Rugby Union: Errors give Nant the upper hand at Rhyl

Oct 1 2008 by Dave Jones, Denbigh Visitor

RHYL 16 NANTYFFYLLON 28

SWALEC CUP ROUND ONE

ONLY a lack of experience at ruthlessly exploiting spells in which they dominated denied Rhyl a famous victory over their division three visitors – a side five levels senior to the North Wales hosts.

After falling behind to an early three-pointer, Rhyl forwards carried on their impressive start to the season, forcing Nantyffyllon to concede three penalties all kicked by returning full-back John Hall.

However, shortly before half time, a well-taken try for the visitors with the conversion gave them a 10-9 interval advantage.

Rhyl started the second half brightly and produced one of the finest tries supporters at Y Waen will have witnessed in years.

The Rhyl pack led a breakout from deep in their own 22 with well-timed and controlled inter-passing keeping the ball alive, allowing possession to be worked wide to winger John Badham.

He sprinted deep into the visitors’ half before feeding an inside ball to the supporting run of Shaks Ngwenya.

Another exchange between the fly-half and winger enabled Ngwenya to streak through the defence to score beneath the posts for his fourth try in three games.

The conversion made it 16-10.

However, silly and costly mistakes, especially at lineout by Rhyl in attacking positions, allowed the visitors, with their experience and off-ball gamesmanship, to add a further two tries, one conversion and two penalties.

This Saturday Rhyl return to league fixtures and entertain Bethesda at Y Waen (2.30pm).

RHYL 2ND XV 22 COLWYN BAY 2NDS 28

DESPITE a dominant first half show from the home pack which brought a try for Richie Nelson, Bay hit a purple patch to rack up four converted scores before the break.

The second half saw tterritorial control by Rhyl who camped for almost the entire 40 minutes in the Colwyn half.

Nelson added another two tries and Geezer Davies kicked two conversions and a penalty, but it was not enough to save the unlucky hosts, who finished with 14 players due to injuries, from defeat.