PWLLHELI 19
RUTHIN 12
LOSING bonus points are keeping Ruthin ticking along as they maintain their push away from the Division One (North) drop zone.
The Blues travelled to Pwllheli for their first league match for three weeks and they managed to come away with a losing bonus point for the third time in a row.
That crucial point extends the gap between Ruthin and second-from-bottom Mold to nine points.
Ruthin started well at Pwllheli, pushing the home side towards their line with controlled pick-and-run charges and good phase play, but just as it looked certain they would score, the visitors were penalised for crossing.
Pwllheli cleared to their own 22, where back John Pugh collected the ball and ran the length of the pitch to score a try against the run of play, which was converted by Owain Williams.
Despite this setback, the Blues resumed their attacking play and after a missed penalty attempt, they levelled the score when number eight Shay Owen forced himself through the home defence for a try on the line.
The conversion was successfully slotted over by fly half Wil Davies to tie things up at 7-7.
Although Ruthin continued to put the home defence under pressure, there was no further score before half time.
After the break, Pwllheli’s speedy backs caused the Blues some problems and after another run down the pitch, the home side capitalised on the territory gained and fly half Alwyn Treadholme went over for a try, which was again converted by Williams.
The Vale of Clwyd visitors returned to the attack, but soon after hooker Joe Mault was injured and the game had to be stopped for half-an-hour while he was taken by helicopter to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.
Thankfully Mault was not detained in hospital and was able to return home.
Replacement wing Huw Parry reduced the arrears for the Blues almost immediately after the restart with an unconverted try, but after some good phase play Pwllheli back Emyr Jones responded with his side’s third try.
With the score at 19-12 to the home side, things became more scrappy.
Basic errors began creeping in and the Blues had to defend well to keep hold of their losing bonus point.
Both sides managed to get themselves into scoring positions in the last quarter-of-an-hour, but there was no further score.
Ruthin have just three more games left to play in their battle to keep out of the bottom-two.