DOLGELLAU 20

DINBYCH 6

DOLGELLAU took full advantage of a patched-up Dinbych outfit to gain a bonus point victory in this Division One (North) basement battle.

With a handful of players making their first team debuts, it was understandable that despite their committed individual efforts, there were mishaps in Dinbych's unit skills which the hosts exploited to the full as they scored four tries without reply.

Dolgellau played with a strong wind at their backs blowing directly down the pitch in the first half and they soon took the lead in the opening minutes.

An attack deep down the left flank into the visitors' 22 concluded with full back James Owen going over for the first unconverted try.

The home side added a second score in the 11th minute, again from an attack on the left, with wing Rob Pugh touching down for an unconverted try.

After this early onslaught by the hosts, Dinbych then clawed their way back into the game through good scrummaging by the forwards, whilst full back Gruff Roberts launched a number of counter attacks with his elusive running.

Half backs Alex Jones and Rowan Hughes were always looking for openings and wing Kieran Bonar stretched the Dolgellau defence to its limits with a number of strong runs down the left.

Unfortunately, after holding out for the remainder of the half, Dinbych conceded a third try just before the interval.

Dinbych were over ambitious in their own 22 and lost possession in open play, with prop Eon Williams showing his handling skills and latch on to a clever diagonal kick to going over for Dolgellau's third unconverted try.

Trailing by 15 points at the interval, it was now Dinbych's turn to have the advantage of the elements in their favour, but both sides were then handicapped by a torrential rainfall.

Although Dinbych now dominated territorially, they were unable to breach a solid Dolgellau defence and only had a Gruff Roberts penalty from 20 metres midway thought the half to show for a long period of pressure.

Dinbych continued to scrummage strongly despite losing prop Joe Davies with a knee injury, whilst number eight Gareth Beach competed well in the lineout despite intense pressure.

Flanker Dafydd Evans, returning after a long absence, also made inroads into the Dolgellau defence with some powerful surges.

Gruff Roberts then added a second penalty from 40 metres to reduce the deficit with 10 minutes remaining.

However, Dolgellau dominated the closing minutes and after a period of pressure in the Dinbych 22, they added their bonus point try from a short-range lineout when flanker Tom Jones went over wide out after a number of drives by the forwards.

Despite the defeat, this was a good all round performance from Dinbych, taking into account the fact many of the players had not played together before and several were playing out of position.