Saturday 29th December 2007

Mold 06 CAERNARFON 08

For the second time this season the Cofi’s have come home with a narrow 8-6 win against opposition rightly considered title contenders. At the beginning of December it was Llangefni but this weekend it was the reigning champions, Mold, who suffered at the hands of a gritty and determined performance by the visitors.

The start of the match was greeted with a strengthening wind and blustery showers that was far from conducive to free flowing rugby. Mold started the game playing with the conditions and the slope. The initial exchanges were all in Mold’s favour but time and time again the ball was recklessly kicked away. With the atrocious weather the lineouts were a lottery with neither side able to consistently win their own ball. Mold finally got their reward for their possession with a penalty kick when Dan Edmunds, who managed to control the wind to send the ball through the posts. The Cofi’s found their feet and started to keep the ball, and looked dangerous. Alan Mark stamped his authority on the game with a charging run up the field, brushing tackles off before he was finally brought to the ground just short of the line. A number of crucial turnovers from Caernarfon’s Dewi Williams and Rhys Evans ensured that at the interval the Mold lead was only 3 points.

Caernarfon had the dream start to the second half when second row Alan Mark crossed for his eleventh try of the season with less than two minutes on the clock. A well worked move that saw Mark hit the line with pace and power and despite tacklers in tow he still managed to secure the touchdown. Just short of the hour Mold hit a bit of a purple path, controlling the game with a period of pressure and not allowing the Cofi’s to see the ball and forcing the visitors to concede a serious of penalties in quick succession. They were rewarded for their efforts when Edmunds slotted over his second penalty to regain a slender lead. With no break in the weather this was a much a battle of hearts and minds to that of rugby. The call from the coaches was composure. With plenty of time on the clock this was not a time for reckless rugby. The call from the touchline seemed to work as the Cofi’s got back in the driving seat marshalled by Captain Trystan Gwilym securing the ball and keeping tight control. Rhys Evans came close with an inspired break from the back of the scrum. Caernarfon regained the lead in the 70th minute when Kelvin Morris slotted over a penalty despite the concentrated effort of the wind to try and send the ball wide.

The last ten minutes saw both sides fitness levels pushed to the limit, with the heavy pitch cutting up badly. Mold’s golden opportunity came in the 79th minute when they were awarded a penalty. Up stepped Edmunds who struck the ball well, but over compensated for the wind as the ball pushed wide of the upright. The referee advised that were still five minutes to play. Every last bit of energy was called upon as the tackles went in and ensured that Cofi’s regained possession. Having regained the ball it was now time for discipline and control to run down the clock. The final whistle was greeted by large cheers from the faithful Caernarfon supporters who have braved the conditions.