Fixture

With many clubs struggling to raise teams following the long Covid lay-off Dinbych did exceptionally well to turn out two senior teams for the second weekend of matches. Despite losing two highly competitive games in the respective WRU Cup competitions the players of both teams played with great spirit and commitment throughout. There were striking similarities in the two games as Dinbych were leading in both either just before or after the half time interval before they lost their earlier momentum in the second halves. Both teams were handicapped by a shortage of specialized second row players together with the absence of players through early season injuries. Despite this both teams had a full complement of players with some replacements.

Without any recognized second row players available Dinbych were forced to field a makeshift pack containing six front row players for this local derby in the second of the WRU Plate ties.

If Ruthin thought it would be a walk-over after Dinbych’s heavy defeat against Nant Conwy the previous week they were given a rude awakening by the visitors attacking play in the opening ten minutes. 

Dinbych dominated the opening ten minutes with forwards making ground through powerful drives with Joe Davies leading the way Ruthin’s defence was then stretched by strong running by Dinbych’s backs especially full back Gruff Roberts and centre Aidyn Jones. They opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a penalty from 20 metres by Gruff Roberts. They then extended their lead five minutes later from a line out near half way when Aidyn Jones broke through in midfield before offloading to co-centre and captain Tom Seddon who went over for a try under the posts leaving an easy conversion for Gruff Roberts.

With Ruthin gradually gaining more possession they began to dominate territorially and the Dinbych defence did well to hold out as they were under increasing pressure deep in the own half. The hosts eventually opened their scoring five minutes before the interval with an unconverted try by lock Chris Davies who went over from the side of a ruck a just short of the Dinbych line. They then drew level in injury time when Dinbych conceded a penalty in the left hand corner with the referee playing the advantage before play was halted in the opposite corner. Ruthin were quick to react to take the original penalty for flanker Tudor Parry to go over for another unconverted try.

In the second half Ruthin continued to edge proceedings especially at the breakdown where they often turned over possession or forced Dinbych to concede penalties. They took the lead for the first time after a period of pressure in the opening minutes when they recycled possession from a ruck close to the Dinbych line with prop Danny Millar forcing his way over for a converted try. With Ruthin continuing to launch attacks they were held out by some excellent Dinbych defensive play but the hosts made the game safe ten minutes before the final whistle with another converted try from short range when lock Callum Lumsden went over for a converted try under the posts after a number of short range forward drives. Gwion Richards and Iestyn Davies added the conversion points to the two tries.

The final score did scant justice to a tremendous committed performance by Dinbych given their pre match problems with forwards Joe Davies, Richard Hilliard-Evans, Lewys Eden and Harry Collins all making the hard yards in open play whilst the backs as usual were always dangerous runners in attack.