Fixture

The top two side’s in Division 2 North went toe to toe at a wind swept Brookfield Drive on Saturday, with the home side ending Clwb Rygbi Dinbych’s unbeaten League run with an excellent defensive display and a clinical edge in attack when needed.

With less than a minute on the clock, Dinbych were gifted a shot at goal when referee Dafydd Roberts awarded the visitors a penalty directly in front of the posts. Club Captain Dan O’Sullivan capitalised on his side’s good fortune to go 3-0 up in the opening minutes.

From the restart O’Sullivan was back in action with a long touch finder deep into Colwyn Bay’s 22, a first attempt at the catch and drive was thwarted illegally by the hosts before Dinbych opted to try the same tactic once again. Flanker Gwern Pierce claimed possession at the lineout before Dinbych began their drive towards the line, Hooker Elliott Davies darted for the line but was held out just short of his target. White line fever gripped the forwards as Prop Ben Jackson’s attempt at the line was also halted short, forwards Aron Evans and Elliott Davies attempted to creep Dinbych closer to their goal only for the Bay’s defence to hold tight. Another attempt from Flanker Tom Jones fell agonisingly close to the try line before No.8 Aron Evans broke through the home defence to score his first of the season. Captain Dan O’Sullivan splicing the posts with his conversion to put Dinbych ahead by 10 with less than five minutes on the clock.

Dinbych continued to probe into Colwyn Bay’s 22 but failed to be rewarded for their gains due to the Bay’s proficiency in ripping the ball from Dinbych’s possession, then alleviating the pressure with clearance kicks against the strong wind.

It was from one such kick that Dinbych would go on to score their second try of the day, from a lineout on the half way line Colwyn Bay were unable to maintain possession and the ball was knocked on. From the resulting scrum the ball was fed out by Scrum Half Robyn Cartwright to his Half Back partner O’Sullivan, Wing John Clouston then wrapped around to receive the pass from O’Sullivan before Full Back Gruff Roberts hit the line and beat three defenders to dive over in the corner for an excellent try. His twelfth of this league campaign. The conversion attempt from the touchline drifting just left of the posts from O’Sullivan.

15 points down in as many minutes, Colwyn Bay were spurred into action from a lineout deep in Dinbych’s 22, with the ball won Colwyn Bay wasted no time in spinning the ball out wide and were rewarded for the territorial gains when the Referee awarded them a free kick for Dinbych going off their feet at a ruck. Taken quickly the ball was recycled out to No.8 Luke Rowlands who powered through Dinbych’s defence to get the Bay on the board after 17 minutes gone. Conversion slotted confidently by Full Back Dylan Marsh Hughes.

Both side’s looked to attack when possession was theirs, but were let down by poor handling, forward passes and the solid defensive work of their opponent. Dinbych’s Kieran Bonar looked to capitalise on one such mistake when he pounced on a wayward Colwyn Bay pass and hacked the ball onwards to the Bay’s try line. Matched stride for stride by Colwyn Bay’s Fly Half, Bonar was narrowly beaten to the ball, resulting in a Colwyn Bay goal line drop out.

Dinbych were once again back in Colwyn Bay’s 22, but were unable to break their steely defence, a strong carry from replacement Prop Tom Davies took Dinbych to within 5 metres of the try line before the Bay’s defence pushed the hosts back. With the home side’s defence seemingly on top, Dinbych were relieved to hear the referee’s whistle as he penalised the Bay for not releasing and Fly Half O’Sullivan stepped up to take the straight forward attempt at the posts. The day’s weather conditions had other ideas as the ball toppled from the tee, forcing O’Sullivan to take a drop goal attempt which sailed to the right of the posts. As the half time whistle struggled to beat the roar of the wind, Dinbych were ahead 15-7.

Handling errors once again halted attacking sequences for both sides and it was a knock on from Colwyn Bay which gifted Dinbych another scrum to attack from, the ball was passed out from the back by Cartwright and moved along the line until Gruff Roberts found the edge of the Bay’s defensive line, Wing John Clouston took the pass from Roberts and was motoring at full speed, try line beckoning when the referee’s whistle sounded for a forward pass.

Colwyn Bay pressed forwards once again and were rewarded for their efforts when Dinbych were penalised for a high tackle in front of the posts, Full Back Marsh Hughes cooly slotting the kick despite the strong winds.

The Bay continued to attack and despite Dinbych’s efforts were able to return back to their 22, Colwyn Bay came very close to drawing level when Prop Lloyd Jones fumbled the ball on the line, much to the relief of the defensive line. The reprieve was short lived however as Colwyn Bay attacked again, working the ball wide on the short side Dinbych were penalised for a deliberate knock on and the offending player made to sit the game out for 10 minutes.

Under the pump in their own 22, Colwyn Bay heaped on the pressure with a powerful catch and drive, Hooker Harry Roberts capitalised on the good work of his fellow forwards to dive over and draw the scores level, Full Back Marsh Hughes then put the Bay ahead with an excellent touchline conversion.

With the light fading, so where Dinbych’s hopes of remaining the only unbeaten side in Division 2 North. Throwing everything they had against the well drilled home defence, Full Back Gruff Roberts took Dinbych to within feet of the hosts try line, but was adjudged to have stepped into touch just prior to offloading.

Colwyn Bay hung on to their narrow lead and were delighted as the final whistle sounded, an exhilarating game showcasing the best of Division 2 North this season.

Club Captain Dan O’Sullivan and the 1st Team return to action this Saturday with the visit of Rhyl RFC to Maes Terry Bryer, another tough fixture but an excellent opportunity for Dinbych to return to winning ways in their final home game of 2023.