In a thrilling game between last season’s top teams team – Pwllheli won the title by a single point – it was visiting centre Pugh’s try-treble that proved the difference as he added to the two tries he scored in the 50-0 thrashing of Bethesda on the opening weekend.
Pwllheli stormed into a 15-0 lead early on, forcing their hosts to play catch-up in their first game of the season. Jack Moriarty added to Jones’ hat-trick to secure a consolation bonus point for the home side, while Caron Jones and Mike Butterworth also got on the scoresheet for Pwllhelli.
Dolgellau helped themselves to 10 tries in a 58-8 win at Menai Bridge with four of them coming from young locks Danny Evans and Bryn Jones. Evens led the way with two of his side’s five tries in a first-half that saw the visitors build a 31-3 lead.
Then Jones took centre stage with his brace as Dolgellau mde it two out of two at the start of their campaign following an opening round win over Harlech. Other tries came from full back Gerwyn Pugh, centre Dan Brazier, who also kicked four conversions, wings Kage Jubiec and Rob Pugh, scrum half Osian Morris and Gerwyn Thomas.
Wil Davies was Caernarfon’s hero as he held his nerve to slot a later penalty that earned his side a 18-16 home win over Mold. The Cofis had led 12-3 at the break thanks to two tries from hooker Gareth Pritchard, but his opposite number Aron Jones brought Mold right back into the contest with two tries of his own.
Guto Pierce converted one of them and his second penalty of the game gave the visitors a 16-15 lead in the second half. But then came the decisive moment with Davies’ matchwinning kick that brought his side their first win of the season after an opening day draw at Abergele.
Kerry Jones scored twice on his debut to ease Rhydyfelin to a 53-15 away win against Brecon in Division 1 East. A breath-taking display saw the home side run in nine tries, the first in the opening seconds from Scott Pritchard. The bonus-point try came before half-time from captain, Lewis Smith.
Llanharan, relegated from the Championship last year, hammered Rumney 43-11 in Division 1 East Central to make it two wins out of two. Gareth Dyer scored a hat-trick and there were two more in a six try haul for new signing Chris Poole for the Dairymen.
Ynysybwl were forced to come from behind three times before finally putting down Risca. The visitors scored three tries to hit the front twice in the first half and once in the second, leading 21-14 at one stage.
But three quickfire tries in the second half powered ‘Bwl to a 40-21 triumph. Dion McIntosh kicked 15 points to back up driving line-out tries from skipper Daniel Watts and Alex Taylor, as well as two tries from full back Joe Williams and a penalty try.
The team that joined them in the drop, Bridgend Athletic, got out of jail at Builth Wells where they hung on to win 15-13 to maintain their perfect start to the season in Division 1 West Central. They led 10-3 at half-time, but had to withstand a major second half fightback from the home side.
Another early season, top-end clash saw Seven Sisters also maintain their 100% start with a 27-15, bonus point win over Ammanford in Division 1 West Central. Prop Ali Wade scored a brace, and wings Jacob Trench and Daniel Challenger also crossed, while full-back Dan Norton added seven points with the boot, leaving last season’s runners-up without a competitive win since 30 April after four successive defeats.
There were six home wins in Division 1 West, where Kidwelly and Llanelli Wanderers continued their perfect starts with a second successive bonus point victory. Kidwelly were 36-15 winners over Crymych, while the Wanderers triumphed 38-19 over Llangennech.
Gorseinon edged out new-boys Aberystwyth 31-29 in a tight affair that saw the visitors run in five tries to leave with two bonus points. Waunarlwydd also edged past Whitland in another close shave, winning 30-25.
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