DINBYCH 26

BALA 25

WHAT a way to return to action in WRU League Division One (North).

Division Two (North) champions Dinbych came from behind to stun visitors Bala in a thrilling opening clash of the campaign.

In a free flowing and highly competitive encounter, Bala scored a try with the last move of the match.

However, unfortunately for them they missed the conversion, leaving Dinbych the victors by a solitary point.

Bala started the stronger of the two teams and they had the better of both territory and possession in the first quarter.

This was thanks to their strong scrummaging, which put Dinbych under pressure, while Bala retained possession from their work at the breakdown and their excellent support play as they went through multiple phases of play.

A fine defensive effort by the home outfit held them at bay until the 20th minute.

Lock and skipper Moi Dafydd forced his way over for an unconverted try following a ruck in the Dinbych 22, set up by a driving maul from a lineout.

Continuing their purple patch, Bala then extended their lead seven minutes later when full back Rhydian Jones kicked a penalty from 20 metres after Dinbych had offended at a breakdown.

Undeterred, Dinbych then began to force their way back into the game in the second quarter, launching attacks through their dangerous backs.

They eventually replied just before the interval following a number of attacks into the Bala 22.

After full back Gruff Roberts cut inside to set up a ruck, lock and captain Narmer El Lamie broke through the middle and found livewire flanker Dafydd Evans in support to go over for an unconverted try.

Trailing 8-5 at half time, Dinbych then suffered a blow in the opening minutes of the second half.

Lock Gareth Beach, making a welcome return after injury, was adjudged to have deliberately knocked on as he attempted to intercept a Bala pass on halfway, leading to a yellow card.

This proved costly for Dinbych as Bala used their man advantage to score two tries in quick succession.

With Bala exerting heavy pressure in the Dinbych 22, they went further ahead in the 50th minute when centre Miallt Roberts capitalised on a period of heavy pressure to go over for a try, converted by Rhydian Jones.

Even worse was to follow from Dinbych's perspective as Bala scored from the restart kick.

The home side failed to clear a speculative kick ahead near to their line, leading to wing Elgan Davies going over for an unconverted try.

Now trailing by 15 points, Dinbych then showed their resilient character as they responded midway through the half with a burst of three tries to amazingly turn things around.

Firstly, they turned over possession at a scrum on halfway to launch an attack down the left.

Slick handling by the backs created an opportunity for replacement scrum half Jordan Wynne to recycle from a ruck near touch on the Bala 22 to put centre Tom Seddon over for a try in the corner.

Co-centre Owain Davies converted with an excellent kick from the touchline.

Dinbych reduced the deficit to a single point when they launched a long-range attack from their half.

Kieran Bonar did well to gather a diagonal kick by Garin Roberts under intense pressure near the touchline on the Bala 10-metre line to offload to fellow wing Aidyn Jones, who then found Jordan Wynne on the inside to score a try.

This was again converted by Owain Davies.

Dinbych then went ahead for the first time from another long-range counter attack.

The imperious Gareth Beach stole possession from Bala at a lineout on half way to release the backs.

Gruff Roberts cut inside before offloading for Tom Seddon to go over for his second try, again converted by Owain Davies.

Behind for the first time in the match and with time running out, Bala threw everything into attack as they hammered away at the home line.

However, they were met with a fierce defensive effort by Dinbych, who held out until the final minute.

Continuing the drama of the day, flanker Arfon Roberts forced his way over for a try after a number of short-range rucks.

This pulled Bala to within a point of their opponents, but the ensuing conversion drifted wide and Dinbych claimed a dramatic victory.