wales Division 2 Cup. However, they have found League 1 a much tougher environment than they probably hoped for and prior to this game had yet to get there first points. That said, they have encountered some of the stronger sides in the division.

Unfortunately, on Saturday they encountered a Nant team who were in no mood to compromise, either in attack or defence. The result was Nant ran in thirteen tries, 9 of which were converted, and did not allow Bay any scoring opportunities.

The first half was a little scrappy at times, with stray and dropped passes. Indeed, Nant’s first try, by Sion Pringle, after six minutes was partially due to their stray passes fooling the Bay defence. The second try after 10 minutes was the result of a dropped pass by the visitors and a quick counter by Nant, resulting in Deian Roberts going over.

There followed a fifteen minute spell in which Bay had territorial advantage without threatening Nant’s line. This ended when a run and two strong hand-offs by Gwion Jones produced try number three. Soon after Gruff Roberts went in on the left to secure the try bonus point.

Bay then had another good spell off possession and territory but were unable to produce any telling try scoring opportunities.

Nant’s passing and handling by now were much improved and Bay began finding it hard to cope with the home team’s speed and all-round support play. This was demonstrated for the fifth try on half-time. Bay were tackling furiously but the home side always had a support player and Ifan Williams was on hand to touch down. With Caron Davies getting 3 conversions the teams went in at half-time with Nant leading 31 – 0.

The second half belonged entirely to Nant. They ran in a further 8 tries at regular intervals, a number of which came as a result of  the backs fielding clearance kicks and running straight back at the opposition. Deian Roberts got his second soon followed by Pringle’s second. Roberts then got his third.

Colwyn Bay were now trying to run everything and and an interception by Brychan Dafydd saw him shrug off several tacklers to go over.

Gruff Roberts then got his second following a mazy run. The biggest cheer from the crowd then came when Carwyn Roberts went over for try number nine.

Brychan Dafydd then got his second followed soon afterwards by Ifan Williams with his second. With a further six conversions coming from Caron Davies the final score was 83 – 0.

Despite the score-line, Colwyn Bay should be congratulated on the fact that they never gave up and encouraged each other through-out the match.

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Nant Conwy v Pwllheli

Daeth Pwllheli yn agos at dorri record ddi-guro Nant Conwy yn y gynghrair yng  nghêm olaf o’r tymor diwethaf. Wedi i Pwllheli gymryd y blaen gyda dwy funud i fynd, rhoddodd Pwllheli gic gosb i ffwrdd gydag ychydig ar ôl o’r ail hanner a chafodd Nant y cyfle i adennill y blaen gyda chici olaf y gêm, gan ennill gyda hynny Bencampwriaeth Cynghrair 1 y Gogledd.

Er nad oedd y gêm hon yn derfyn dramatig i’r tymor, roedd y canlyniad bron yn debyg. Arweiniodd Pwllheli o’r pum munud cyntaf ond gwelwyd Nant yn cymryd yr arweiniad drwy gic gosb gyda munudau i fynd a gweld y gêm allan heb fwy o sgoriau.

Roedd ond ychydig o’r rygbi llifo rhydd a rhwydd sydd wedi nodweddu ymrysonau blaenorol rhwng y ddau dîm yma, gyda’r gwynt a’r glaw gyrru yn gwneud rheoli’r bȇl yn anodd.

Yn chwarae gyda’r gwynt, aeth Pwllheli ar y blaen ar ôl pum munud drwy gic gosb lwyddiannus ger y pyst. Cynyddodd y gwahaniaeth pwyntiau ar ôl 27 munud pan fyddai yna sawl cosb a ganiataodd i Bwllheli ennill tir a sefydlu nifer o yrriadau o fewn llinell 5 metr Nant. Er iddynt frwydro yn dda, torrodd amddiffyn Nant yn y pen draw a sgoriwyd cais gan yr ymwelwyr. Rhoddodd y trosiad Bwllheli ar y blaen o 10 pwynt.

Dychwelodd Nant at ymosod a sefydlodd nifer o ryciau gyrru ger llinell Pwllheli yn fuan. Yn y pen draw, gyrrodd Brenig Hughes drosodd i leihau’r diffyg. Fodd bynnag, wrth gicio yn erbyn y gwynt, ni lwyddodd y trosiad, fel y digwyddodd gyda nifer o giciau cosb cynt.

Nid oedd gan Pwllheli y broblem hon a chyda’r gic olaf o’r hanner, troswyd cic gosb i wneud sgôr hanner amser o 5 – 13.

Perchnogodd Nant yr ail hanner, o ran tir, a thynwyd tri phwynt yn ôl ychydig ar ôl y dechrau gyda chic gosb lwyddiannus gan Caron Davies. Fodd bynnag, roedd y cyflwr yn ogystal ag amddiffyn cadarn Pwllheli yn gwneud gwaith da o gadw Nant yn ôl. Roedd yn dechrau bod yn fwy tebygol y gellid cymryd pwyntiau pellach trwy gesio trosi ciciau cosb yn unig. Gyda llawer o’r chwarae’n digwydd yn hanner yr ymwelwyr, Nant oedd â’r cyfleoedd gorau i sgorio. Ar y marc awr bu i Davies ei wneud yn gêm ddau bwynt gyda throsiad cic gosb lwyddiannus arall.

Yn rhwystredig i Nant, ac o ryddhȃd I Bwllheli, yr oedd y cyflwr wedi arwain at nifer o gosbau eraill yn methu â chyrraedd y nôd, tan y munudau olaf. Cafodd cosb a roddwyd ymhell allan ar y dde ei throsi gan Gruff Roberts. Gan fod yn asgellwr ar y chwith, yr oedd yn fwy naturiol iddo ei chicio a’i throsdi.

Yn y pen draw, rheolodd Nant y bêl am y munudau olaf i roi buddugoliaeth galed.

Pwllheli came close to inflicting a first League defeat on Nant Conwy in the final match of last season. Having taken the lead with two minutes to go, Pwllheli conceded a penalty soon after the restart allowing Nant to snatch the lead back with the final kick of the match and with it the League 1 North Championship.

Though this game was not a dramatic finale to the season, the outcome was almost identical. Pwllheli led from the fifth minute only to see Nant take the lead through a penalty with minutes to go and see out the match.

There was little of the free-flowing rugby that has characterised earlier encounters between these two sides, with the driving wind and rain making handling difficult.

Playing with the wind, Pwllheli took the lead after five minutes through a penalty in front of the posts. The lead was increased after 27 minutes when a couple of penalties allowed Pwllheli to gain ground and set up a number of drives within the Nant 5 metre line. Though they tackled well, Nant’s defence eventually cracked. The conversion put the visitors ahead by 10.

Nant came back and they soon set up a number of driving rucks close to the Pwllheli line. Eventually, Brenig Hughes drove over to reduce the deficit. However, kicking against the wind, the conversion was unsuccessful, as had been the case with a number of earlier penalties.

Pwllheli did not have that problem and with the final kick of the half they converted a penalty to make the half-time score 5 – 13.

The second-half belong to Nant, as far as territory was concerned and they pulled three points back shortly after the restart with a successful penalty from Caron Davies. However, the conditions plus the well-marshalled Pwllheli defence, were doing a great job in keeping Nant at bay. It was becoming more likely that any further scoring could be through penalties. With much of the action taking place in the visitors half it was Nant who would have the best opportunities to score. On the hour mark Davies made it a two point game with a further penalty.

Frustratingly for Nant, and to Pwllheli’s relief, the conditions resulted in a number of other penalties missing the mark, until the closing minutes. A penalty awarded wide out on the right saw Gruff Roberts take over the duties. Being a left-footed kicker it was a more natural angle for him and he duly converted.

Nant then controlled the ball for the last minute to give a hard-fought victory

 

   

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