Report by Rob Griffiths of the Daily Post.

PWLLHELI kept their unbeaten start to the Division Five North season in tact and in doing so ended Wrexham’s as they closed the gap on the league leaders.

Both sides were defending 100% records going into the match at Bryn Estyn Lane, but it was the visitors who came out on top to secure a bonus point 29-0 win over Wrexham and move a point clear of their hosts at the top of the table.

And as far as Wrexham coach Russell Penrhyn-Jones was concerned after the match, his side got exactly what they deserved from the contest. "We were outplayed, just completely outplayed," he said. "They are just a better side than us, they are much more clinical, they have more options than us. "We are restricted to what we can do, we can only do a driving maul, I am trying my hardest to get these lads to have other options outside, but we’ve just got a driving maul.

"These better sides, the likes of Pwllheli and Bethesda, have got other options and have the ability to spread it wide and the ability to keep it tight, but we just haven’t got those options. "We cannot compete with the better sides, we’ve proved that with Bethesda where we struggled, we’ve struggled against Pwllheli. We’ve got to start producing ball handlers, rugby players, rather than big lads. "But fair play to Pwllheli, I thought they were outstanding and I think they will compete very well in Division Four next season. It’s put everything in context for us and it’s a true reflection of where this rugby club is."

Pwllheli were delighted to come away from one of their main rivals with a victory, but forwards coach Arthur Williams was adamant his side had done nothing yet.

He said: "We are just pleased to come away with a win here and a bonus point really is just a bonus. We came here for the win and we’ve done it, and we are just absolutely delighted. "But we have got another 11 league games to go and we have to keep concentration and keep going because there are some very good sides in this league. "We have just got to keep concentrations, keep going and not think that we have achieved anything more than a win against a very decent side today. It’s not winning the league, it’s just winning a very important game."

In truth Penrhyn-Jones was dead on the money summing up the match. Wrexham had countless opportunities to cross the Pwll’ line, but could not convert any of their chances and crashed to a dismal scoreless defeat.

Wrexham had more possession – by some margin as well – but were simply unable to unlock the exceptional Pwllheli defence. Even after being camped down on the visitors line in the second half for some minutes, and with Pwll’ down to 14 men after Christopher Studt was sin binned for constant offside, Wrexham still had no way through.

And to make matters worse Pwll’ ran in two late tries to secure a four-try bonus point and move a point above Wrexham at the top of the table.

It was all round a disappointing day for the home side as fly-half Richard Lloyd sent a 11th minute penalty well wide of the posts, and some 10 minutes later Pwllheli opened the scoring through full-back David-Lloyd Williams, who threw an audacious dummy to leave two Wrexham defenders flat footed and ghost under the posts.

Wrexham continued to hammer away on the Pwll’ line, but still had no way through the defence in what was to be a pattern for the whole of the first half. But after the break – with the wind at their backs and with a slight slope – Pwllheli took advantage to extend their lead and make the game safe.

But they still had to do plenty of defending as Wrexham continued to batter on the door.

Fly-half Elgan Rowlands slotted over a penalty to give Pwll’ an 8-0 lead before Meilir Hughes crossed for the crucial score, breaking off the back of a maul to run through unopposed.

Wrexham were becoming increasingly desperate at this point and in their bid to make up the score began to make a number of unforced errors, which effectively sealed their fate.

And with time running out Pwll’ killed off the tie as hooker Dafydd Myrddin Hughes notched a third try and then with the final act of the match David-Lloyd Williams finished what he had started after picking up a loose pass to run fully 80 metres and touch down.

Cynlluniwyd gan: Keith Parry Hawlfraint 2006