LLANGOLLEN 18
RHOS 5
AS far as vital wins go, this triumph is right up there.
Saturday was do-or-die for Llangollen and their hopes of achieving a top-two SWALEC League Division Three (North) finish.
However, Llan managed to get their league campaign back on track with a fine 18-5 win against local rivals and league leaders Rhos. From the outset, the Llangollen pack took control at set pieces, giving the visitors a torrid time in both the scrum and lineouts.
Outside half Roger Chadwick marshalled the backline well and kept Rhos pegged back in their own half, however the away side did manage to break out and exert some pressure of their own.
When prop Matt Rogers was sent to the sin bin, Rhos must have thought their chance had come, but stout Llan defence held them out.
At the other end, the Tower Fields hosts regained the initiative and prolific full back Josh Wilson stepped his way past the Rhos defence to score under the posts, with Richard Jasper adding the conversion.
The rest of the half saw both sides trying to gain a foothold in the game with no success.
After the break, Llan quickly got back into their stride and they were rewarded when Jasper struck a penalty to extend the lead.
Llan kept pressing and they moved further clear when second row Mike Jones crashed over for an unconverted try.
Rhos responded and Llangollen were forced to dig deep when they were reduced to 13 men following the sin-binning of both second row Ray Compton and centre Jasper.
Rhos used their numerical advantage to soon break through for an unconverted try.
Again, fantastic defence from Llan held Rhos out and the hosts extended their lead before the end when Chadwick coolly slotted over a drop goal.
Rhos rallied and when number eight Gethin Jones was sin binned just before the end, Llan again had defended hard to keep them out.
Coach Ian Morris said: "That was a great performance and was as close to total rugby as we could get.
“It was made even harder when we spent large periods of the game with 14 and 13 men, the lads dug deep and got on with it.
“We are all ecstatic with the result.”