Bro gear up for Tudno with win over Ruthin
BLAENAU Amateurs celebrated their third win on the bounce in Welsh Alliance Division Two with a 2-1 triumph over visitors Cemaes Bay.
The deadlock was broken just before the interval when Blaenau’s Bryn Humphreys was through on goal when brought down by Bay keeper Huw Shaw.
Humphreys got up to slot home the penalty kick.
Oliver Hall struck the post for Cemaes before the Quarrymen made it 2-0 on 70 minutes.
Debutant Cai Henshaw found the net with a well-taken effort.
Steven Whittaker pulled one back late on from a rebound after his penalty was kept out by Blaenau keeper Gavin Lewis.
In Welsh Alliance Division One, Pwllheli caned Penrhyndeudraeth 6-2.
Mark Jones (3), Lucas Baltovic, Jamie Banks and Terry Ogilvy earned Pwll a welcome victory, Alun Hughes and Meilir Williams replying for Penrhyn.
BRO Ffestiniog warmed up for this weekend’s Swalec Plate first-round clash with a comfortable 29-3 win over Division One North strugglers Ruthin last Saturday.
Ffestiniog continued their excellent unbeaten start to the new campaign with a bonus-point success over a Ruthin side who remain winless, but should still take a huge amount of positives from their showing at Cae Dolawel.
The first points came on four minutes as Bro skipper Dewi James showed his strength to cross over for an unconverted try.
Ruthin responded and after some good pressure were awarded a penalty, second-row Deian Lloyd Williams slotting over from 30 metres.
Playing with the slope, the visitors continued to dominate proceedings only to be thwarted by solid defence from the home side.
The Vale of Clwyd side missed a good chance to take the lead as a penalty dropped short.
Bro then began to exert some pressure of their own, and extended their lead with only minutes of the half left.
Ruthin looked to break upfield after a Bro penalty was fired wide of the mark, but after turning the ball over, the home side switched possession wide and after four phases of play sent Dan Jones clear for a second unconverted try.
Boosted by their late first-half showing, Bro all but ensured the win within 15 minutes of the restart as they ran in three unanswered tries.
The first came from the kick-off, second-row Terry Lay catching the Blues defence napping before offloading to flanker Huw Parry to cross over under the posts with centre Lee Aspden adding the conversion.
The bonus-point try came from a textbook move from a lineout with flanker Marc Morris crashing over.
The Quarrymen’s fifth try followed as forwards and backs combined for Aspden to charge onto a short pass to crash over, the centre converting his own score.
It has been a marvellous return to Division One North so far for promoted Bro, who have won all four matches to date and lie third in the table.
After their opening fixture at home to Nant Conwy was postponed, Ffestiniog triumphed 27-13 at Cobra before pipping Colwyn Bay 32-28 at Dolawel.
An ultra-tight 17-15 win at Bala followed, secured by a late drop-goal, and then came that more emphatic result against Ruthin.
No doubt Bro will be relishing the prospect of their next league encounter – a home test against fellow unbeaten side and current Division One North champions and leaders Pwllheli on October 15.
Before that comes a trip to Llandudno for the first round of the Plate this Saturday (2.30pm).
Tudno have had a mixed start to the season with two wins and three defeats, but they gave Nant Conwy a good test in a 28-15 loss last weekend.