Dinbych give their all in loss at Glamorgan Wanderers

DINBYCH 7

THE heavy scoreline does not reflect the general play in an excellent WRU Plate 2nd round tie.

Dinbych more than holding their own for much of the match against their high flying opponents, who are aiming to regain their position in the top tier of community rugby.

The forwards more than held their own against much heavier opponents in the scrum, while lock Gareth Beach and skipper Narmer El Lamie battled hard against loftier opposition at the lineout.

Dinbych's backs were a constant threat throughout, with their handling and running skills bringing out the best in the Wanderers' defence.

Where the Wanderers had the upper hand was in using their bulk to good effect in their driving mauls and their ability to come away with points in positions near the Dinbych line.

Glamorgan Wanderers started strongly and they opened the scoring after only seven minutes with a try by lock Anthony Cox.

This came after a driving maul generated by their powerful forwards from a lineout inside the Dinbych 22.

The hosts added a second score from the restart kick with good combined support by forwards and backs taking play from their own 22 to the Dinbych line, with Cox again finishing it by touching down for his second try.

Outside half Luke Fish converted both scores to leave Dinbych with an uphill task from the start.

However, for the remainder of the half, there was very little between the sides.

Dinbych's makeshift pack, especially the front row of props Peter Shoosmith and Joe Davies, with hooker Ben Jackson, excelled in the scrums against their bulkier opponents.

The half back combination of scrum half Jordan Wynne and outside half Garin Roberts initiated numerous attacking moves as Dinbych went through many phases of play from the quality recycled possession through the likes of flankers Dafydd Jones and Robin Williams.

Although centres Tom Seddon and Ethan Morris were heavily marked, they were able to probe for openings and both wings Aidyn Jones and Kieran Bonar took advantage to worry the hosts.

They used their speed to make long breaks upfield, while full back Gruff Roberts was a constant threat with his elusive open play running.

Despite Dinbych's efforts, the Wanderers increased their lead after 35 minutes when wing Will Adam Jones crossed for a try following a quickly taken tap penalty 15 metres out from the Dinbych line.

Fish again added the conversion points.

Dinbych then got some reward for their positive attacking play just before the interval.

They attacked down the right from a scrum just inside the Wanderers' half with good handling by the midfield backs releasing man of the match Gruff Roberts to slice through for a try, which was converted by Garin Roberts.

Trailing 21-7 at the interval, Dinbych then suffered two blows early in the second half.

First, they conceded a try as they tried to attack from deep inside their 22, but they were pressurised into handling errors which allowed Wil Adam Jones to go over for his second try.

Then, the Wanderers won a lineout near the Dinbych line, before moving the ball wide for flanker Josh Sheehan to power his way over for a try.

Despite these setbacks, Dinbych continued to provide determined opposition, with Aidyn Jones, Gruff Roberts and Tom Seddon only denied scoring chances by determined Wanderers' tackling.

Former Connaught and Wales U-20s international scrum half James Loxton then broke away from a scrum inside his own 22 on a long run upfield and good support play ended with flanker Max Wootton scoring a try.

Luke Fish again added the conversion points to all three tries.

With skipper Narmer El Lamie forced to leave the field with a leg injury, replacement Brychan ap Geraint brought the number of props in the Dinbych pack to five.

Stalwart Osian Williams was also playing out of position as a lock, while flanker Dafydd Jones normally operates as a hooker.

The Wanderers took advantage of their lineout options with two tries from short range set pieces in the closing minutes through flanker Josh Sheehan and wing Phil Parivo, with replacement outside half Rob Evans converting one of them.