DINBYCH 19
RHYL 17
DENBIGHSHIRE honours belong to Russ Rowlands’ Dinbych, who emerged as narrow victors in this vibrant but error-strewn derby opener to the new season.
Both sides squandered scoring opportunities with Rhyl in particular regretting their lack of a consistent kicker as several kickable penalties and conversions which would have given them the spoils went begging.
Dinbych had the upper hand in the first half mainly through the powerful scrummaging of their pack which set up periods of heavy pressure near the Rhyl line and these should have produced better results.
Rhyl on the other hand had the better of the second period with their backs looking the more dangerous and stretching the Dinbych defence to its limits.
Dinbych opened strongly and the scrummaging power of the pack soon made itself felt as they dominated territorially in the opening minutes.
They went ahead after six minutes when they kicked a penalty into touch in the left hand corner for second row Warren Edwards to win clean possession at the ensuing lineout.
Fellow lock David Haydock then peeled to the front of the lineout to dive over in the corner for a try which scrum-half Llion Edwards converted with an excellent kick from the touchline.
Rhyl were under severe pressure near their line at a series of scrums but held out as they somehow managed to scramble the ball away, whilst Dinbych failed to capitalise due to a lack of control.
The visitors were also fortunate to relieve the pressure with some long touch finders when Dinbych attacks broke down or when they conceded penalties.
Rhyl equalised on the half-hour mark after a drop-out on the Dinbych 22 when full back John Hall broke through some weak tackling in midfield to cross for a try which centre Rob Manley converted.
With the half drawing to a close more heavy pressure by Dinbych at scrums near the Rhyl line eventually took its toll as David Haydock again showed his strength in driving through from short range for an unconverted try to give Dinbych a 12-7 half-time lead.
Rhyl were increasingly having more of the game early in the second half through the driving play of their forwards, with the backs developing this through some incisive running.
There was little surprise when they drew level through an unconverted try by flanker Anthony Tilley.
With the match on a knife edge Rhyl were looking increasingly dangerous as they moved the ball at every opportunity, but this led to their downfall as their outstanding player, full back John Hall attempted to counter attack from just inside his own half by chipping over the Dinbych defence.
Hall’s kick was charged down by opposite number Jamie Winning who reacted quickly by regathering before outpacing the Rhyl cover to cross in the corner and then race under the posts to leave Llion Edwards an easy conversion.
With time running out Rhyl got some reward for their positive play when they recycled the ball after an attack down the right hand touch and with good handling in midfield created an overlap for left wing Paul Selwood to go over in the corner for a try.
The conversion attempt from wide out would have given the visitors a deserved draw, but it failed.
Dinbych held out in the remaining minutes for a narrow victory.
Whilst this was an encouraging victory for Dinbych there is plenty of work to be done in the weeks ahead in improving a misfunctioning lineout and for a potentially dangerous back division to gel in defence and attack.