Following report kindly supplied by Dinbych RFC.
DOGGED DINBYCH BATTLE TO VICTORY AGAINST CASTLEMEN
Following a poor start to the season, the Dragons of Dinbych were in a positive mood as they welcomed 4th place Flint RFC to Caeau Les Phillips.
Saturday saw Dinbych 2nds welcome Flint to Caeau Les Phillips for their Divison 3 North match, with Dinbych keen to further improve their form against a side ranked fourth in the league.
The weather had not been kind before the game leading to greasy conditions underfoot, but despite this both sides sought to play with endeavour. Flint started the game playing down the slope on the Second team pitch giving them an advantage in possession and territory. The pressure led to a string of penalties being conceded by Dinbych and Flint took the lead scoring and converting the first try of the game.
Dinbych fought back and a reversal of the penalty awards led to a succession of line outs which gave the side a firm footing in the opponent’s territory. The mounting pressure saw Osian Hedd Williams make a blindside dash from a ruck only to be repelled by some stern defence from Flint, and a penalty from the ensuing ruck allowed them to clear their lines. The first half ended with Flint looking to defend their one try lead.
Dinbych started the second half strongly with the extra momentum from playing downhill allowing their pack to dominate open play and their mauls from the lineout being particularly effective. It wasn’t long before their pressure led to kickable penalty and Robyn Cartwright’s boot gave the home side three points. A mix of intelligent kicking and excellent pressure exerted by the pack gave Dinbych the edge in territory and possession. Richard Hillier playing on permit from Abergele had an excellent game at prop for Dinbych with powerful runs sapping the strength of Flint’s defence and giving him a well earned try scored under the posts, which was converted by Robyn Cartwright.
As one would expect from a side sitting higher in the table Flint made a valiant effort to fight back leading to a tense final ten minutes, and in the final minute a penalty awarded to them for a high tackle gave them a decision to make - kick for goal for a draw or aim for field position and a line out and a chance to score a try and win. Fortunately for the players, coaches and spectators chewing their nails watching, Flint elected to kick for goal and the effort went wide of the posts giving Dinbych a hard earned win.
This gives the side three wins in their last five games and a confidence boost ready for their away trip next Saturday when they travel to Blaenavon in Gwent to play Forgeside RFC in the second round of the WRU Shield competition.
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