COLWYN BAY 28
DINBYCH 0
WITH their bonus point victory in this vital basement battle Colwyn Bay made Dinbych’s task of escaping from the bottom rung even more difficult in the closing weeks of the season.
Honours were even at the lineout, while Russ Rowlands’ visitors edged the scrum battle, but the Bay owed their victory to the work of their forwards at the breakdown and the ground gained by their driving mauls putting Dinbych on the back foot on too many occasions.
With Dinbych’s normally sound defence missing too many first-up tackles this allowed the more dangerous Colwyn Bay back division to exploit their advantage in the final third of the game to cross for four tries, including two in injury time.
Dinbych had the better of the opening minutes and had the chances to take the lead with two early penalties which sailed wide.
However, the Bay were soon looking the more likely to score as their potent back division built on their forwards breaking through on the edges of set pieces to launch long-range attacks which were only thwarted when they conceded penalties close to the line.
Dinbych were indebted to the long-range touch kicks from outside-half Dion Howatson who relieved the pressure on these occasions.
Despite the Bay gaining the upper hand through their more aggressive play in the loose, an error-strewn first half remained scoreless as countless moves broke down because of handling errors.
Colwyn Bay eventually broke the deadlock after a quarter-of-an-hour of the second half when Dinbych were only able to halt some rampaging Bay play close to their line.
The pressure eventually told when outside-half Tom Williams sniped over at the posts for a try from a scrum which centre Adam Hughes converted.
The home side went further ahead in the 63rd minute when they launched an attack from halfway towards the right corner, before switching the ball back infield to break through a disorganised Dinbych defence.
Prop Alex Jones crossed for a try which Hughes again converted.
Dinbych were still not without hope, however, and now had their best period of the match as they pressed close to the Bay line with a series of lineouts and scrums after full back Jamie Winning had gone close with a break, kick and chase from halfway.
But despite facing a Bay pack now short of number eight Ben Evans, who was yellow carded, they failed to show enough composure to make their advantage tell.
The backs at last were able to string together some good attacks but failed to penetrate a sound Bay defence.
As the game entered the final minute the Bay again showed their superior driving play by the forwards as they took advantage of lax Dinbych defence to take play deep into the visitors’ 22 before spinning the ball wide where right wing Martin Cormack crossed in the corner for a try which Hughes converted with an excellent kick from the touchline.
Worse was to follow in injury time as missed Dinbych tackles again allowed the Bay to take play close to the Dinbych line.
From a quickly-taken tap penalty prop Alex Jones powered over for his second try under the posts leaving Adam Hughes the easiest of conversions to seal a comprehensive victory.