| To maintain their challenge for the championship Ruthin needed to win this top of table clash against the only side that had beaten them this season in the league. With a full strength team Ruthin started well with their backs pinning Nant in their own half and looking very dangerous. After 8 minutes the pressure paid off and Ruthin were awarded a penalty in front of the posts which fly half Adam Robson put over. Scrummaging was solid on both sides and although Nant made occasional forays into Ruthins half Ruthins tackling kept them out. After 20 minutes Ruthin were awarded a penalty near the half way line, Robsons goal attempt fell short but the attempted clearance by Nant was charged down and Ruthin winger Kyle Davies picked up the loose ball and ran over for a try. The try was not converted. Ruthin continued to get the better of the first half and on the balance of play should have been further ahead. However it was Nant who narrowed the gap after they picked up the ball from their own scrum on the half way line and moved it across to their their left winger Carwyn ap Dafydd to run along the touchline, avoid a Ruthin tackle and score. The try was not converted and the whistle blew at half time with the score 8-5 to Ruthin. Nant started the second half strongly and it was only the continued strength of Ruthins defence that kept them out. Centre Paolo Tardivel avoided an almost certain try by bundling a Nant winger into touch about ten yards from the Ruthin line. About 10 minutes into the second half Nant were driving at the Ruthin line from 5 yards out and it was only top notch tackling leading to a Ruthin penalty clearance that prevented a Nant try. The game developed into a dour struggle with good rugby being played by both sides, strong defences dominating and neither side getting the upper hand. After about 65 minutes Ruthins man of the match flanker Clwyd Jones was sin-binned but Nant missed the resultant penalty goal attempt. Down to 14 men Ruthin led by skipper Joe Palmer upped the pressure but despite impressive play by Robson, centre Gethin Hughes, hooker John Meldrum and scrum half Will Davies were unable to get the ball over the Nant line. The final whistle blew with no score in the second half and Ruthin winning 8-5. |
