The final 22-39 score-line may suggest a comfortable victory, but the Cofis had to withstand a spirited challenge before pulling away to claim the spoils.
The fact that Cofis scored almost direct from the kick off when Jess Kavanagh-Williams rounded the defence to squeeze in at the corner lulled them into an even greater false sense of security.
Gwernyfed were however soon back in contention, applying pressure via their forwards to entre the danger zone. Numerous infringements led to short penalties being utilised well, before Megan Snape’s quick tap and go caught the defence cold to level the scores.
Amid the frantic exchanges that followed during the next 10 minutes two further tries were added, Kavanagh-Williams adding her second, again from a quick tap penalty some 30 meters out that took her beyond the defence to score.
Gwernyfed, not to be outdone, reverted to the tried and tested rumbling forward amongst the forwards to gain good field positions and capitalising on quick tap and goes that on this occasion saw Lily Snape plough over to tie the scores. There followed the first successful conversion of the day from the boot of Beth Chancellor.
A settling down period of some 15 minutes saw the Cofis begin to show more cohesion and retain possession more effectively together with securing a major boost from dominating the scrums. Elen Evans wriggled free along the touch line but had Kavanagh-Williams in support who on being brought to ground just short was able to return the ball to Evans to score in the corner.
The Cofis had thought that they would hold on to their three point lead to half time but the home pack, spurred on by their vociferous coaching staff and loyal supporters had other ideas. A series of charges close to the line eventually saw Lily Snape emerge victorious from beyond the whitewash to restore Gwernyfed’s two point lead.
Caernarfon had the slope in their favour during the second period and were glad to be able to regain the lead fairly quickly. Molly Shuttleworth, from fullback, broke through and had speedster Evans in support to canter over for the bonus point try. It was indeed Evans who added the next with 18 minutes of the half played, this time outpacing the defence on the outside to establish a seven point cushion.
The game then went away from the gallant but tiring Gwernyfed side from the restart as the kick-off was gathered by Kavanagh-Williams, who sprinted through the heart of the defence and sidestepped the remaining cover to score a classic solo try, also adding the conversion.
Entering the final 10 minutes Gwernyfed were given a boost and new lease of life when yet another quickly taken penalty saw Megan Snape emulate her sister’s achievement by scoring her second of the day. The 10-point gap however could not be closed further and on approaching the last play and with a nip in the air Caernarfon’s dominant scrum came to the fore with Nicky Crawford joining the ranks to plough over from the base. Kavanagh Williams converted.
The Cofis will know that far greater focus will be required when facing Swansea away next week whereas Gwernyfed can take great heart in the knowledge that a bonus point was secured and if this squad remains together then the league table will look far rosier as far as they are concerned come the end of the season.
