Fixture

Abergele 13 - 21 Nant Conwy

Match report kindly written by Dylan Wyn Evans

In an afternoon of contrasts, Gele gave a warm welcome to their valley neighbours, Nant in what was the most wintery afternoon of the season so far. After a compelling contest where Gele had the best of the territory and possession, Nant's guile and experience in closing a game off were ultimately the decider.

Division 1 stalwarts Nant brought a strong squad as well as a crowd of friendly and familiar faces to a game Pentre Mawr has been looking forward to for a long time.

With a number of players missing, Gele's starting line up contained some names looking to prove a point to the coaches and to a man they didn't disappoint. 

Gele's set piece was strong; the pack out scrummaged the visitors all afternoon and on a day where the conditions were a neutraliser, Gareth Beach and Jordan Grimshaw made sure that the line outs made a mockery of the biting wind.

Gele opened the scoring with and excellent strike from Owain Davies from half way following a break down sleight from the Nant back row. The break down was a compelling contest all afternoon and most decisions around the tackle area were borderline but in the main, excellently refereed.

The hosts extended their lead with another fine Davies strike before Nant reduced the arrears with a penalty of their own. 

The Visitors then added a five point score after a series of rumbles finally pierced the Gele stubborn defence.

The score galvanised the Swordsmen who ended the half camped deep in the Nant twenty two. The visitors seemed almost obsessed with testing the patience of the referee by continually infringing at the breakdown and eventually paid the ultimate penalty by seeing one of the front row earning a ten minute sabbatical. Having not learned their lesson, the referee had no option but to award a penalty try following a series of scrum offences. Davies improved the score, suddenly Gele had the advantage and you could see the belief increasing. 

In a game of narrow margins, genius and despair are often closer than you think. The game turned on the interpretation of an often controversially ruled law. Nant worked a line out and as the jumper returned to earth, the Gele defenders backed off to create the offside line. Although it appeared that the ball had been transferred back, the ultimate decision maker disagreed. It was a brave call by Gele but it ultimately backfired. It was a game changer. 

Two further penalties from Nant pushed the score away from a brave Gele who couldn't even save the losing bonus point.

The contest was compelling and although no consolation, Gele continue to prove that they are worthy company of arguably North Wales' best club.

Pictured: Matchday Sponsor Howard Farrell & Friends with 1st XV Captain Joe Lavin and Man Of The Match Anthony Tilley. Many thanks for your support Howard!