BALA 32
MACHYNLLETH 5
COULD Saturday turn out to be the most pivotal day in the SWALEC League Division Two (North) promotion race?
The chase to go up is a straight fight between Bala and Bethesda - and the men from Maes Gwyniad are suddenly in the box seat after a powerful second-half showing versus Machynlleth.
Determined Bala led only 8-0 at the interval, squandering a clutch of chances to bolster their try count in the first period.
“We made hard work of it,” admitted Bala chairman Tony Parry.
“We had plenty of chances, but we just weren’t taking them.”
The home side got their noses in front thanks to an early Gareth Owen penalty, while later in the first half scrum-half Euros Jones scuttled his way over the whitewash to stretch Bala’s lead.
Bala felt there was a try bonus point up for grabs in the second half, but they knew that they would have to slightly slow things down if they were to achieve the desired outcome.
“We were just rushing things,” added Parry.
“There were a bit of nerves because everybody knows its crucial with bonus points and everything.
“The message at half-time was to carry on playing as we were and to just slow down a bit when coming to the crucial areas.”
Any Bala nerves were settled in the first minute of the second period as Gareth Owen grabbed the home side’s second try and with 20 minutes left, Bala were on the cusp of a bonus point.
Bala pushed the Machynlleth pack back during a short-range scrum and scrum half Euros Jones was on hand to touch down.
Within 10 minutes the hosts were finally able to relax as Rhydian Jones’ customary try sealed a winning bonus point to cement Bala’s place at the head of the league rankings.
And Bala weren’t quite finished just yet as replacement number eight Dochan Roberts crossed for his side’s fifth try late on.
The result means that Bala are now five points clear of promotion rivals Bethesda, who had to come from behind to see off COBRA 19-10.
The Mid Walians led 10-0 at one stage, but tries from flanker Arwyn Griffiths and second row Cameron Moore helped Bethesda secure a 19-10 scoreline.