Bangor travelled to this evening game with a large squad and full of hope. The first  half was evenly balanced. Bro scored first with a try from their No.8 but Bangor struck back immediately with a fine try starting with a break from centre Llyr Roberts and finished by outside half Jonni Hughes who converted it to give Bangor a lead. Bangor went further ahead soon after with another fine try created by Olu Peyrasse and finished by Dan Davies. This was to be the last of Bangor's form as they took to kicking the ball aimlessly straight to the home side and Bro scored a try with the player clearly running the wrong side of the touchline and then followed up with a converted try just before half time.

In the second half Bro brought on some serious players and Bangor hardly got their hands on the ball and Bro's centres finished the job carving through the Bangor defence 5 times. Bangor could have done better with more composure and better tactics but the team can be proud to have completed 21 games, many more than teams in Division 1.

FRIDAY APRIL 10^th

This exciting match was played with great skill and enthusiasm by both sides and Bangor just scraped home with a penalty from man of the match Jonni Hughes right on the final whistle. From the kick off it was apparent that neither side were going to run away with the game and although Perth had the larger pack Bangor had the skill to win their share of the ball. The visitors took the lead after 20 minutes with a well rehearsed move. From a set piece players rushed to the blind side of the scrum drawing the defence but the scrum half fed outside half Andy Hall who swerved to the open side and crossed for a fine try converted by Jack Steel. Bangor struck back immediately with a great individual try from outside half Jonni Hughes who straightened and cut through the defence to score a try but was just wide with his own conversion. For a while it looked like Perth were getting on top with a period of dominant play that resulted in them mauling a try credited to Etienne Melville and converted by Jack steel. Bangor were unlucky not to score a couple of tries in the first half when they created some good chances.

Bangor came out for the second half in a fighting mood. Hooker Carl Roberts took a scrum against the head and the backs moved the ball out to Joe Brogden on the wing who used his pace to score a fine try. Jonni Hughes slotted over a great conversion to bring the home team to within 2 points. There was no more scoring until late on and bangor took the lead for the first time with a well struck penalty from Hughes that seemed to seal the game but Jack Steel regained the lead for Perth with a fine penalty of his own. With game close to the final whistle Bangor's other winger edam Barnor-Ahaiku hacked the ball down field and gathered it only tobe tackled just short of the try line. With hardly any defenders in sight Bangor swarmed around and were awarded a penalty for being denied possession and Hughes' final kick of the game gave them a single point victory.

The tourists from Scotland were a very friendly group and even played the teams onto the field with the bagpipes and go on today (Saturday) to play Llangefni.

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The home team could only field 14 players due to demands by the seniors and by the rules the visitors were obliged to field the same and the game was played with uncontested scrums. The first half was very even with both sides playing attractive rugby. bangor scored first with a try from Olu Peyrasse converted by Darren Brace. As so often happens, the visitors immediately scored in reply while Bangor were still celebrating in their heads and the half time score was only 7 - 5.

The second half saw Bangor get into their stride and show some real form. Peter Foment scored a fine try but again Newtown struck back with a converted try. After this the visitors lost their way and Bangor ran in more tries from Karl Roberts (2) and Olu Peyrasse got his second. Scrum half Meurig Thomas rounded off a good move for the final try. Outside half Darren Brace another added 4 conversions.

Bangor's Youths side gave a creditable account of themselves in the first half and were only trailing 10-0 at the interval. Both of Dolgellau's tries were from long kicks, assisted by the sharp breeze, and from the resulting pile up they drove over twice. On the half hour prop Mike Royston Roberts limped off with an ankle injury and Bangor without any travelling reserves available were down to 14 men.
In the second period the hosts scored 2 quick tries, one a 7 pointer, before Bangor could gather any momentum and it was always going to be an up-hill battle thereafter. To their credit the city lads never gave up and at times played very attractive rugby but were unable to penetrate the home side's solid defence.
Fly half Iwan Roberts, normally a scrum half, shone throughout as did Darren Brace, usually a stand-off, but playing full back for the day. Twice Iwan broke free and almost scored a solo try from half way only to be unluckily held short. Birthday boy Olu Peyrasse was his usual industrious self throughout and deserved better for his efforts.
Dolgellau did score one more converted try before good vision by Iwan Roberts saw him quick tap a penalty when he saw wing Huw Humphreys screaming for the ball and the speedy winger  was on to the perfectly judged kick to touch down in the corner for a consolation Bangor score .
Bangor's coach nominated Darren Brace as their man of the match and the youngster fully deserved the accolade .

The visitors from mid Wales proved to be a powerful and dynamic outfit and aided by a bombardment of penalties in their favour hustled Bangor out of the game with with great tactical and physical rugby. Early on Bangor looked able to give as good as they got and briefly took the lead with a well worked try finished off by flanker Andy Williams in the corner. After that Bangor withered under the storm but never stopped giving their all and were only behind 5 - 15 at the interval. The second half brought four more tries to the visitors but Bangor did have a brief period on top when they scored a second try through centre Llyr Roberts.

This was a game where Bala took their chances better than Bangor. Bala were repeatedly penalised for close contact offences and had two yellow cards during the game but they succeeded in frustrating Bangor who didn't help themselves with many critical handling errors and wrong choices. The home team caught Bangor cold and got the best possible start when they caught the kick off and their No. 10 outpaced the defenders over a distance of 70 meters to score a seven pointer. Although Bangor had territory and possession they went further behind when the Bala No. 7  added another converted try. Bangor had quite a few good scoring chances and it took a few attempts before Olu Peyrasse linked up with centre Huw Humphreys to cross for Bangor's only try. Bala added another try before half time taking a quick tap penalty from 5 metres out and their left wing crossed with defenders still trying to retire the legal distance. Bangor pulled back three points with a penalty from Darren Brace.

The second half was much more evenly contested with Bangor putting in more effort and looking more coordinated. Their young prop Eiros Thomas was outstanding as was flanker Laurence O'Donell who chased everything and harassed relentlessly. Winger Edem Barnor-Ahaiku is a welcome return to the side and came close to scoring. Despite this Bala scored again when their No.8 set up the outside half for his second try. To be fair Bala could have scored another two tries but knocked on in the act of scoring. Bangor spent the last 30 minutes camped in the Bala 22 metre area and were held up over the line and could just not cross it.

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The youth team played visitors Llandudno from Division 1 in a friendly under flood lights. The first half was evenly contested with Llandudno having the territorial advantage but only managing one converted try. This was mainly due to ferocious tackling from Bangor and a well organised defence that made the visitors commit many errors.  In the second half Bangor lifted their game for a while and managed to force a try with Jack Owens getting the touchdown. The score remained at 5 - 7 for some time but towards the end Bangor seemed to flag and the visitors gained confidence and put together some good passages of play resulting in 4 tries in the last quarter of the game.

BANGOR YOUTH 18 v 15 BRO FFESTINIOG

NEW YOUTH LEAGUE DIVISION 2

BANGOR YOUTH 13 - 12 LLANGEFNI YOUTH

What a great advertisement for youth rugby this was. The weather cleared up and the crowd were treated to a great game of rugby in this local derby billed as a friendly but when Bangor play Llangefni there is really no such thing. With Llangefni riding high at the top of division 1 Bangor were determined to do well. Llangefni went on the offensive right from the start but tremendous tackling from Bangor let them weather the storm and work their way into the game. Playing against the stiff wind Bangor were always in danger but good fielding and running brought them try scoring chances and Joe Brogden came close on the wing. With ferocious tackling on both sides Bangor were first to suffer the ref's wrath with a yellow card for spoiling in the ruck but during this period they got the only score of the first half with a penalty from outside half Darren Brace.

The second half saw Llangefni bring on 7 substitutions, mostly their main stream players but Bangor were first to score when No.5 Ryan Butler broke away down the middle to make about 40 m of ground and the forwards quick on his heels mauled the ball over the line with the try going to Jack Owens. The conversion from Darren Brace in front of the posts was to prove crucial as Llangefni got on top with their weight advantage and had most of the possession. Bangor were reduced to 14 men for the second time with another yellow card and it looked inevitable that Bangor would crumble. Declan Griffiths got the visitors first try and Carwyn Milburn the conversion. Both teams produced superb rugby with no one flagging or giving up the chase. Bangor looked to be hanging on when Carwyn Owen scored Llangefni's second try but the conversion from near the touchline just missed but it looked as though the visitors would take the day. Bangor took the ball into the visitors half from the restart and were awarded a penalty. Loud cheers from the home team saw the kick from Darren Brace take them into a 1 point lead and with only time left to kick off Bangor saw the ball off the field to end the game.

bALA 27 - 0 Bangor

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Rydal looked a smart outfit and took a first half lead with a try from Jean Luc Peterson and a penalty. Bangor only responded with a Jonni Hughes penalty. Good defence from Bangor prevented the visitors running in more and with the sun at their backs in the second half Bangor got on top. Using the high kick Bangor chased down the ball well and were soon rewarded with a try from Oleu Peyrasse who powered over near the touch line. Bangor never allowed the visitors to get back on top and more well worked tries came from Joe Adamson and Huw Humphreys with Hughes kicking the conversions confidently.

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The first year college students had pace and fitness but but never put any serious moves together with frequent knock giving Bangor plenty of ball through uncontested scrums.  The star for Bangor was Jonni Hughes who entered the back line from the full back position and crossed twice. He also made three conversions. Bangor's forwards were very powerful on times thanks to players like Jack Owens and Craig Roberts and they gave the team plenty of ball to play with.

Bangor opened the scoring with a try from wing forward Oleu Peyrasse who went over in the corner. Jonni Hughes made a superb conversion from the touch line. Outside half Darren Brace added the next try with a good turn of pace. Jonni Hughes rounded off the first half with a fine try.

The second half was played mainly in the visitors half but Bangor only managed one try through Jonni Hughes. Bangor might have had a bigger score line if they had let the ball flow more instead of taking them head on. The students responded late on and were awarded a penalty try when one of their break out moves was stopped by an illegal tackle.

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