NANT CONWY 52
DINBYCH 7
WHAT appears on paper to have been an easy victory for Nant in this top versus bottom encounter was far from the truth.
Dinbych dominated territorially for long periods through the excellent work of their forwards, yet despite all this endeavour Nant soaked up this pressure and crucially scored their tries in two brief periods.
Dinbych surprised the home team in the opening quarter as the work of the forwards in the loose through their rucking and mauling aided by clever kicking by half-backs Jamie Winning and Dion Howatson confined Nant to their own 22.
After Howatson had failed to give Dinbych the lead with a penalty, Nant hit back to score three tries in seven minutes through full back Grant Jones, left wing Jim Simone Rodka and centre Ifan Jones.
Play began to even out territorially with Dinbych almost scoring in the left corner but Nant again showed the killer instinct two minutes from the interval after their only brief period of sustained pressure near the Dinbych line when scrum-half Osian Roberts eventually broke through.
After the interval Dinbych gained some reward when outside-half Dion Howatson cut through from short-range for a try which he converted.
It was only the physical strength of the Nant defence which prevented further Dinbych scores as number eight Dan Burke and Phil Morris were both held up over the line.
Lock David Haydock excelled by going close to a try with a bullocking run and turning up twice to thwart Nant attacks.
With 10 minutes to go Dinbych lost possession from a scrum close to the line and after attacking down the right-hand touch, Nant Conwy’s next try came from hooker Gareth Jones.
With Dinbych now tiring Nant turned the screw to cross for three further tries from open play.