North Wales Division One

Bethesda 23

COBRA 14

COBRA were left stung as Bethesda left it late to complete their victory which deepened the Meifod’s side growing relegation fears.

The Meifod side now have three games to preserve to their top flight status with home fixtures against league leaders Nant Conwy and fellow strugglers Ruthin before ending their campaign at Colwyn Bay.

Despite Bethesda breaking the deadlock through Gethin Long’s early penalty the visitors replied when good work by their forwards led to a try from Matt Launder, converted by Will Worthington.

The nervous hosts spurned two penalties as the half wore on but led when a slick handling move culminated in Paul Thomas breaking for an unconverted try.

Bethesda increased their lead before the break with another unconverted try with scrum-half Carwyn Williams crossing the whitewash.

COBRA hit the ground running after the break and led when Harry Jukes crossed in the corner with the able Worthington steering home the conversion.

Bethesda grew in strength as the half wore on but COBRA’s defence proved well drilled and soaked up the pressure until finally being breached in the final quarter.

Long sliced through the defence following a series of rucks and offloaded to Elis Ogwen Jones to cross for a try which Long converted before the latter denied COBRA a losing bonus point with a last gasp penalty.

COBRA: B Edwards, Issac, H Jones, Launder, R Evans, E Davies, Humphreys, J Jukes, B Davies, R Jones, Worthington, Vaughan, I Williams, H Jukes, R Jones. Reps – Robson, B Roberts, R Davies.