CAERNARFON 8

RUTHIN 27

THERE'S been a terrific start to the year for the Blues.

In a hard fought WRU League Division One (North) game at Caernarfon, Ruthin managed to come away with a bonus point win.

Ruthin played uphill in the first half and the home side missed the opportunity to score with a penalty goal attempt in the very first minute.

It was the turn of the Blues to go on the attack after this and they were first with points on the board via a seventh minute try by wing Josh Wilson, which was converted by full back Dyfan Humphreys.

Within the next five minutes, Caernarfon missed a second attempt at a penalty goal.

However, there was some joy for the home side soon after.

After driving from a lineout in Ruthin’s 22, Caernarfon passed the ball out to the wing and Jack McGuffie went over the whitewash.

The Blues returned to the attack and they were awarded a penalty on the home side’s 22, which Dyfan Humphreys slotted over.

With the scoreline 10-5 in favour of Ruthin, the visitors had to defend hard against a concerted home attack for much of the rest of the half.

Despite going down to 14 men, the Blues contained the Cofis' attack and they limited the damage to concede only a penalty just before half-time.

Guto Pierce slotted it between the uprights and the gap between the sides at the interval was just two points.

Now playing downhill, Ruthin started the second half strongly when fly half Iestyn Davies ran through the Caernarfon defence for a fine try, converted by Dyfan Humphreys.

Ruthin kept up the pressure and after the home defence fragmented, Josh Wilson was able to burst through for his second try.

Caernarfon tried to reduce the arrears, but the Blues' effective defence largely kept them out of the 22.

In the last five minutes, Ruthin returned to the attack.

From a lineout on halfway, the ball was fed to Wilson and he ran down the touchline to secure his hat-trick and gain Ruthin a bonus point.