BRO FFESTINIOG 7

DINBYCH 5

THE weather was atrocious as Dinbych were edged out during their key WRU League Division One (North) trip to Bro Ffestiniog.

The elements gave rise to increasingly difficult ground conditions as the game progressed and both teams did well to cope as well as they did with the adverse elements.

Dinbych's losing bonus point however kept them just ahead of Bro, Dolgellau and COBRA in the battle at the foot of the standings and this might make the difference at the end of the season.

Bro had first use of the wind advantage and they used it to good effect as they dominated both territory and possession through good close support play by both forwards and backs, whilst their tactical kicking kept Dinbych on the back foot.

The hosts took the lead in the 15th minute following pressure near the Dinbych line.

Full back Matthew Williams went over for a try under the posts following a short range scrum and flanker Gethin Jones added the conversion points.

Despite Bro's pressure, the visitors' defence managed to hold firm for the remainder of the half, often with last ditch tackling.

Dinbych could also thank the solid scrummaging of their forwards as they held their ground despite Bro's bulkier pack's efforts to drive them off the ball.

Trailing by seven points at the interval, but with the elements now in their favour, Dinbych gained a large share of possession.

However, they did not use the wind as effectively as Bro had done in the first half.

The ground conditions were deteriorating with pools of standing water on various parts of the pitch.

Whilst Dinbych attempted to bring their backs into play, Bro played a tighter game with effective pick-and-drives by the forwards gaining extra yardage as they aquaplaned over the waterlogged surface.

Right wing Kieran Bonar provided an outstanding individual effort in a game of attrition as he broke out from the left hand corner deep in the Dinbych 22, beating a clutch of Bro defenders in a diagonal run which took play almost to the Bro 22 before the move broke down.

After going close in a period of pressure near the Bro line, Dinbych eventually scored in the 75th minute.

A miss-move by the midfield backs from a scrum on the Bro 22 allowed full back Aidyn Jones to create the space to put Kieran Bonar over in the right hand corner for a try.

Outside half Garin Roberts' conversion attempt from the touchline to tie the score just went wide to leave Dinbych with only the consolation of a losing bonus point for their efforts.