RUTHIN Rugby Club ended their season on a high as they entertained an extremely strong Pwllheli side at Cae Ddol.

It was only four weeks ago that they suffered their biggest defeat of the season at Pwllheli, so they knew it was going to be an uphill task.

With the absence of strongman Richard Williams due to an emergency appendix operation, second row Ilan Evans made himself available to play his first senior game. 

Up-and-coming prop Will Evans also made his first start, and put in a good shift against an experienced opponent.   

Pwllheli started extremely strongly, attacked from every area of the field, and made significant inroads.

But Ruthin also showed that they wanted to play an expansive game, with Hari Hughes finishing off a great passage of play, which made for an extremely entertaining first half.

At the break, Pwllheli were edging it 10-5.

Ruthin’s forwards provided a strong platform for scrum half Cai Edwards and skipper Emyr Gwynedd to unleash Mike Jones on some of his bullying gain line breaking charges after the break, though.

These catapulted the home side into action, with the forwards combining to hit Pwllheli’s fringe defence and creating quick balls out wide for the back three of Hughes, Richards and Davies.

Ruthin were leading 12-10 with three minutes left on the clock, but then Pwllheli countered and scored out wide to make it 15-12.

Not to be outdone, Ruthin managed one last blast and charged up the pitch, the forwards drawing in the Pwllheli defence which provided a quick ball and the overlap out wide for Hari Hughes to finish off his season with a hat-trick. 

Nathan Jones confirmed the 19-15 win slotting another long-range conversion out wide. 

The club’s seconds team, meanwhile, beat Mold 14-12 to put them within touching distance of the Division 3NE title and promotion.