RUTHIN 21
MOLD 20
REVENGE was certainly sweet for the Blues of Ruthin on Saturday.
The Cae Ddol side exacted revenge for defeat at the hands of Mold earlier in the season - and with the narrow success Ruthin demonstrated that they are able to take points off any team in the division.
Given their relative positions in the SWALEC League Division One (North) table, one might have thought that Ruthin would struggle against in-form Mold, who still harbour title hopes.
But with veteran Rhys Hughes returning as scrum half, Wil Davies moving to the wing and Gethin Hughes adding strength and experience in the centre, Ruthin put in one of their best displays of the season in this thrilling derby.
First points went to Ruthin with a penalty goal from fly-half Jamie Morris after five minutes, but Mold quickly reversed this with a great drive over try from hooker Liam Gill which was converted by the boot of Dan Edmunds, putting them 7-3 ahead.
Ruthin responded with some aggression when Mold went down to 14 men after a yellow card.
After a Rhys Hughes try was judged to have been held up, full back Jon Evans collected the ball from hooker Gary Teeson to put Ruthin back in the lead with a fine try.
Mold now went on the attack but Ruthin’s defence held and they began to gain the ascendancy.
But despite a second try being adjudged to have been held up, the home side went into the interval just a point up at 8-7.
After the break, Mold got a quick penalty goal through Edmunds and after Ruthin conceded another penalty just outside their 22, the Flintshire visitors drove over again for their second try through wing Tom Webb.
Despite being 15-8 down, Ruthin were gaining in confidence and after continual pressure, number eight Marc Lloyd scored and Wil Davies converted to bring the score level.
Wil Davies reestablished Ruthin’s lead with another penalty goal, but Mold responded with yet another drive-over try resulting from a penalty awarded against Ruthin.
Down by a couple of points, Ruthin were surging at the Mold line.
Yet another pushover try was adjudged to be held up, but with only a couple of minutes to go until the full time whistle, Mold conceded a penalty in front of the posts and Davies made sure the ball went over.
Leading by a single point, Ruthin endured what seemed like an age of injury time as Mold tried to get the advantage back.
It was their turn to have a try held up and eventually Ruthin were awarded a penalty and booted the ball into touch for the end of the game.