Fixture

As the referee's timepiece read shower o'clock, Ruthin entered the Bethesda 22 in desperation.

A score of any flavour would be sufficient to ensure the post, post match meal, at the Golden Arches in Abergele really was a happy meal. 

Stood between the visitors and victory was a Bethesda side who were in no mood to be that horse that led throughout before decking it at the last fence. 

It had been a game of momentum shifts, as both sets of players went about their business with the unenviable combination of bodies riddled with Christmas indulgence, on a pitch that hadn't received the dry January memo.

Ruthin were at it first. However, they failed to produce a return when opting to gamble for the maximum rather than cashing in three points from out in front. 

When Bethesda's turn came, they recognised the value of getting the abacus moving in any way possible, on an afternoon where it was evident that both teams were well matched.

Two kickable first half penalties yielded six points.

The hosts also bagged a try after a neat line out caught the Ruthin defence off guard. A front ball one two doing sending Bethesda rumbling down the tramlines and over the line. 

There was a first half try for the blue and white hoops. There could, and should, have been a second.

The one that was, came after a deft grubber from Nathan Jones was pounced on by the ever try hungry, Josh Wilson.

The one that wasn't came after a combination of pack power and backs interplay sent replacement full back Gwion Richards over the line and cruising towards the posts.

The cheers of the 10 members of the visiting crowd were replaced by cheers from the 40 home fans as a Bethesda defence that didn't know when it was beaten, managed to halt Richards' in goal adventure and prevent him from grounding the ball.

The game's deciding exchanges in the second half occurred predominantly in the Bethesda 22.

A resolute defensive effort thwarting Ruthin's attempts on the line, time and again. 

The hosts proving particularly adept at holding the ball up when a Ruthin surge took them over the whitewash. The value in such a play has increased exponentially this season with the ‘scrum v’ replaced by a goal line drop that serves to release the pressure valve.

The visitors eventually crossed after a prolonged period of pressure. A decision to kick for corner rather than poles, was this time rewarded with a solo try for Danny Miller. He shunted all in front of him over the line before doing what Richards neglected, and dotting down.

And so it came to the final play. 

Desperate attack and die hard defence. 

Full throttle on empty tanks. 

Ruthin hit the wide channel before moving it back in field for another willing charge at an equally willing defender.

Same again. 

This time as tackle became ruck, the ball edged forward out of a 'blue hand'

No time for the scrum.

Elation met despondency in the form of hand shakes.

Good game they said. They were right.