Rugby Union: Colwyn Bay beaten at home by Ruthin

Sep 23 2010

COLWYN BAY 8 RUTHIN 10

COLWYN Bay head coach Mark Earl admits it is going to be a tough season for his side, but adds he took a lot of heart from the manner of defeat to Ruthin.

The Bay travel to last season’s runners up Caernarfon this Saturday knowing it could be a tough test against a side who are yet to lose and claimed an opening day victory over defending champions Nant Conwy.

However, despite the winless Bay going down a third success loss, this time 10-8 at home to Ruthin, Earl was still heartened by the battling performance of his charges.

"Considering Ruthin are on a high and going well with three wins from three, and we’re right down at the bottom with nothing, there wasn’t a lot between the sides, in fact it was a game we could have won," said Earl.

"But we’re under no illusions again about how tough it is going to be this season, because we’ve got such a small squad of players again.

"And we’ve already been hit with three key injuries to our captain Bryn (Williams), vice-captain Ben (Evans) and Chris Hughes isn’t going to be back for us because of injury until at least after Christmas.

"We know it’s going to be difficult this season, but I am a little bit more confident with the way the lads are fighting for everything.

"They gave everything they had against Ruthin, and I can’t really ask for any more than that."

A trip to Colwyn Bay has always historically been a tough ask for Ruthin, and so it proved once again as the home side stuck to their task in driving rain to earn a losing bonus point and stifle the visitors’ attack.

For the first 20 minutes most of the pressure came from Ruthin but it wasn’t until scrum-half Deian Williams slotted over a penalty that the Blues saw some reward for their efforts.

Despite Ruthin pressure the home side had been getting the better of the scrums and following a set piece on Ruthin’s 22, the visitors conceded a lineout five metres from their line and the Bay scrum-half Iain Marshall went over for a try.

At the start of the second half Colwyn Bay were pressing on the visitors line, but after coughing up possession saw Ruthin counter attack in devastating fashion through John Meldrum, Clwyd Jones and Richard Manley to set winger Kyle Davies free to dart over for a score, which was converted by Williams.

Although Ruthin’s scrummaging was better in the second half Ruthin were unable to add to their score and the Bay narrowed the gap with a penalty from Tom Williams in the 60th minute, but could not force a further score and went down to a two-point defeat.