Derby revenge for Bangor in thriller
BANGOR Rugby Club gained revenge for an 8-7 defeat on the opening day of the season when they pipped neighbours Menai Bridge 21-19 at the Anglesey side’s ground last Saturday.
The Citizens had also beaten Menai 21-10 in the North Wales Intermediate Cup at Cae Milltir last month, so therefore took a 2-1 lead in this season’s ‘series’.
Last weekend’s result edged the Citizens up to fourth in WRU Division Two West, with Bridge a place below.
This was another close encounter as the two local clubs met for their third derby match this season and again the result was decided with the final action of the game. Bangor played downhill and took the ascendancy with a penalty from winger Alex Griffiths.
They almost added a try when winger Dafydd Roberts was tackled just short of the try-line and then Menai equalised with a fine penalty from fly-half Dion McGrath. Bangor’s pack were in good form and produced some tremendous scrums and as a result captain and wing forward Ryan Butler scored a try near the posts converted by Griffiths. McGrath and Roberts exchanged penalties to make the score 13-6 to the Citizens at the interval.
Bangor had a hard task playing uphill in the near darkness of the second half and Menai appeared to be getting on top with another smartlystruck penalty from McGrath. Han- dling errors from Bangor helped the home team who scored an excellent try moving the ball wide to Aled Thomas on the wing, who was allowed to run round to touch down under the posts making the conversion a formality. Bridge now led 16-13.
Bangor managed to work the ball upfield and were rewarded with a penalty to bring the scores level.
The islanders then attempted a long penalty that fell short but Bangor dropped the ball as it landed. It was picked up by one of their players standing offside and the referee had to award an easy penalty that restored Menai’s three-point lead.
Bangor then scored a hotly disputed try with a long kick into the corner try area and a race developed between their centre Gwyn Roberts and Menai’s winger Aled Thomas.
Roberts was adjudged to have got a hand on it and after a few choice words Menai lost a player to the sinbin for the rest of the game and Bangor held a two-point lead. In a final twist of fate, McGrath attempted another long penalty identical to the earlier one and it again fell short but Bangor had the good sense to let it bounce dead as the referee had declared time up.
Bangor host Rhyl this Saturday, while Menai Bridge travel to Dolgellau.
Bangor University put up a great effort before losing 23-16 at home to Wattstown in the fourth round of the WRU Bowl last Saturday.
Other North Wales sides Wrexham and Denbigh went through.