DINBYCH 36

SHOTTON STEEL 19

HOLDERS Dinbych have succeeded in their attempts to retain the North Wales Land Rover Conwy Intermediate Cup.

The Caeau Les Phillips side gave a fine all-round performance in an entertaining and free-flowing encounter versus Shotton Steel at Bangor Rugby Club.

In the end, Dinbych outscored their Deeside opponents by six tries to three.

They built up a winning lead in the first half and then matched their opponents score for score in the second half when Shotton mounted a determined effort to get back into the tie.

Without a lineout specialist, Dinbych struggled in this aspect of play, but the forwards more than made up for it elsewhere, with the front row of Joe Davies, Dafydd Jones and man of the match Gareth Jones providing a solid base in the scrums.

Makeshift lock James Fisher-Jones was a constant threat with his all-round play complementing the usual grafting work of David Haydock, retiring after long and distinguished service to the club.

The back row of Tom Eden, John Winning and Dan Lawrence were all involved in vital scores, as well as leading Dinbych's excellent defensive display, which withstood Shotton's periods of intense pressure near their line.

The backs also put in a strong tackling performance, with Dan O'Sullivan and Mat Hulse in the thick of things.

As usual, the backs were always looking to attack, launched by sniping runs from half backs Garin Roberts and Dan O'Sullivan, with Owain Davies, Tom Seddon, Aidyn Jones and Gruff Roberts all making dangerous breaks.

Shotton started the stronger as they dominated possession and territory in the first 10 minutes.

They laid siege to the Dinbych line, only to be denied by strong tackling in a watertight defence.

Dinbych then forced their way into the game and it was they who opened the scoring against the run of play in the 11th minute following lineout possession on the Shotton 22 from number eight John Winning.

The forwards generated a powerful driving maul from which skipper and wing Aidyn Jones made an incisive break for centre Tom Seddon to go over for a try, converted by outside half Dan O'Sullivan.

They increased their lead after 24 minutes when only a desperate knock on by a Shotton defender near the line out on the right foiled a potential scoring chance.

However, Dinbych were not to be denied and from the ensuing scrum, they developed a number of drives for John Winning to go over near the corner for an unconverted try.

Dinbych's handling then let them down with a couple of try scoring opportunities wasted as the final pass went astray.

They did manage to go further ahead on the stroke of half-time when Garin Roberts broke from a scrum just inside the Shotton 22, with Dan O'Sullivan offloading for Tom Seddon to go over for his second try. This was converted by O'Sullivan to give his side a healthy 19-0 lead at the interval.

Shotton responded in the opening minutes of the second half when they put pressure on their opponents through short-range driving play, resulting in wing Roy Cardus going over in the corner for an unconverted try.

Dinbych replied immediately with an unconverted try in the corner of their own by flanker Tom Eden, after a strong run by lock James Fisher-Jones following a maul near halfway, with support from flanker Dan Lawrence providing the scoring pass.

Shotton again reduced the deficit midway through the half when number eight Huw Sargeant went over near the corner from a quickly taken tap penalty from short range.

Dinbych once more replied a couple of minutes later with a combined attack following a quickly taken lineout on halfway.

Full back Gruff Roberts cut through the middle of the Shotton defence and good support by replacement prop Pete Shoosmith kept the move alive for half backs Garin Roberts and Dan O'Sullivan to release James Fisher-Jones to power over for an excellent unconverted try.

Shotton again cut Dinbych's lead with 10 minutes remaining.

Following a short-range maul, centre John Ketland went over under the posts for a try, which was converted by Dan Lynskey.

Despite this, Dinbych felt confident enough to bring on young replacements Tom Davies, Dafydd Evans, Robin Williams and Joseph Powell, who was making his senior debut.

Dinbych closed the scoring in the final minutes with a try by Gruff Roberts, after a scything run from halfway through a disjointed Shotton defence by Aidyn Jones.

O'Sullivan potted the conversion points to bring an absorbing final between two attacking sides to a conclusion.

Coaches Russ Rowlands and Huw Edwards, together with team manager Sam Jones, can reflect on an excellent Dinbych season, culminating in a league and cup double success.