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Cofis overcome subborn Whitland

Cofis overcome subborn Whitland

The opening Premier league fixture between Caernarfon and Whitland have been fairly evenly matched for a number of seasons and this encounter turned out to be another hard fought contest before the Cofis prevailed 42-17.

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Considering the long spell of inactivity the handling and tackling was consistently good but more fluidity in attack will surely follow as the season progresses.

The scoreboard remained unused for the first twenty minutes with Caernarfon edging the contest territorially.

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Teleri Davies had numerous meter gaining charges with returning flanker Becky Williams busy at the breakdown to ensure good ball retention. Number eight Jenny Hawkins peeled well off scrums and centre Katie Thicker showed a turn of speed that led to gain line crossing surges for Whitland.

The opening score came courtesy of a sweet midfield break by speedster Elen Evans who sprinted all of seventy meters before being hauled to ground yards short, however winger Hannah Williams had remained in support and was able to collect the pop pass to score close to the posts, thus affording Beth Davies the added extras.

Caernarfon continued to apply pressure with another break from near the half way line bringing rewards as home Number eight Nicky Crawford sprinted clear to crash over. Minutes later the surprise element saw Elen Evans take a quick tap penalty and with dancing feet, wriggled free to score from distance. Beth Davies maintained the 100% kicking record by converting both.

The second half saw Whitland playing uphill and eager to make amends but the Cofis were not in generous mood with flanker Olwyn Jones enjoying the fray with her all action play. It was her fine take following a Nicky Crawford charge that eventually saw the ball spread wide to allow Beth Davies to round the defence and gain the bonus point try and yet another conversion. Almost immediately she was back in action deploying a touch line chip followed by a kick and chase that saw her win the race to ground and again convert.

Lesser teams than Whitland would have caved in at this point but to their credit they showed great fighting spirit and clawed their way back into the match. Flanker Elin Gapper, who showed star quality throughout as regards tackling, disrupting and ensuring turnovers eventually rounded off a period of sustained Whitland pressure when on the sixth attempted charge she succeeded to cross the whitewash for a fully deserved try.

Emma Summons  at scrum half was directing play well and following her quick tap and go, had speedster Mari Griffiths at hand to run in and score a fine opportunist try. Holly Couzens at stand off also slotted the conversion with twenty minutes to go. Numerous substitutions took to the field with no one having greater impact than Caernarfon flanker Sophie Richards who relishes tough forward battles and who with five minutes to play drove from a ruck with sufficient determination to score her first ever points for the club. Each of the six tries were duly converted by Beth Davies.

Whitland however fought to the end with the most creative move of the match coming at the death, Hawkins and Gapper did the initial driving before crisp passing amongst the backs saw centre Heather Rees take at pace and beat the cover to score a fine try to bring to an end an entertaining tussle.

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