Mold 2016

Kip
Jun 4, 2021
2 min read

MOLD

WRU PLATE ROUND THREE

Dec 10 2016

LLANHARAN 17 MOLD 20 (After extra time – full time 17-17)

An extra time penalty from full back Jack Martin edged Mold through to the last sixteen of the WRU Plate.

Llanharan had plenty of basics in place, particularly a strong scrum and accurate line out, but all too often adopted running tactics in appalling conditions.

Not so the north Walians who had less possession, but put the boot to just about everything.

It became an increasingly successful tactic as heavy rain and mud made constructive play impossible, the inevitable mistakes thwarting Llanharan’s attempts to impose themselves.

Mold got an early lead from a Martin penalty, but with Lee Morris supplying good line out ball the Dairymen began to press and powerful scrummaging ended with Referee Steffan Edwards awarding the penalty try which Rhodri Jones converted.

However, in the twentieth minute Llanharan fell for one of the oldest tactics in the game as hooker Ryan Kirby took a short return lineout ball to run over in the corner, Martin’s excellent conversion restoring their lead at 10-7 despite being a man down after Aaron Jones’s sin binning.

Outside half Jones tied the scores again with a penalty after a Huw Thomas drive, and it was skipper Thomas who got his side’s second try from another powerful scrum after Rhydian Worgan had put the home team in a good position with a kick and chase.

Jones’s conversion scraped over, but despite again going down to fourteen after centre Cai Edwards was shown a yellow the visitors held out against further pressure.

However, with a surfeit of possession it seemed only a matter of time before Llanharan would be extending their 17-10 lead, but despite isolated cameos from the likes of Chrissy Poole and Stuart Griffiths, most efforts fell foul of the mud and rain.

Mold’s tactic of hoofing all that came their way downfield eventually got them a foot hold and with Lee Morris now in the bin, a drive from a lineout brought a second for Kirby with Martin’s conversion levelling the scores.

Yet it still seemed it would be Llanharan making progress to the next round as centre Morgan Williams sailed through a gap to touch down only for Mr Edwards to rule it out for alleged crossing.

But with two tries apiece at full time it was another ten minutes each way with all thirty looking more like chocolate soldiers than rugby players.

It took just one decision to settle the affair, the Abercrave official deeming a Llanharan mid field player to be off side some twenty metres away from the contact area.

Martin slotted over the easiest of kicks, and apart from one exciting Poole break, Llanharan could not attain the continuity needed to bring a saving try.

The rapturous celebrations in the One North club’s ranks showed just how much victory meant to them.

Llanharan tries: penalty try, Huw Thomas. Cons 2 and pen: Rhodri Jones.

Mold tries: Ryan Kirby 2; cons 2 and pens 2 – Jack Martin

15 Evan Parry-Jones

14 Stuart Griffiths (Jamie Williams 74)

13 Chris Poole

12 Morgan Williams

11 Rhydian Worgan

10 Rhodri Jones

9 Craig Burton

1 Rhys Taylor

2 Gethin Cashmore (Sam Pick 74)