Rugby Union: Nant Conwy face crucial title clash

Apr 14 2011

NANT CONWY 58 COLWYN BAY 5

CHAMPIONS Nant Conwy travel to leaders Caernarfon this Saturday knowing only victory will do if they are to keep their hopes of a third successive WRU Division One North title alive.

The Trefriw club currently trail the Cofis by nine points and cannot afford to slip any further behind with just five matches apiece left.

Nant certainly showed their intention not to give up the crown without a fight as they rattled up 10 tries in a home blitzing of Colwyn Bay at the weekend.

The main peculiarity from this match was how the Bay’s much larger and stronger pack was forced back on their heels continuously.

After nine minutes’ play, the Nant forwards pushed their opponents over the line from about 15 metres with Carwyn Ellis touching down and Ifan Jones converting.

Although Nant’s eight were in complete control, the next score did not arrive until 30 minutes had elapsed when Grant Jones ran purposefully from his own half and outpaced the defence to score in the corner.

Five minutes later, a very rapid passing movement along the left wing between Grant Jones and Aeron Jones saw the latter grounding right by the corner flag.

The interval whistle was about to be blown when Eryl Jones reacted quickly to a ball won from the Bay pack and raced over for a try which brought the bonus point to Nant and a score of 22-0.

Colwyn began the second half brighter and Bryn Williams barged over for a try before Nant had got into their stride.

However, the pattern of play soon reverted to mirror that of the first half with Ellis scoring a very similar try to his first one.

Fifteen minutes were left when Grant Jones caught a high kick by his own 22- metre line and managed to beat every attempt to tackle him to score an exceptional try.

Soon after, Aeron Jones showed his speed when he darted along the right touchline to score in that corner.

Grant Jones upped the scoring stakes again a minute later by rounding the entire defence once more to touch down beneath the posts for his hat-trick.

Ifan Jones improved this try to make it 44-5.

Only two minutes remained when Euros Jones used his strength to push his way between the two centres to score a try which the same player converted.

As in the first stanza, the final whistle was about to be blown when Ifan Jones this time reacted quickly to another loose ball and darted over to touch down and score Nant’s 10th try with Euros Jones again adding the extras.