Fixture

Dinbych gave a fine all round team performance to get their league season on track with a narrow yet convincing victory over Bro Ffestiniog. Both teams battled hard to overcome the difficult conditions having to cope with a strong diagonal wind driving cold rain across the pitch. Dinbych’s success was built on the excellent work of the forwards well led by acting skipper Lewys Eden. They took advantage of a match littered with breakdowns to outscrummage the Bro pack forcing them to back-peddle or concede penalties on numerous occasions. They also generated effective driving mauls whilst their handling and support play backed up defence breaking surges of players such as prop Ben Jackson, Lewys Eden and back rowers Richard Hillier-Evans and Robin Williams.  

Despite playing against the wind in the first half Dinbych soon began to dominate possession through the play of the forwards. Because of the conditions handling errors were commonplace with Dinbych’s pack soon getting the upper hand in the scrums thanks to their solid front row of Ashley Liversidge, Elliot Davies and Ben Jackson. The scrum penalties allowed outside half Jordan Wynne to keep Dinbych on the attack by gaining ground with good touchline kicking against the wind and keeping Bro in their own half as they recycled possession from good line out work by Robin Williams and Narmer EL-Lamie.

Despite their dominance Dinbych and with centres Huw Mars-Jones and Kieran Bonar always threatening to break clear they were unable to open their score until midway through the half due to a strong resistance by Bro’s blitz defence. Jordan Wynne eventually broke the stalemate with a penalty from 22 metres following a high tackle which halted a break by Ben Jackson. Bro then raised their game just before the interval taking advantage of the wind to gain field position and attack deep into the Dinbych 22. It was now Dinbych’s turn to rely on their own aggressive defence against some powerful forward drives by the hosts to hold out on their own line to reach half time with a narrow three point lead.

Bro continued to have the edge in the opening minutes of the second half but Dinbych gradually regained control and they extended their lead twelve minutes into the half with the only try of the game. This was the result of an individual effort by Robin Williams who latched on to a loose ball at a line out just outside the Bro 22 before kicking ahead and winning the race to touch down for an unconverted try.

Although Dinbych continued to dominate both territorially and in possession Bro individuals launched counterattacks with good support play from their own half and and which were only halted by good cover tackling by Dinbych. With just over ten minutes remaining Dinbych increased their lead with Jordan Wynne’s second penalty when Bro were caught offside at a ruck on their 22. Again this did not deter Bro who attacked strongly deep into Dinbych’s 22 but again failed to breach their last line defence to leave them pointless despite their efforts.