MATCH REPORTS AND PICTURES FOR SEASON 2004 - 05
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Clwb Rygbi BANGOR Rugby Club Ltd. Clwb Rygbi BANGOR Rugby Club Ltd. Season 2004 - 2005
Points for 334 Against 634
SCORERS 2004 - 05
DEVELOPMENT TEAM
DEVELOPMENT TEAM
SCORERS 2004-05
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WRU DIVISION 5 NORTH
SATURDAY APRIL 7th
BANGOR 12 - WELSHPOOL 62
Bangor went down to a heavy defeat in their last league game of the season. They had no answer to Welshpool who dominated most of the game and made good use of the possession scoring four tries in the first half and five in the second. The best defender for Bangor was centre Robert Estyn who put in a couple of hard tackles before leaving the field with knock on the head. Bangor scored one try in each half. The first try came through a bit of quick thinking with a quick linout to hooker Alun Jones who made the few metres to the try line. The try in the second half was a glimpse of what Bangor are capable of doing when they support each other. During their only spell of dominant play flanker Sion Williams made a powerful run and a good offload put centre Sam Jordan in for a try. This was converted by Irfon Williams.
WRU DIVISION 5 NORTH
SATURDAY APRIL 2nd
Rhosllanerchrugog 45 - Bangor 21
WRU DIVISION 5 NORTH - SATURDAY MARCH 5th 2005
Welshpool 20 Bangor 27
The 200 miles round trip on a bitter cold day was made much more tolerable as
Bangor returned home from Mid-Wales with a well deserved win. It was the last
game for South Africans Rory Binder and Richard Strydom who return home to
Durban in a week's time and both played a major part in this victory as they
were always prominent and creative throughout. It has been a pleasure to have
them at the club and everyone at the club wishes them the very best.
It took Bangor just a couple of minutes to break the long try drought when the ever alert Matthew Baston at scrum half gathered a quick ball from the base of the scrum and cleverly darted through for a try. This was converted by Rory Binder.
Moments later from a long clearance by the home side's fly half, Kevin Roberts on the right wing gathered the ball and attacked from his own half and quickly made several meters before passing down the line. Centre Rory Binder side-stepped his opponent and threw an excellent pass to Gethin Jones who was flying down left wing and ran in from almost half way for an excellent unconverted try.
On their first visit to the Bangor half Welshpool were awarded a penalty 20 meters out and opted to kick for the corner. The home team's pack drove over from the resulting line-out for a try which went unconverted. This lifted the home side and in no time at all they were on level terms when some poor tackling let in their fly half who converted his own score. Both sides exchanged penalties to end the first half 15 points each - Binder for Bangor and Roberts for Welshpool were the successful kickers.
It was all Bangor in the second half with plenty of good ball made available by
the pack and some extraordinary scavenging work by Sion Williams who was in
impressive form playing at flanker. Covering from end to end he made sure the
game was kept flowing but the good work was spoiled time and time again by poor
refereeing decisions. Good forward pressure from a line-out saw Rory
Binder cutting through the defence to score a fine try which he also converted
and not to be outdone fellow South African Richard Strydom added a try of his
own in fine style when he was fed good ball by the the forwards 30 meters out.
The conversion narrowly missed. Deep into injury time with the game dead and
buried, the home team scrambled over from a forward drive to score a consolation
try.
DIVISION 5 NORTH
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 26th
BRO FFESTINIOG 17 - BANGOR 3
Bangor totally dominated the first half territorially but Bro were quicker and keener to get to the breakdowns. With no second phase possession Bangor's only real scoring chances came through penalties and they only managed to put over one of these thanks to full back Iwan Jones. Back row forward Aled Hughes and scrum half John Raby made ground several times but support was slow and the turn over inevitable. Bro broke out from defence once and centre David Roberts made scoring look easy. Outside half Edwin Roberts added the two points to give the home team a 7 - 3 lead at half time.
Playing with the slope in the second half, the home team got on top. Taking a scrum against the head and helped by a few half hearted tackles, David Roberts again made scoring look easy. The Bangor pack did well to contain matters in the set pieces but the home team managed another try when Hayden Williams picked up at the back of the scrum and put full back Dan Jones in for a try.
Hugh Roberts Gwyn Hughes
John Raby
DIVISION 5 NORTH
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 19th
BANGOR 14 - LLANIDLOES 18
Luckless Bangor are wondering where their next victory is coming from just losing again in a game they should have won by a margin. Withstanding early pressure Bangor, went on to dominate the first half territorially but couldn't break the stubborn defence of the visitors. They came away with only 3 points for their efforts with a Rory Binder penalty. Llandidloes broke out of defence once in this period and scored a try from full back Marius Jerling.
Bangor started the second half well with another Binder penalty and soon after scored the best try of the game when they sent the ball quickly along the line to centre Richard Strydom who beat several defenders on the outside to score in the corner. Bangor immediately threw away their advantage giving away a simple interception to winger Gavin Smart who sped down the touchline for a try. A penalty from Ed Pugh soon after gave the visitors the lead but Bangor regained it with another Binder penalty. Resuming the battle, hooker Dylan Roberts took a scrum against the head and Bangor seemed to have scrambled the ball over the line with several defenders on top of them. To the disbelief of the team the referee disallowed it. This seemed to energise the visitors and deflate the home team and although both created chances, Bangor threw theirs away with dropped catches and missed passes when a try seemed certain. Llandidloes on the other hand took their chances and Nick Howels scored a final try to settle the matter.
Bangor play a rearranged league game at Bro Ffestiniog next Saturday with an early kick off to enable them to watch the internationals on the big screen afterwards. The coach leaves Cae Millter at 10 a.m. and supporters are welcome to travel with them.
NORTH WALES CUP
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 11th 2005
BANGOR 20 - WREXHAM 28
The atrocious weather conditions at Cae Millter Friday night suited the heavy Wrexham pack who managed to deny Bangor possession for much of the game. Wrexham went into an early lead when a dropped ball and a fly hack saw their outside half drop on the ball for a try that he converted himself. Bangor responded with a good try. Sending the ball across the backline from a linout, John Raby entered the line and handed on to Richard Strydom who crossed and rounded under the posts to make the conversion from Rory Binder a little easier. This was the only time Bangor was to enjoy a lead as Wrexham battered their way over for an unconverted try and a penalty just before half time.
Bangor had the gale at their backs for the second half but keeping possession it was Wrexham who clawed their way into the wind and battered their way across the line again for a try. Bangor missed a penalty attempt and then a break from outside half Owen Humphreys was stopped on the line. Bangor seemed to get the ball over but the referee gave the benefit of doubt to the visitors. Rory Binder landed a penalty and Bangor reduced the deficit further when Robert Eston chased down a touchline kick, hacked the ball on and dropped on it for an unconverted try. With the gap reduced to 3 points Bangor needed to turn the screw but Wrexham mauled their way over the line again after catching Bangor in possession. Bangor responded with a great try. Taking a tap penalty deep in their own half, winger Wesley Bodmer used his electrifying pace to outstrip the defence on the outside and score in the corner. Denied any more ball possession, this was to be Bangor's last points and Wrexham settled the matter when they battered their way over again right on the final whistle for a converted try.
Scrumming in the rain Wesley Bodmer scores in corner.
WRU DIVISION 5 NORTH
29th JANUARY 2005
RHAYADER 24 BANGOR 23
A depleted Bangor side travelled 110 miles down the A470 to play against their Mid-Wales opponents Rhayader , deep in the heart of Powys .They almost came away with a deserved victory after a very spirited display by all 15 players having outscored their opponents by 4 tries to 3. In fact, Bangor should have won this game comfortably having had 3 tries disallowed, the first by flanker Meurig Jones who seemed to have touched down in the corner mid-way through the first half. The second came when John Raby, who was in fine form at full back , made a darting run after a kick ahead from half way and looked to have scored a genuine try but he was judged to have spilled the ball when he dived over. The third was an obvious try for all to see by the impressive Rory Binder at fly half when he outstretched the defence from way out and touched down , but the referee was too far behind play and refused to allow the score to stand much to the anger of the Bangor XV and their supporters.
The visitors were 3- 0 ahead after a minute when a Mathew Baston penalty sailed through the uprights to give Bangor an encouraging start. Indeed the University town boys had most of the possession throughout the first half with only silly errors preventing them from completing what would be certain scores. Totally against the run of play , Rhayader scored a simple try way out after a lapse in the Bangor defence. The try was superbly converted by the home side's outside centre who's kicking was foot perfect all afternoon and in fact won the game for his side .
The same guy added another 3 pointer minutes later when the Bangor back row were penalised for pulling down a maul .Bangor however retaliated immediately with slick inter-passing across the field and Rory Binder side stepped the defence to score after being involved twice in the move .The conversion attempt was wide of the posts .
A dominating last 5 minutes of the half saw the home side's forwards go on a 20 meter drive for the line and were successful in touching down for a 7 point try to lead 17 - 8 at the break .
Bangor started well in the second half when centre and captain of the day Neil Williams scored a well worked try which went unconverted. The home side's pack once again took control near the Bangor try line and pushed over again for another seven pointer.
The final 20 minutes was all Bangor and they were awarded with fine tries by prop Donald Hughes and left wing Gethin Jones with both conversions unsuccessful although the latter attempt unluckily hit the upright.
BANGOR 12 - BETHESDA 22
DIVISION 5 NORTH
SATURDAY JAN 15th
Bangor put in a much improved performance in this local derby and might well have brought off a shock result if they had taken more advantage of the opportunities they created.
Fielding their best front row of Captain Devlin Robert, Dylan Roberts and Donald Hughes they dominated the scrums and had most of the territorial advantage. Despite this, Bethesda opened the scoring with a simple try in their first visit into the Bangor 22 metre area and hooker Stephen Eames popped up in the centre and ran through the gap to touch down. Outside Half Mathew Parry converted.
Bangor resumed occupation of Bethesda territory and Rory Binder looked to get over the line but the referee was unsighted and awarded a 5 meter scrum. Bangor pushed the scrum back over the try line and John Kargiotis got the touch down. Mathew Baston levelled the score with his conversion.
Despite being on top Bangor lapsed again when Bethesda took a scrum against the head and simple passing along the line put wing forward Daffydd Jones in at the corner for an unconverted try.
Bangor continued to put in a great fighting display in the second half playing against the wind they created several scoring opportunities but frequent blasts of the whistle, long lectures from the referee and many minor injuries broke up the pattern of play for both sides. Bangor levelled the score again with another push over try with substitute No.8 Aled Hughes getting the touch down. Bethesda forced a line out on the 5 metre line and mauled their way to the try line. Their substitute veteran Bill Huai was awarded a try although Bangor seemed to have got under the ball. Parry converted and when he added a late penalty the game was up for Bangor.
BANGOR 25 - BRO FFESTINIOG 22
DIVISION 5 NORTH
SATURDAY DEC 11th
In an exciting match that often threatened to erupt into violence, the lead changed hands three times. Although Bro had the greater try count, it was the goal kicking of Mathew Baston that made the difference.
Bangor withstood the early onslaught from Bro who came close to crossing the line twice, missed a penalty and struck the bar with a drop goal. Bangor worked themselves into the game thanks to ball possession provided by the forwards with Gwyn Hughes jumping well in the lineout and Aled Hughes and Dylan Dobson Jones working well in the loose. A few slick passing moves from Bangor almost produced tries but brought rewards with two Penalties from Mathew Baston. Then Bangor lapsed badly letting Bro take a scrum against the head they then missed several tackles in the centre and winger Gareth Carter ran in a try to pull back 5 points. Bro added another try before half time when breaking on the blind side of the scrum, the defence was found lacking again and centre Dai Roberts crossed to give Bro a lead of 6 - 10. Both sides created more scoring chances but good hard tackling from both sides made for an exciting period. Referee Marc Wilcox decided to calm things down by sending a player from both sides to the sin bin.
Bangor won the game with a devastating spell of play early in the second half. First outside half Rory Binder intercepted a ball in the centre and avoiding several tackles ran in under the posts for a try converted by Baston. Soon after Binder placed a long penalty kick into the try zone forcing Bro to touch down. A terrible drop out from Bro to the wrong side of the field fell straight into the hands of winger Robert Eston who slipped a tackle and fed the ball to centre Richard Strydom who accelerated through the thin defence line for a great try in the corner. After a bout of even play Baston attempted a long penalty and this rebounded off the upright. Substitute wing forward Mark Pritchard was following up and gathering the ball touched down for a try converted by Baston to give Bangor a lead of 15 points. Bangor should have closed the game at this but Bro raised their game and after a bout of probing the defence they spun the ball wide and centre Barry Roberts got around the edge for a corner try. A period of attack and counter attack followed with both sides creating scoring chances but it was Bro who got the touch down slipping the ball to winger Gethin Shields who stepped inside two defenders to touch down. Edwin Roberts converted. Leading by only 3 points and deep into injury time Bangor hung on desperately to the end for a famous victory.
MACHYNLLETH 32 - BANGOR 12
DIVISION 5 NORTH SATURDAY DECEMBER 4th
Bangor had to make 5 enforced changes to their forwards including the whole front row. Machynlleth used the soft muddy pitch to their advantage and trapping Bangor in a particularly muddy corner they pushed the scrums back with ease and this led to two early tries for the home team. Bangor knew they had to play an open game and breaking out of the muddy corner their fast backs fed Richard Strydom into the gap and he raced away for a fine try. Machynlleth gained another try after bogging Bangor down with scrums again but Bangor clung on bravely and managed to put winger Sion Williams away for a fine try converted by Mathew Baston.
Trailing by only five points Bangor needed to play a running game and took every opportunity to tap and run but frequently this was into the nearest opponent and the ball did not manage to move through many hands. Despite playing with good spirit and never giving up, the conditions took their toll and Machynlleth scored another three tries all through their forwards.
Action from the game
Sion managed to score but Rob didn't. Kevin was unwell.
BANGOR 41 - RHOSLLANERCHRUGOG 8
DIVISION 5 NORTH
November 27th 2004
A revitalised Bangor saw off their opponents in style scoring five tries and letting in only one. Supporters must be hoping that this upturn in performance will be maintained in what has so far been a season of contrasting performances.
Early Bangor pressure was rewarded with two penalty goals from Mathew Baston but then Rhos started to get into their normal pattern of play with their forwards keeping tight possession. Bangor broke out of the stranglehold when prop Dylan Roberts broke free with the ball and when it was recycled quickly, flanker Dylan Dobson-Jones popped up in the centre to score a try converted by Baston. Rhos soon returned to grinding their way up field and after missing a penalty they were rewarded with a try. Taking a scrum ball they switched play to the blind side and with the help of missed tackles centre Andrew Dodd crossed for an unconverted try. They quickly added another three points with a penalty from Alan Andrews to make the score 13 - 8 at half time.
Rhos lost a player to the sin bin after the restart. Bangor put the penalty into the corner and taking the lineout sent the ball out to the backs. Centre Richard Strydom cut through the defence for his debut try converted by Baston. Another penalty gave Bangor the chance to tap and run and winger Robert Eston crossed for his first try of the season. Baston added the two points. A 22 metre restart from Rhos gave Bangor the chance to set up another try and substitute winger Kevin Roberts was on hand to finish the move with yet another great conversion from Baston. Bangor ended in style with a great touchline run by Richard Strydom and the forwards led by Captain Devlin Roberts were on hand to recycle the ball quickly. The ball flew along the back line and Dylan Dobson-Jones popped up again to run in another converted try.
WREXHAM 27 - BANGOR 0
DIVISION 5 NORTH SATURDAY NOVEMBER 13th
Bangor had no answer to the Wrexham steam roller who scored three tries in the first half and two in the second, all from rolling mauls formed at the linout. Bangor were unfortunate to lose prop forward Donald Hughes to Hospital with a neck injury early on. They only won one lineout during the entire game and several of Wrexham's tries came from a Bangor throw in. Bangor held their own in the scrums and when ball was delivered to the backs they looked dangerous and their back defence held firm throughout. With more injuries depleting their ranks, Bangor's veteran coach Alan Shields took to the pitch for the last ten minutes.
Bangor win a line out The coach Alan Shields takes to the pitch
BENLLECH 6 - BANGOR 55
NORTH WALES CUP
30th October 2004
(A video tape is available for this game see video library)
Bangor took time to get into their stride but ended up overwhelming the home team from the Gwynedd League with 9 tries. The first try came after 15 minutes when a wayward fly hack from the home side was caught by centre Roger Eston who passed to his co-centre Neil Williams to put him in at the corner. A penalty each from Mathew Baston and Rory Binder added another six points before Benllech got on the score sheet with a penalty of their own. No.8 forward Aled Hughes popped up in the centre soon after and powered his way through the defence for a fine try to give Bangor a lead of 3 - 16 at half time.
Benllech closed the gap after the restart with another penalty but then Bangor really got going. Aled Hughes picked the ball up at the back of the scrum and drove over for his second try. Next it was the turn of prop Donald Hughes. Scrum half John Raby threw the ball to him from a ruck and he stormed through for another 5 pointer. The next try came after the ball passed through many hands ending with winger Gethin Jones speeding down the touch line for a try. The next try came when backs and forwards combined in a slick bout of handling and Mathew Baston ran it in. Soon after Benllech were turned over in a tackle and Baston gathered the ball and raced in for try under the posts and converted it. Another bout of passing between forwards and backs saw outside half Rory Binder go in for a try that he converted. Bangor finished with a drive down the middle and Donald Hughes made another powerful run to score a 5 pointer.
LLANIDLOES 15 - BANGOR 20
SATURDAY OCTOBER 16th 2004
Llanidloes had the territorial and ball advantage for the first 15 minutes but found the Bangor defence very solid. When Bangor got their first real attacking chance they spilled the ball and give away a soft try. The ball was picked up by left wing Ben Davis who scorched down the touchline for a fine try converted by centre Ed Pugh. A new confident Bangor then started to get more ball possession and launched more attacks with Sam Jordan leading the fight back supported by centres Neil Williams and Robert Eston who came close to scoring twice. Their efforts were rewarded when outside half Rory Binder wrong footed the defence with a change in direction and ran in a fine try followed by a great conversion by Mathew Baston. More pressure was rewarded with a penalty from Baston and a drop goal from Binder. When John Raby went off, Mathew Baston moved up from full back to scrum half . Bangor's front row, captain Devlin Roberts, Donald Hughes and Dylan (Jokers) Roberts had a period of total domination of the scrums. Taking a ball against the head, Baston ran to the blind side, chipped overhead and gathered the ball on the line for a fine try. His conversion gave Bangor a lead of 7 - 20 at the break.
Llanidloes got an early second half break when Bangor dropped a high ball and right wing Sean Jones went in at the corner for an unconverted try. The game then turned into a cliff hanger with Llanidloes regaining the upper hand and depriving Bangor of the ball. A penalty from Ed Pugh brought the home side to within 5 points. Bangor's improved fitness and confidence allowed them to put up a stern defence and they were saved with several last gasp tackles keeping the home side out to the end.
Bangor are home to Welshpool next Saturday kick off 2.30.
BANGOR 19 - RHAYADER 19
SATURDAY OCTOBER 9th 2004
Bangor threw away a 19 point lead caving in to pressure during the later stages
of the game. Newcomers to the league, Rhayader had territorial advantage through
much of the first half but Bangor showed great resolve keeping them out
with a solid defence. Bangor got the only score in the first half when they
retrieved the ball from a ruck and centre Robert Eston flipped the ball on to
Rory Binder who shrugged off a few tackles and went down the touch line for a
fine try. Full back Mathew Baston made a great conversion.
Bangor looked as though they would run away with the game in the second half with territorial and ball possession. Taking a scrum against the head, back row forward Aled Hughes picked the ball up and forced his way to the line with a show of great strength. The try was unconverted. Bangor kept up a period of sustained pressure and during a loose scramble under the posts, scrum half John Raby got the touch down in the middle of a pile of bodies. Baston converted and Bangor looked home and dry but the Rhayader had not given up. Breaking out of defence they forced a ruck near the Bangor try line and despite some good tackling they created an overlap and second row forward T Knell finished the move with a try converted by outside half C Bennett.
With the game turning sour in places a few punches were exchanged and eventually Rory Binder was sent to the sin bin for the last 10 minutes of the game. During this period Rhayader got well and truly on top and with a sustained drive that was fiercely resisted by the Bangor pack, their other second row T Walsh got the ball down for another converted try. Holding on to a five point lead, Bangor were awarded a penalty that would have sealed the game. The kick fell short and gave Rhayader the possession they needed and they scrambled the ball back into the Bangor 22 m area. The ball came out on the blind side and full back D Jones had little trouble touching down in the corner. When the conversion went wide, the referee whistled full time.
BETHESDA 40 - BANGOR 7
SATURDAY OCTOBER 2nd 2004
The first half was very even with both sides scoring a converted try each. Centre Gareth Wyn Roberts scored first for Bethesda and centre Rory Binder scored for Bangor. Irfon Williams converted for Bangor. Bangor should have scored more points coming close to scoring on several occasions. Bangor were struggling without their regular front row but the forwards held their own in the first half.
Bethesda stepped up the pace in the second half and Bangor could not live with it. A combination of errors, turn over ball and lack of fitness allowed Bethesda to send the ball wide and run in more tries with three more from Gareth Wyn Roberts, one each for winger Gwion Davies, scrum half Graham Davies and a substitute. Bangor did manage to set up some good attacks with Sam Jordan making a few charges down the wing but they couldn't quite drive them home.
John Raby - Robert Eston - Rory Binder - Sam Jordan
BANGOR 5 - BALA 29
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 18th 2004
Irfon Williams going for Bangor's only try.
Bangor are still suffering with injuries to key players sustained at the end of last season. They put in a much improved performance but couldn't match the weight of the Bala Pack. Bangor dominated the first 20 minutes and came close to scoring on the three occasions with Iestyn Hampson Jones and Sam Jordan almost making the line but lacking the vital support to complete the move. Bala scored after thirty minutes with their first trip to the Bangor try line when they pushed Bangor off their own scrum ball and touched down in the resulting disruption. Their second try came from a long rolling forward maul and they led at the break 0 - 12.
Bala went further ahead in the second half with a pushover try and then their backs got in on the act with their full back touching down. Bangor did not cave in under pressure and struck back with a try from outside half Irfon Williams. Bala scored again on the final whistle when Bangor lost the ball in a tackle in front of the posts and the full back picked up and touched down.
BANGOR 13 - MACHYNLLETH 69 SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 4th 2004
Bangor got the new season off to a disastrous start conceding 10 tries, 8 conversions and a penalty. Bangor could only respond with a penalty from Iestyn Hampson Jones, a try from Paul Hassle and a try from Neil Williams.