Fixture

This battle to ensure third place in the league turned out to be highly entertaining encounter and kept the crowd on tenterhooks, especially during the final minutes. It was however the Cofis, who had been pegged back throughout the evening, that mounted the final onslaught to secure the spoils.

The Cofis had the best possible start when a long downfield clearance bounced favourably on the hard pitch for wing Dylan Gwyn to collect at the second attempt and canter over the try line unhindered. Fullback Aled Jones added the conversion with two minutes played.

When Bala regained possession they soon showed that they had the measure of the Caernarfon pack in tight play, inter-passing deftly amongst the forwards to reach the red zone before scrum half Clwyd Edwards detached himself to score a simple try; one far too easily conceded by the Cofis; that together with Rhydian Jones's conversion drew the scores level after eight minutes.

Bala kept possession effectively but the Cofi backline were a little quicker and sleeker in distribution and execution throughout. An example materialised after some seventeen minutes when a Carwyn Roberts grubber kick rebounded into the hands of presently razor sharp Dylan Gwyn who did wonderfully well to ground in the corner in the act of being tackled into touch. There followed an added conversion from an acute angle by Aled Jones, that was  deserving of the highest praise.

Bala bounced back but were penalised for being overeager on occasions when the try line beckoned. Soon however another Edwards snipe found the ever consistent Ilan Rowlands at his side to cross the whitewash with Rhydian Jones's boot squaring the match once again.

Caernarfon saw out the remainder of the first half with beneficial results as the trusted boot of Aled Jones regained the lead following an offside call and later added another penalty after good yardage was gained by prop Tomos Gwynfaes.

Some excellent, hard fought rugby was played by both sides for a brief period at the beginning of the second half before Bala began to dominate territorially. Their driving lineout play was causing problems and panic in Cofi ranks and when one try line bound drive was deemed illegal they were presented another almost immediately. On this occasion when the drive was expected they gave the ball some air and a well executed close quarter pop pass brought centre Tudur Lynch on to the ball at pace to crash over. This time Rhydian Jones's conversion gave Bala a one point advantage.

It may have been expected that Bala would have built on the slender lead held but the Cofis showed a steely determination to in open play that was enough to keep their hopes alive. One quick ball saw Ellis Roberts come in off his wing to create the extra man in mid field and his precise pass brought Dylan Gwyn onto the ball at such pace that the cover was beaten and a fine team try was scored. The four point Cofi advantage held for ten of the remaining fifteen to play but one other misfiring lineout and a rushed pass into mid field was gratefully accepted by on running Clwyd Edwards who charged to the line to score the classic interception try, again bettered by Jones.

Bala were expected to hold on from this point but one possibly believes that the Cofis rallied to make up for the rare error assigned to Bryn Granville who otherwise has been a tower of strength during the season. They drove Bala back to their own twenty two and gained a penalty that would have tied the score and ultimately grant the third position, however to the travelling supporters disbelief, but in retrospect due to the pressure they were under they opted for a scrum.

Carwyn Roberts who had made the call, was man enough to take on the responsibility of driving the Cofis to within a whisker of the line and when the ball squirmed free over the try line an attempted clearance led to a ricochet that was gathered by replacement flanker Bryn Owen who dived in amongst the melee to score. Aled Jones rounded off his duties for the evening with another fine conversion.

The final tense minute threw no more surprises our way and a sigh of relief accompanied the final whistle.