Saturday 8th September 2007

CAERNARFON 37 Colwyn Bay 22

CAERNARFON’S bold start to the new season was maintained on Saturday when they put in a hugely impressive first half display which virtually put their visitors from Colwyn Bay out of sight.

This was the Cofis’ second convincing Welsh Rugby Union League Division Four North win on the bounce and, despite a rally by Bay in the second period, the result never looked to be in doubt.

Caernarfon’s performance in the first 40 minutes will have delighted coaches Ieuan Jones and Richard Williams as they saw their pre-season instructions acted upon, with the forwards providing a solid foundation on which the talented backs could build.

There will still be a lot of work to do – especially against the league’s big-hitters – but the Morfa crowd, enjoying their first game of the campaign, will have gone home confident Caernarfon can enjoy another successful season.

The match began perfectly for the hosts as Paul Rowlands caught the ball cleanly from the kick-off and set in motion a try-scoring move.

Centres Rhydian Jones and Steffan Thomas pulled the Bay defence apart with a series of short passes before a clever Kelvin Morris pass found Allen Mark and he barged his way over under the posts.

Morris converted.

The second touchdown came from a lineout, a good take and drive resulting in another try for second row Mark, who broke from the maul to cross in the corner, before Morris kicked the extras.

Flying full back Sean Crabtree grabbed the next five-pointer and there was time before the break for Caernarfon to make it four, Trystan Gwilym taking advantage of good work by Thomas to breach the Bay line.

Morris concluded the first half scoring with his third successful conversion.

Perhaps complacency set in or Colwyn Bay just upped their game in fear of a thrashing but the match swung the visitors’ way for a period after the break.

They got their side of the scoreboard ticking with a Josh Leach penalty before their opening try was scored by veteran flanker Mark Earle.

Two more followed through Alan Thackery and Ollie Platt to induce a little nervousness in the Caernarfon camp.

However, Allen Mark made the game safe when he completed his hat-trick, after a surging run through the Bay defence.

Morris converted and even had time to add a penalty before the end of the game to make the result more than safe.