YSTRAD RHONDDA 60

RUTHIN 10

THERE'S to be no national cup glory for the Blues this season.

Ruthin were faced with a testing weekend trip to high-flying Ystrad Rhondda in the fourth round of the WRU Plate competition.

After a long coach journey, a somewhat depleted Ruthin team kicked off an hour after arriving in the Rhondda against the top side in Division One (East Central).

Still suffering from bus-lag, Ruthin conceded an early try when Ystrad worked a quick overlap in the visiting 22.

Ben Langford gained that score and this was soon followed by a penalty try awarded against Ruthin for a high tackle close to their line.

After a brief respite, Ystrad Rhondda then scored their third try via Harvey Connolly and at 19-0 down, Ruthin looked to be on the ropes.

However, the visiting side then gathered themselves and after a period of pressure inside the Ystrad 22 following a penalty and lineout five yards out, Nathan Jones nipped through to score under the posts.

Jones converted his own try and he then kicked a penalty not soon afterwards to cut the gap between the sides to just nine point.

Ystrad Rhondda were to score another try in the first half.

A clever blindside move following a lineout close to the Ruthin line resulted in Jack Foulkes scoring and this left the score at the break 24-10 in favour of Ystrad Rhondda.

The second half started much as the first had, with another try to Ystrad Rhondda - once again by Foulkes - and this was followed by a second penalty try from a five-yard scrum.

Although Ystrad Rhondda received two yellow cards during the second period and went down to 14 men for 20 minutes, Ruthin were unable to score again.

Meanwhile, their opponents scored another four tries to complete their 60-10 triumph.

Gerwyn Coleman, Chris Clayton, Jarrad Llewellyn and Carl Williams all crossed the whitewash.

Throughout the tie, Ruthin fought hard and they were always competing for the ball.

Although they are now out of the WRU Plate competition, the Ruthin team deserve full credit not only for their availability, but also for a gutsy performance against a good team, who are well coached and playing at the top of their game.