A highly competitive local derby ended with Ruthin taking the honours outscoring the hosts by two tries to one to progress into the semi final of the North Wales Cup.
The following report was kindly supplied by Denbigh RFC.
Dinbych 8 v Ruthin 18
A highly competitive local derby ended with Ruthin taking the honours outscoring the hosts by two tries to one to progress into the semi final of the North Wales Cup.
Dinbych belied their lowly league position by matching high flying Ruthin in most aspects and the victors could thank their impregnable defence by holding out against two prolonged periods of pressure towards the end of both halves to secure their success.
With both sides testing the other in the opening stages it was Ruthin who went ahead after five minutes when outside half Callum Bennett kicked a penalty from in front of the posts 18 metres out when Dinbych offended at a ruck.
Dinbych drew level in similar manner three minutes later when full back Dan O’Sullivan punished Ruthin for offside at a line out on the 22metre mark.
Dinbych were then forced to concede a line out just short of their line after a long tactical kick upfield by the visitors. From the resulting line-out Ruthin won possession at the tail to allow prop Jason Humphreys to power over for the opening but unconverted try.
Ruthin increased their lead after 25 minutes with a break to the right from a scrum inside their own half creating an opening for right wing Kyle Davies to outflank the Dinbych defence to cross for a try converted by Bennett.
Dinbych then had their best period of attacking play in the final ten minutes of the half with the forwards gaining good yardage through driving mauls and pick and drives. They hammered at the Ruthin line from short range but were denied a score by tremendous defence by the visitors to leave them trailing by fifteen points to three at the interval.
Callum Bennett increased the Ruthin lead ten minutes into the second half when he kicked a penalty from in from in front of the posts 15 metres out when Dinbych were caught offside.
Much of the remainder of the half was evenly fought with neither side threatening the other’s line until Dinbych as in the opening half finished with a late surge.
It was again initiated with some good driving play by the forwards who again as earlier were denied scoring from short range rucks by strong tackling by the Ruthin defence.
Dinbych however eventually got their reward with a consolation try when the ball was spun out for skipper Mat Hulse to power through the midfield defence for an unconverted try.
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