PWLLHELI 21

BALA 22

NEVER-SAY-DIE Bala have achieved their most notable triumph of the campaign.

One of the form teams in WRU League Division One (North), the men from Maes Gwyniad made it nine wins on the bounce courtesy of a brilliant weekend triumph at title chasing Pwllheli.

Bala battled back from trailing 21-12 at the interval to record a 22-21 triumph, which boosts their hopes of achieving a top-three finish this season.

It proved to be a hard-fought encounter, with a number of yellow cards being shown to players from both teams.

Making the most of a positive start, Bala were able to take a 5-0 lead.

Centre Ilan Aled scored the first try after his centre partner Owain Aled took a quick tap penalty to set him up.

Needing a win to close the gap on league leaders Llandudno, Pwllheli hit back and they scored a trio of tries to build up a healthy 21-5 advantage.

However, Bala were by no means out of the contest and they hit back shortly before the break.

Miall Roberts crossed the whitewash on half-time when Pwllheli had two players in the bin for penalties in the red zone, while Bala had a player binned for a high tackle.

At the start of the second half, Pwllheli found themselves down to 12 men with another yellow card for a high tackle, which could easily have been a sending off.

Bala opted to kick to the corner and from the ensuing lineout, they drove a maul over the line, with hooker Endaf Jones gaining the touch down.

This moved Bala to within four points of their hosts and with time running out, they gained a match-winning score.

Prop Garan Roberts scored late in the second half from close range to confirm Bala's triumph.