Fixture

Ruthin playing in their pink alternative kit had to defend for long periods against Dolgellau on Saturday in order to retain their unbeaten league record this season.  The visitors  who had beaten Ruthin in a Swalec Plate match earlier in the season and fresh from their win at Denbigh last week were clearly intent on another win.  After weathering the initial Ruthin attack Dolgellau were the first to get points on the board with a penalty goal from Gerwyn Thomas quickly followed by a second.  Fly half Callum Bennett reduced the arrears with a Ruthin penalty goal only to have the gap widened again when Thomas bagged another goal from the half way line.  Dolgellau upped the pressure and only dogged Ruthin defence kept them out.  Eventually the pressure was released as wing Josh Wilson broke from defence and Ruthin tried to break through an equally dogged Dolgellau defence.  Wilson released Bennett through for what seemed to be a try but he was judged to have been in touch.  After the lineout Ruthin conceded another penalty on the half way line which Thomas slotted over.  Ruthin responded and managed to bag two more penalty goals themselves before the whistle blew with Dolgellau 12-9 ahead.  After the break the penalties continued and Ruthin drew level with a penalty kick before Thomas reinstated the difference at 15-12.  Shortly afterwards Wilson again broke from defence and kicked forward in Dolgellau’s 22 and just managed to land on the ball before the dead ball line for a fine try which Bennett converted.  For the last 20 minutes Ruthin barely stepped out of their own 22 as the visitors mounted a sustained attack.  The home side went down to 14 men with a sin bin but managed to prevent Dolgellau scoring despite conceding a number of penalties in their own 22 and having to repeatedly scrummage against a strong Dolgellau pack.  With about 5 minutes to go the ball was turned over and Bennett cleared with a kick to Ruthin’s 10 yard line.  Good work by centre Harri Morgan initiated a Ruthin attack and the visitors conceded a penalty in their own half which Bennett slotted over for the final score with  Ruthin winning 22-15.