CAERNARFON 31

DINBYCH 7

DESPITE going down to defeat by Caernarfon in their final league fixture of the season, Dinbych's young and largely inexperienced team competed well throughout and showed their character by finishing strongly.

The youthful forwards again more than held their ground in the scrums, but Caernarfon had the edge in open play where they were faster to the breakdown and counter-rucked fiercely to slow down possession so that the Dinbych backs were always operating under pressure.

Whilst Dinbych defended well in general, the hosts also capitalised on crucial missed first up tackles by the visitors which led to all of their tries which came from long distance.

Dinbych played with the slope in their favour in the first half, but they fell behind in the 13th minute when centre Iolo Hughes broke through down the middle from the side of a scrum near halfway for a solo try, converted by full back Aled Jones.

As usual, Dinbych attempted to attack mainly through their backs, with skipper Tom Seddon and especially right wing Kieran Bonar making inroads into the Caernarfon defence.

Play was then fairly even until the half-hour mark, when Caernarfon added their second score.

After an attack from just inside the home half on the left, right wing Owain Williams went over in the corner for an unconverted try.

Trailing 12-0 at the interval, Dinbych fell further behind in the 53rd minute when outside half Carwyn Roberts took advantage of slack tackling to go over under the posts for a solo try, converted by Aled Jones.

Caernarfon then closed the game out with two quick scores midway through the half.

The first was initiated by a break through the middle by Carwyn Roberts, who then offloaded for centre Dafydd Lloyd Williams to cross for a try, converted by Aled Jones.

The hosts then scored immediately following the restart from a scrum on halfway when they attacked down the left.

Wing Iwan Parry went over in the corner for an unconverted try after good supporting play.

Dinbych then showed their character as they dominated the final quarter through the strong scrummaging of the pack, with individual surges by prop Joe Davies, number eight Robin Williams, replacement prop Lewys Eden, flanker Dafydd Jones and outside half Mat Hulse all threatening the Caernarfon line.

Caernarfon were only able to hold out by conceding a sequence of penalties leading to two yellow cards, leaving them defending with only 13 players.

Robin Williams eventually opened the scoring for Dinbych 10 minutes from the end when he forced his way over from a short-range scrum, with full back Gruff Roberts adding the conversion points.

Despite continuing to press strongly, an equally determined Caernarfon defence denied a further score from the visitors, who nevertheless ended the game on a positive note.