SHOTTON STEEL 13

DINBYCH 20

TWO more points.

That's all Dinbych need to spark a title-winning party.

Already assured of promotion, Division Two (North) leaders Dinbych gained a hard earned victory over their nearest challengers Shotton Steel in a fiercely contested top-of-the-table clash.

The frontrunners showed great character to overturn a half-time deficit after Shotton had dominated the play during the opening 40 minutes.

They also made light of losing three key players through injury, all of which needed long breaks in play, which disrupted the flow of the game.

Fortunately, replacements Gavin Rizzi, Jamie Winning and Dafydd Jones were to make significant contributions to the second half reversal of fortunes.

Playing with the breeze in their favour, a highly-charged Shotton side dominated both territory and possession throughout the first half, with their forwards making ground via powerful drives and winning the breakdown battle.

Meanwhile, their backs posed a constant problem for the visitors, mainly through the probing play of their centres.

However, they were met with a resolute defensive performance by Dinbych, typified by the crunching crash tackle from prop Joe Davies, which unfortunately earned him a yellow card in the 11th minute.

Shotton opened the scoring shortly afterwards following a scrum 30 metres out, with centre Dan Lynskey going over for an unconverted try after taking an inside pass and wrong-footing the Dinbych defence.

There was then a long break in play when lock Gareth Beach was treated following a wheeled scrum, which collapsed.

When play was resumed after a long break, Dinbych continued to withstand Shotton's intense pressure in their 22 with a tremendous tackling display.

Centre Tom Seddon was a steadying influence in marshalling the backs and Chris Forshaw producing another outstanding display at number eight, raising the siege with powerful runs from the base of the scrum.

Shotton eventually increased their lead well into the extended first half injury time with a penalty from 45 metres out by outside half Steve Elson.

Trailing by eight points at the interval, Dinbych then lost right wing Kieran Bonar early in the second half with a leg injury, but this failed to halt their revival.

They now gained parity of possession, with a solid base in the scrums and with Gavin Rizzi a valuable source at the lineout.

They reduced the deficit when centre Owain Davies kicked a penalty from 30 metres, before the influential Chris Forshaw became Dinbych's third casualty to leave the field.

The visitors then used the breeze well when outside half Garin Roberts kicked a penalty into the Shotton corner on the right.

From this, the forwards generated a powerful driving maul with hooker Geraint Madoc Jones touching down for an equalising unconverted try.

The momentum in the game was now turning in Dinbych's favour and Garin Roberts kicked another penalty into the corner, which produced the same result.

Flanker Dan Lawrence claimed a touch down for an unconverted try after another driving maul from the short-range lineout.

Dinbych's backs were now causing problems, with Jamie Winning and full back Gruff Roberts going close after long runs.

Replacement front row Dafydd Jones then surprised the Shotton defence with a strong surge from halfway, before putting Tom Seddon over wide out for a try, converted by Owain Davies.

Now trailing by two scores, Shotton managed to respond with an intense period of pressure close to the Dinbych line in the closing minutes.

Once again, a strong defence by the visitors withstood a series of short-range drives before the hosts finally produced an overlap for replacement full back Mat Jones to go over for an unconverted try, giving Shotton a losing bonus point.