BRO FFESTINIOG 20

DINBYCH 34

ONE more win will be enough to preserve Dinbych's WRU League Division One (North) status.

Dinbych eased their relegation worries with a bonus point victory over fellow strugglers Bro Ffestiniog in a highly competitive and physical basement battle.

Both sides scored four tries in a game of contrasting styles, with Bro's scores coming as a result of short range pressure from the aggressive play of their bulky forwards.

Most of Dinbych's tries were from long range counter attacks from their razor sharp backs.

With Bro unable to convert any of their tries, full back Gruff Roberts proved to be a vital factor by converting all of the Dinbych tries, as well as kicking two penalties and scoring the game's outstanding try in a match total of 19 points.

Dinbych could not have made a poorer start and they conceded a score in the second minute.

Fragile tackling allowed Bro to break through from halfway and they were only stopped just short of the Dinbych line.

From the resulting scrum, flanker Huw Parry gained possession to go over for an unconverted try.

Dinbych reacted with a converted try three minutes later.

Right wing Aidyn Jones went over in the corner after the ball had been spun wide from a five-metre scrum.

Gruff Roberts converted with an excellent kick from the touchline and then nudged Dinbych in front with a penalty from 20 metres.

Bro drew level midway through the half with an unconverted try by skipper and prop Tom James, who forced his way over following a series of forward drives from a short range lineout.

Whist Bro edged the territorial battle, Dinbych always looked dangerous through the probing of skipper Tom Seddon at outside half, while half back partner Henry Davies was a constant threat with his sharp breaks. Bro were also at full stretch coping with the counter-attacks launched by the back three of Aidyn Jones, Kieran Bonar and Gruff Roberts.

Dinbych went into the lead again 10 minutes before the interval with a second penalty by Gruff Roberts.

They increased their lead in the third minute of injury time after a counter attack by Gruff Roberts and Aidyn Jones took play up the right touchline to the Bro 22.

The ball was then spun across the field, with good handling allowing lock Aron Evans to dive over in the corner for a try, again converted with another excellent kick by Gruff Roberts.

Dinbych conceded a score in the opening minutes of the second half as replacement full back Matthew Haydn Williams went over after good support play following a break from 30 metres out down the narrow side.

However, Dinbych increased their lead 10 minutes later when Tom Seddon made a long break from halfway following good lineout possession from Gareth Beach, for Aidyn Jones to go over near the posts.

This left an easy conversion for Gruff Roberts.

Bro responded in the 65th minute with Tom James going over for his second try after a number of short range forward drives.

Dinbych then closed the game out in the final minutes in typical fashion after a tremendous defensive effort deep in their half had held out determined attacking play by the Bro backs and forwards.

A turnover gave Gruff Roberts possession and after breaking the first line of defence, he then outpaced Bro's covering defenders on a 70-metre touchline dash before rounding under the posts for an outstanding try.

Roberts left himself an easy conversion to seal the scoring.