Slate City is noted for its micro-climate and it was a strange afternoon of unremitting gloom and discontent for the visitors and almost glorious summer for the home side.
Playing down the slope Bro kicked off straight into touch. At the resulting scrum Ruthin were penalised, Bro kicked into touch downfield and Ruthin barely got out of their own half for the next 30 minutes, indeed spending most of that time under constant pressure in their own 22. Their scrum was under immense pressure though the line-out worked well. A nasty cut meant that front row Jack Williams had to be substituted and he played no further part in the match. Bro scored 3 tries in this period by Llion Kerry, Ian Roberts and Matthew Williams, all converted by Gareth Davies.
After half an hour Ruthin at last began to get into the game, the scrum stabilised and they started to spend time in their opponent’s half, indeed for the last 5 minutes of the half they were camped in the Bro 22. Despite their promising field position Ruthin were unable to score as possession was lost through poor handling and decision-making.
The second half was very much a mirror image of the first with Ruthin playing down-hill and enjoying the lion’s share of possession. Much of the half was spent in the Bro 22 though again little went right outside of the set piece as a result of stout defending by the home side and frequent miss-handling by Ruthin. Even when Bro went down to 14 men following a yellow card for a late tackle/obstruction on Josh Wilson after he had kicked forward, Ruthin were unable to cross the line. At the very end of the match a Bro breakaway took them on a rare visit to the Ruthin 22 and but for a fumble near the line they would have scored a fourth try for a bonus point and completed their supporters’ delight at an excellent result.
Ruthin have continued the pattern of winning league games at home but have only beaten bottom of the table Colwyn Bay on the road despite good Plate wins away that have earned them a trip to Croesyceiliog in the next round.
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