BRO FFESTINIOG 13
RUTHIN 19
THE Blues were far from feeling blue as they opened their SWALEC League Division One (North) campaign on a winning note.
Ruthin were keen to start their season well in their first game away at Bro Ffestiniog, who defeated the Cae Ddol side home and away last season.
Playing uphill the Blues conceded a penalty in virtually the first move of the match, but the home side failed to capitalise with their goal kick.
Ruthin went ahead after some good play in the Bro 22.
This forced the Gwynedd side into conceding a penalty which scrum-half Wil Davies slotted over.
Ruthin should have gone further ahead on the balance of possession and territory, but some loose kicking and passes went astray and kept Bro in the game.
After 20 minutes and with their first significant attack, Bro went over for a try which was converted to put them 7-3 ahead.
There was no panic in the visitors’ camp though and Wil Davies reduced the arrears to a point with another successful penalty goal.
Ruthin defended well against Bro’s response and then put in their best period of play of the match.
Number eight Lee Pope collected the ball on halfway and with a great run upfield jigged past a couple of players and offloaded to skipper Jon Meldrum.
The captain carried the ball forward and Ruthin were awarded a penalty in the resultant tackle.
Although the Blues failed to score from that penalty kick, shortly afterwards Pope again scythed upfield and offloaded to centre Gethin Hughes who surged over for a try which was converted by Davies.
Wil Davies completed a first-half hat-trick of penalty goals to give a comfortable half time score of 16-7 to Ruthin.
Although now playing downhill, Ruthin found the second half much tougher going.
Bro were running at the visitors’ defence far more aggressively and with some weak Blues’ tackling in some areas, Ruthin found themselves under pressure.
This pressure told when Bro Ffestiniog reduced the arrears with two penalty goals around the hour-mark.
However, Davies again gave the Blues breathing space after 70 minutes with a further penalty goal, before Bro were reduced to 14 men after a player was sin-binned.
The game was played out with Ruthin on top.
Ruthin head coach John Tudor said: “Although it wasn’t the prettiest of games I am thrilled our game plan worked and we have won at a very difficult venue.
“I am particularly pleased with several excellent individual performances from Chris Lewis, Sion Owen and Lee Pope who were all outstanding in the pack with Gethin Hughes making some great breaks and hard tackles.
“I was also delighted with the half-back combination of Wil Davies and Jamie Morris who made all the right decisions on the day and although the execution didn’t always come off.... this will undoubtedly improve.”