On a heavy pitch, in driving rain for most of the match and an ever-strengthening wind, this match between COBRA and Ruthin was always going to be a dogged, low-scoring match. However a good band of Ruthin supporters who had made the journey to Meifod were treated to 80 minutes of good competition with both sides coming away with league points. With a slippery ball, handling errors were fairly frequent and COBRA soon showed their strength in the scrums and generally robust forwards play backed up by some incisive running. The home side went ahead after 15 minutes with a penalty goal and although play moved between the opposing side’s territory both teams were defending well and there was no further score in the first half. The visitors had the best of the first minutes of the second half but with no reward and COBRA broke into the Blues half with some strong running and Ruthin had to defend well against the home side’s effective pick and run and drives towards their line. Eventually the Blues broke from defence with a strong run from wing Josh Wilson who combined with replacement wing Jack Higgins to put full back Mike Evans through for a try in the corner. Fly half Phyl Roberts did well to kick the conversion from a difficult position in gusty winds. Ruthin tried to build the score further but COBRA’s defence denied them and it was then Ruthin’s turn to defend. COBRA with considerable effort and energy given the strength-sapping nature of the game tried to claw back the points, again making territory by pick and run through the middle, but the Blues defence was commendable and the whistle blew with Ruthin winning 7-3.
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