RUTHIN 10
BETHESDA 15
IT’S as you were as far as Ruthin are concerned in Division One (North).
The Blues dominated the second half of their match at home to Bethesda, but only managed to secure one try as they picked up a losing bonus point.
Scond-from-bottom Mold also secured a losing bonus point from their match with Llangefni, which means that Ruthin retain their eight-point advantage over the bottom two, with four games left to play.
As with their game at Mold the previous weekend, Ruthin had to play catch-up after finding themselves two tries down in the first half.
Initially, things looked good for the Blues as they went ahead in the first 10 minutes courtesy of a successful penalty from the boot of fly half Wil Davies.
Bethesda responded a few minutes later with Mathew Parry’s penalty to level the score.
Ruthin were having a significant amount of territory and possession at this stage, with some great forwards play but they were let down in finishing by conceding penalties, which allowed the visitors to clear their lines.
Towards the end of the first half, Bethesda turned up the pressure and the Blues were conceding penalties in their own half.
The visitors used these penalties to create scoring opportunities, which they took full advantage of to grab a couple of tries in the final 10 minutes of the half.
Ben Stelmaszek and Gareth Wyn Roberts crossed the whitewash, while a Parry conversion ensured the Gwynedd side went into the break 15-3 ahead.
Refusing to throw in the towel, the Blues came out roaring for the second half and after some good pressure, flanker Clwyd Jones bolted over for a try, which was converted by Davies.
The hosts continued their aggression throughout the second half, with only occasional Bethesda breaks out of defence.
In the last 10 minutes of the match, Ruthin’s pressure was enormous with phase after phase of attacking rugby, but Bethesda’s defence - although desperate at times - was impressive and the Blues were unable to break through.