BALA went through into the semi-finals of the Conwy Land Rover North Wales Cup with a convincing 36-7 win at Ruthin.

As in recent previous matches, Ruthin started competitively, but with the ball held up on the visitors’ try line and a missed penalty in the first 10 minutes, they failed to convert pressure into points.

Bala cleared their lines and from a lineout on Ruthin’s 10 yard line they mounted their first attack. The ball was played out to the wing and Robin Jones went over for an unconverted try to open the scoring.

From there on the Blues had to defend well against a fast and aggressive Bala attack, and although resisting for a time the visitors went over for a converted try from Dave Yates after some 30 minutes play.

The Blues tried to get back into the game but were not as quick in the breakdown or as accurate in passing or tackling.

On half time the pressure told and after running through three would-be tackles Bala’s Owain Pugh went over for a converted try to make it 19-0 at half-time.

The third quarter of the game continued pretty much as the second quarter of the first half, with Ruthin unable to find their rhythm, and Bala scored a further two converted tries from Ilan Rowlands and Arfon Rowlands to put them 33-0 ahead.

In the last 20 the Blues, led by their forwards, began finally to put forward an effective attack and after some good phase play and pick and go in Bala’s 22, flanker Jack Wilson went over for a try, which Nathan Jones successfully converted.

Play was more evenly matched for the remainder of the game, but Bala had the last score with a penalty on the 80th minute.

Owain Aled had successfully kicked all Bala’s conversions, as well as a penalty.

Ilan Rowlands was named as man of the match and presented, by Hywel Roberts of the North Wales Rugby Union Council, with a bottle of champagne, donated by tournament sponsors Conwy Land Rover.

The confirmed semi-final draws are: Conwy Land Rover North Wales Senior Cup: Llangefni v Bala, Pwllheli v Nant Conwy. Conwy Land Rover North Wales Senior Plate: Caernarfon v Bro Ffestiniog. Llandudno v Ruthin. Conwy Land Rover North Wales Intermediate Cup: Shotton v Llanidloes, Denbigh v Teirw Nant. Conwy Land Rover Intermediate Plate: Abergele v Newtown, Llangollen v Bangor.