Fixture

Although Ruthin 1sts rarely come away from a match at Bala with a win they are usually within a few points of the winners.  Saturday’s match was however a different affair with Bala scoring 51 points from 7 tries, 5 conversions and 3 penalties with no response from the Ruthin side.  The Blues started positively enough but as the home side showed early ascendancy in the set pieces it was hard for the visitors to make any headway.  The first score came after about 10 minutes play with the Bala pack repeatedly rolling back the Ruthin scrum in the Ruthin 22 until they were awarded a penalty try which fly half Rhydian Jones converted.  The Blues had little reply to Bala’s fast running backs,  quick offloads and intelligent passing and conceded a further 2 tries and 2 penalties before the break where the score was 25-0 to the home side.  The second half continued in the same vein with Bala putting another 4 tries past the Blues.  Although the Blues compounded their predicament with some poor lineouts losing possession to the opposition there were spells particularly in the second half where they built momentum well and with effective pick and run got close to the home side’s try line.  But solid Bala defence forcing handling errors meant that Ruthin could not capitalise on their position and on at least one occasion released Bala’s backs from their own 22 to run the length of the field and get over Ruthin’s try line.  The Blues didn’t give up and tried to attack to the end of the game but were denied any reward.  The last play was in Bala’s 22 before the Blues lost the ball and it was kicked into touch for the whistle to blow for full time.  Bala’s scorers were Rhydian Jones (3 tries, 5 conversions and 2 penalties, Emrys Davies, Ilan Rowlands, and Elgan Ty Isa.