Fixture

Dinbych remained winless after their fourth successive away match in Division 1 North. Yet they gave a much improved performance in a closely contested encounter and with better game management could have snatched victory in the closing minutes.

Dolgellau had the advantage of a stiff breeze in their favour in the first half and soon used it to good effect capitalising on Dinbych’s uncertainty in dealing with high tactical kicks togain territorial advantage. This allowed the hosts to open the scoring in the sixth minute when flanker Dewi Thomas was able to force his was over for an unconverted try following ashort range driving maul by the forwards. Dinbych gradually fought their way back into the game and were attacking close to the Dolgellau try line midway through the half only for an interception giving wing Simon Jones the opportunity to break away on a length of the pitch run to cross for another unconverted try in the corner. Dinbych then lost influential skipper Tom Seddon through injury but hit back shortly afterwards when replacement back Jordan Wynne gathered a neat grubber kick by scrum half Alex Jones just inside the home 22 to go over for in the corner for an unconverted try. 

Dinbych were further disrupted as injuries mounted up with back row forwards Sean Baker and Aron Evans both having to depart the field through injury. Just before half time Dolgellau then took advantage of Dinbych being reduced in numbers through a sin binning when they were defending desperately. This led to No.8 Marios Jones forcing his way over for the home side’s third unconverted try from another short range forward drive leaving Dinbych trailing by fifteen points to ten at the interval.

Play fluctuated from end to end in the third quarter with Dinbych’s pack dominating the scrums whilst Dolgellau’s big ball carriers made inroads in open play midway through the half Dolgellau increased their lead when flanker Iwan Ifans closed a period of intense pressure near the Dinbych line by going over for a try from a short range tap penalty with centre Carwyn Pugh adding the conversion points. Dinbych hit back immediately when replacement Dafydd Evans and fellow backrower Gwern Pierce broke from the left side of a scrum on the Dolgellau 22. When the ball was recycled to the right, centre Matt Hulse was able to put to put debutant winger Gethin Williams over for an unconverted try out wide.

Dinbych were now dominating play pinning Dolgellau close to their line with Dolgellau eventually being reduced to thirteen as they conceded penalties as they tried to stem Dinbych’s powerful scrummaging and close range attacks. Dinbych then closed to within a single score when Dan O’Sullivan wrongfooted the Dolgellau defence with a change in direction to go over for a try which he converted himself. Unfortunately, even with a numerical advantage and dominating possession Dinbych were unable to turn this into points as they failed to breach an aggressive Dolgellau defence. In the final minute Dolgellau made the game safe after counter attacking deep into the Dinbych 22 when Carwyn Pugh kicked a penalty from in front of the posts.